The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure individuals with long-term care needs have a federally protected right to live in their own homes or integrated community settings rather than institutions. It mandates that states and insurance providers offer community-based services, provide maximum control over care choices to individuals, and establish enforceable plans to transition people out of institutional facilities. The bill also creates new enforcement mechanisms, including a task force to study barriers to community living, requirements for public participation in planning, and the ability for individuals to sue for damages if they are denied these community-based options.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Federal Pell Grant award to $10,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, with amounts rising annually to reach $15,000 by 2031-2032. The bill also changes the funding structure so that Pell Grants become a mandatory program that automatically adjusts for inflation rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations. Additional provisions expand eligibility to include students with negative financial aid indexes, provide special rules for recipients of means-tested benefits, and allow Dreamer students who become citizens or permanent residents to qualify for aid. The legislation further restores the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and modifies how institutions determine satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students struggling with course requirements.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by raising the maximum Pell Grant amount to $15,000 by the 2031-2032 award year and ensuring the program is fully funded through mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations. The bill also expands eligibility for students who receive means-tested government benefits by automatically assigning them a lower financial need score, while simultaneously allowing Dreamer students - undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria such as graduating high school or serving in the military - to qualify for federal aid. Additional provisions restore the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and adjust the rules for satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students who struggle to meet grade requirements. Finally, the legislation restores Pell Grant eligibility for some students who previously received outside scholarships and sets the law's effective date for July 1, 2026.
The Stop Scamming Americans Act requires the U.S. State Department to provide specialized training for diplomats assigned to countries known for significant online scam activity targeting Americans. This training will cover transnational criminal organizations, the role of human trafficking within scam centers, and instances of foreign government corruption or complicity. Additionally, the program aims to teach diplomatic methods for identifying, preventing, and responding to these international scams. The bill directly affects Foreign Service officers and chiefs of mission who work in regions where such cybercrime is prevalent.
The SPIRIT Act creates a new tax credit for small distilleries that use at least 90% of their ingredients from domestic sources. To qualify for a $2.35 reduction per proof gallon in their taxes, a distiller must produce no more than 100,000 proof gallons annually and ensure their production is primarily based on U.S.-harvested materials. The law also includes a recapture provision that requires distilleries to pay back the credit if they are found to be ineligible after receiving it. These financial incentives are designed to support smaller producers who rely on American agricultural ingredients, and the changes will take effect for spirits produced after December 31, 2025.
The VA Home Loan Navigator Act establishes a free, voluntary program to help veterans and eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund independent, neutral organizations to provide education, counseling on loan processes, and assistance with issues like foreclosure prevention and understanding costs. To ensure fairness, the law strictly prohibits these service providers from receiving payments from lenders or real estate agents and requires them to remain operationally separate from any mortgage or brokerage businesses. Designated entities must meet specific criteria, including HUD approval and a primary mission of serving military families, while individual counselors must be certified and recertified every three years. The program will be monitored through regular reports to Congress evaluating borrower satisfaction and outcomes such as foreclosure prevention rates.
The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure individuals with long-term service and support needs have a federally protected right to live in their communities rather than institutions. It requires states and insurance providers to offer community-based services that allow people to maintain independence, control their own care, and access affordable, integrated housing. The bill mandates that public entities and insurers create enforceable transition plans to move people out of institutions, conduct self-evaluations to identify barriers, and establish clear grievance procedures for resolving complaints. Enforcement is handled by the Department of Justice, which can investigate violations, while individuals may also file civil lawsuits to seek damages or court orders preventing institutionalization.
The SLASH Prices Act requires businesses that sell goods or services to clearly inform customers when prices are set by an algorithm using their personal data. Companies must display this notice prominently next to the price and provide an easy way for consumers to opt out of personalized pricing without facing discrimination or higher rates. The law exempts certain sectors like insurance and credit, as well as dynamic pricing based on real-time market conditions or delivery distance, and gives the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules.
The Protect Every Preschooler Act of 2026 expands the federal Gun Free School Zones Act to include early childhood education programs and preschools. This change directly affects firearm regulations by prohibiting the possession of guns in these specific educational settings, which were previously not explicitly covered under the law. The bill achieves this by amending the United States Code to add definitions for early childhood education programs and preschools to the list of protected areas. Consequently, individuals attempting to carry firearms into these locations would be subject to federal penalties under the existing gun-free zone provisions.
The Gun Safety Innovation Opportunity Act of 2026 creates a new grant program to fund research and development of advanced safe firearm storage devices by institutions of higher education and firearms manufacturers. These grants, totaling up to $10 million annually from 2027 to 2030, are intended to support technologies that use biometric data or other security measures to prevent unauthorized access to guns and to study how consumers might adopt such devices. To receive funding, applicants must submit detailed plans explaining how their technology will enhance community safety and increase affordability for users. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to submit a report to Congress within a year of enactment, outlining potential ways to support this technology development and its use by law enforcement to prevent suicide.
The SAFEGUARD Veterans Act of 2026 strengthens protections for veterans by imposing stricter penalties on individuals who charge unauthorized fees for helping with benefits claims and requiring that only accredited representatives or those under their supervision provide such assistance. Key provisions include creating an online searchable list of recognized and suspended agents, mandating warnings on Department websites about potential predatory practices, and adding questions to claim forms to identify anyone who charged fees for coaching or filing assistance. The bill also updates federal laws to prohibit the use of automated telephone equipment for making repeated calls to federal agencies and requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a more accessible digital system for recognizing representatives and processing complaints. Additionally, the Department must conduct a review of its current regulations regarding representation and report its findings to Congress within 180 days of the law's enactment.
The Small Business and Consumer Credit Act of 2026 changes how certain financial institutions can use tax losses to offset future profits. It allows these banks to carry forward net operating losses for up to 20 years, with additional rules allowing them to carry losses back to previous years starting in 2028. The law specifically applies to independent banks and certain affiliated groups, requiring them to make an irrevocable election on their tax returns to use these new provisions.
