HR 2951, the "Easter Monday Act of 2025," would add Easter Monday as a legal public holiday for federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This procedural bill directly affects federal government offices and workers by designating Easter Monday as a paid holiday, following Washington's Birthday in the annual holiday schedule. It does not change funding, create new programs, or impact state or private sector holidays. The change would only apply to federal operations, not private businesses or state governments.
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to explicitly include accounting education as part of a well-rounded K-12 curriculum. It requires schools to develop and strengthen programs teaching accounting, including increasing access to high-quality accounting courses for students from groups historically underrepresented in accounting careers. The key provision inserts specific language into existing law, directing schools to promote accounting career awareness and expand course availability through grade 12. This directly affects K-12 students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, by making accounting education a recognized component of career-focused learning.
SRES 181 designates April 14-20, 2025, as "National Osteopathic Medicine Week" to honor osteopathic physicians and medical students in the U.S. The resolution recognizes over 157,000 osteopathic physicians, their training in rural and underserved communities, and their 150-year history since the founding of the first osteopathic medical school. It specifically acknowledges their whole-person healthcare approach and contributions to the U.S. healthcare system. This is a symbolic resolution with no new policy or funding changes; it simply celebrates the profession.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act amends federal law to strengthen legal tools for addressing organized retail crime, including theft from stores, online, and supply chains. It establishes a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. The Center will share information, assist with investigations, track crime trends, and provide training to combat these crimes. The bill expands legal definitions to include organized retail crime as a specific category and requires annual reports on the Center's activities. The Center will operate for 7 years before sunset.
Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform Act of 2025 or the SOAR Act of 2025 This bill establishes certain requirements with respect to the payment and provision of supplemental oxygen and related services under Medicare. For example, the bill provides for separate payments, indexed to inflation, of oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services under Medicare (rather than under the competitive acquisition program). It also specifically covers services that are provided by respiratory therapists under Medicare and provides for an additional payment adjustment for these services. Additionally, the bill (1) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop an electronic template for providers to use when prescribing oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services; and (2) establishes certain rights for beneficiaries receiving these items and services, such as the right to choose their suppliers and to receive clear communications and be informed about the services provided.
This bill would establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area in Maryland and Virginia as part of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and provide public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay. The area's boundaries would be defined by a June 2023 map, with land acquisition limited to donation, purchase from willing sellers, exchange, or transfer from other federal agencies. The bill creates a 19-member Advisory Commission (including youth representatives, tribal representatives, and specific interests like commercial fishing and agriculture) to advise on management and potential additions to the area. The Secretary of the Interior must develop a management plan within 3 years of funding, coordinating with existing programs like the Chesapeake Bay Program. The recreation area would not affect existing fishing regulations or state jurisdiction over natural resources.
S 1423, "Hammers' Law," expands a legal limitation on certain damages from commercial aviation accidents to include cruise ship voyages. It defines a "cruise ship" as a passenger vessel carrying at least 250 people with sleeping accommodations, embarking or disembarking in the U.S., and not on a coastwise voyage. The bill specifically extends the existing rule that limits claims for "nonpecuniary damages" (like loss of companionship or emotional harm) to apply to cruise ship incidents, just as it does for commercial aviation accidents. This change directly affects passengers involved in accidents on qualifying cruise ships by restricting their ability to seek compensation for certain non-monetary losses.
The FIGHT Act of 2025 amends the Animal Welfare Act to ban gambling on animal fighting events (including broadcasts), prohibit transporting roosters (defined as male chickens over 6 months old) for fighting, and make it illegal to sponsor, exhibit, or allow minors under 16 to attend such events. It allows citizens to file civil lawsuits to stop violations after 60 days' notice to authorities, with fines up to $5,000 per violation. The law also permits seizure of property used to facilitate violations, such as land or buildings. It does not override state or local laws on animal fighting unless there is a direct conflict.
This bill increases the federal tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings from 20% to 30% for projects under $3.75 million (or $5 million in rural areas), up from the current rate. It allows property owners to transfer unused credits to other taxpayers and expands eligibility to include more building types. The bill also removes certain tax adjustments for these projects and simplifies rules for tax-exempt properties. These changes primarily affect developers and owners of small historic properties, especially in rural communities seeking tax incentives for rehabilitation.
This bill reauthorizes a federal pilot program (extending it through 2030) to provide housing support for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. It requires states receiving funds to use at least $50 million annually for stable housing, including a new allowance for up to 1% of funds to purchase furniture for temporary housing. States must report annually on housing projects, resident demographics, program outcomes, and strategies for expanding recovery housing. The program directly affects states administering housing grants and individuals seeking stable housing during opioid recovery.
This bill makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable, allowing eligible taxpayers to receive a refund even if they owe no income tax. It directly affects families who paid qualified adoption expenses (like court fees or agency costs) but previously couldn't claim the full credit due to its non-refundable status. Key provisions include redesignating the credit in tax law as "section 36C" (making it refundable), adding standardized third-party affidavits to verify adoptions, and ensuring existing credit carryforwards are treated as refundable starting in 2025. The changes take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
This bill (S 1481) repeals a specific provision (Section 13532 of Public Law 115-97) related to advance refunding bonds. It restores the previous rules allowing state and local governments to issue these bonds for infrastructure projects, as if the 2017 amendment had never been enacted. The change directly affects state and local governments seeking to refinance existing debt using advance refunding bonds. The bill takes effect upon enactment and does not create new funding or alter infrastructure project eligibility.
