Browse Legislation

H.R. 8202 is a bill that proposes an amendment to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The main focus of this amendment is to establish a ten-year statute of limitations for violations related to export controls. This means that legal action can be taken against individuals or entities for export control violations for up to ten years after the violation has occurred.

The Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act (H.R. 5366) aims to extend federal tax relief measures for individuals affected by disasters. It allows people to deduct personal casualty losses from their taxes if these losses occur in areas declared as major disaster zones. The bill extends the eligibility period for these deductions to include incidents starting from December 28, 2019, to December 31, 2026. It also ensures that wildfire relief payments received due to forest or range fires declared as federal disasters can be excluded from taxable income for incidents declared after 2014 and before 2027.

The Clergy Act (H.R. 227) allows certain clergy members and Christian Science practitioners a two-year period to revoke their exemption from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes on their ministerial earnings. Previously, once these individuals opted out of these taxes due to religious or conscientious objections, the decision was permanent, meaning they also forfeited future Social Security or Medicare benefits unless they had other qualifying work credits. The bill mandates the IRS to create a plan to inform eligible individuals about their new option to revoke prior exemptions.

The BARCODE Efficiency Act (H.R. 6956) mandates the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement barcode and optical character recognition technology to digitize certain federal tax return information and correspondence. This includes requiring a scannable barcode on electronically-prepared tax returns that are printed and filed on paper. The IRS must use this technology to convert paper tax returns into electronic format. However, if these technologies are slower or less reliable than current methods, the IRS is not required to use them, provided they report this decision to Congress.

The New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act (H.R. 6431) aims to enhance the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program. This program provides financial support to individuals who are eligible for unemployment benefits and are working on starting their own business. The bill increases the cap on participants from 5% to 10% of those receiving unemployment benefits in a state. It also removes the requirement that participants must be likely to exhaust their unemployment benefits, thereby broadening eligibility. Participants must certify weekly that they are working full-time on their business. Additionally, the bill allows participation in SEA activities through state-approved business plans and market studies, alongside existing options like entrepreneurial training and business counseling.

The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act aims to enhance the protections and processes for whistleblowers who report tax-related misconduct. It changes how whistleblower awards are reviewed by the Tax Court, allowing for a more comprehensive review process. The bill also permits whistleblowers to remain anonymous in court unless public interest demands disclosure of their identity. Additionally, it mandates the IRS to include a list of major tax avoidance schemes reported by whistleblowers in their reports and requires the IRS to pay interest on delayed whistleblower awards. Furthermore, it allows whistleblowers to deduct attorney fees from their taxable income regardless of the type of award received.

The Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 2347) aims to change how certain legal settlements are taxed for survivors of sexual acts or sexual contact. Under current law, only damages related to physical injuries with visible harm are tax-exempt. This bill allows damages from sexual acts or contact to be excluded from taxable income, even if there are no visible injuries. It also shifts the burden of proof to the IRS to prove that such damages should be taxed, rather than the recipient having to prove they are tax-exempt. The IRS is also required to increase public awareness about this tax exclusion.

H.R. 4930 is a bill that aims to enhance the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to share information about potential intellectual property rights violations in trade. It allows CBP to share more detailed information with trademark or copyright owners and other relevant parties when there is a reasonable suspicion of a violation. The bill broadens the definition of who can assist CBP and what information can be shared, including images and details of packaging materials. It also permits sharing nonpublic information about the merchandise from various market platforms and logistics operators.

The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act, or H.R. 6903, requires the U.S. Department of State to revoke the passports of individuals who owe more than $2,500 in child support payments. Under current law, the State Department can refuse to issue a passport to these individuals and may revoke an existing passport. This bill mandates the revocation of existing passports in such cases. It also allows for the issuance of a limited-duration passport solely for the purpose of returning to the United States.

The Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act (H.R. 6495) aims to enhance the notification process the IRS must follow when seeking information from third parties about a taxpayer's federal tax liability. Currently, the IRS must inform taxpayers 45 days before contacting a third party but does not have to disclose what specific information it seeks. This bill mandates that the IRS specify the information it wants from a third party, provided the taxpayer can reasonably supply it and the IRS hasn't asked for it before. The taxpayer must also be given at least 45 days to respond before the IRS proceeds to contact the third party, with the possibility of requesting more time if necessary.

The SEED Act of 2025 aims to extend the current federal tax deduction for educational expenses to early childhood educators. Currently, K-12 educators can claim a tax deduction of up to $300 for certain unreimbursed professional expenses, but this bill proposes to include pre-kindergarten teachers in that eligibility. This deduction helps educators lower their taxable income by accounting for expenses related to professional development and classroom materials.

H.R. 8364 is a bill that allows the Capitol Police Board to extend the mandatory retirement age for Capitol Police officers from the current age of 60 to 65. Previously, officers had to retire at age 57, but could receive a waiver to work until age 60. This bill proposes to extend that waiver option to age 65.

The Taxpayer Experience Improvement Act aims to enhance the services provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by improving transparency and accessibility. The bill mandates the IRS to display real-time information about call volumes, wait times, and other relevant metrics on its public website. It also seeks to expand online taxpayer accounts, allowing electronic access to tax return and refund information. Key provisions include displaying the number of callers connected to IRS representatives, automated systems, and those waiting. The website must show the longest wait times, estimated wait times, and availability of callback services. By 2028, the IRS is encouraged to offer a callback option for unanswered calls within five minutes. Additionally, the IRS must provide taxpayers with online access to their tax documents, status of returns, and estimated refund dates.

H.R. 5853 is a bill that proposes amendments to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The primary focus of the bill is to increase the civil penalties that can be imposed for violations under the Act. This suggests a legislative intent to strengthen enforcement measures and possibly deter non-compliance with export control regulations.

The 'Stop Stealing our Chips Act' is designed to encourage and protect whistleblowers who report violations of U.S. export control laws, specifically those related to dual-use goods and military components. It mandates the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to create a program that incentivizes individuals to report these violations by offering financial rewards. The bill also requires BIS to set up a secure online portal for reporting and outlines procedures for handling these reports. Additionally, it establishes protections for whistleblowers against employer retaliation and ensures their confidentiality.

S.Res. 697 is a resolution that welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom to the United States. The resolution acknowledges King Charles III's address to a joint meeting of Congress and recognizes the historic global significance of this event.

S.Res. 694 is a resolution that proposes designating April 2026 as 'Financial Literacy Month'. This designation aims to promote awareness and education about financial literacy, encouraging individuals to learn more about managing personal finances, budgeting, saving, and investing.

S.Res. 695 is a resolution that commemorates April 6, 2026, as the day when the Artemis II crew surpassed the record for the farthest distance traveled by astronauts into deep space. It celebrates the success of the Artemis II mission, which is part of NASA's Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.

S.Res. 696 is a resolution that expresses support for designating April 2026 as 'Parkinson’s Awareness Month.' This resolution aims to increase public awareness about Parkinson's disease, promote understanding of the condition, and encourage support for those affected by it.

S. 4406 is a proposed bill that aims to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The bill focuses on promoting research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of next-generation geothermal systems. It seeks to support geothermal energy technologies in various conditions, potentially enhancing energy independence and sustainability.

S. 4407 is a bill that proposes the establishment of family accounts for children to access artificial intelligence chatbots. It mandates that parental consent must be verifiable for teenagers who wish to use AI chatbots. The bill aims to ensure that minors are using these technologies under parental supervision and with appropriate consent.

The bill titled S. 4405 aims to increase funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for jurisdictions that choose to enter into a 287(g) agreement. A 287(g) agreement is a partnership between local law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows local officers to be trained and authorized to enforce federal immigration laws. By increasing the grant allocation, the bill seeks to incentivize jurisdictions to participate in these agreements to enhance immigration enforcement efforts.

S. 4409 is a bill intended to clarify the registration process for program standards within registered apprenticeship programs. This likely involves setting clearer guidelines or criteria for how apprenticeship programs are registered and evaluated, potentially making it easier for programs to understand and comply with federal standards. The bill may also address other related issues to improve the overall effectiveness and accessibility of registered apprenticeship programs.

S. 4408 is a bill proposed to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The primary aim of the bill is to extend existing tax incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel, which are alternative fuels derived from renewable resources. These incentives likely include tax credits or deductions that benefit producers or users of biodiesel and renewable diesel, encouraging the use of cleaner fuels and supporting the renewable energy sector.