All articles tagged with #legislation
Republican-on-Republican clashes between the House and Senate are stalling a wide range of bills and plunging Congress into legislative limbo ahead of the midterms, with Trump largely keeping his distance; housing, aviation safety, college athletics NIL, tech regulation, and DHS funding loom as leaders haggle over conference talks and reconciliation options.
Law-enforcement groups warn a provision shielding non-custodial DeFi developers from money-transmitter rules could hinder investigations, prompting Democratic pressure for changes even as Republicans defend the measure; the dispute threatens bipartisan momentum for the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act as the Senate Banking Committee considers markup.
The House passed a bill to extend President Trump's D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force through 2029, codifying an executive order that ramped up federal policing and immigration enforcement in Washington, D.C.; supporters say it helped reduce crime while critics warn of federal overreach and heightened immigration enforcement in the District.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act to pause new or expanded AI data centers while evaluating energy use, environmental impact and local effects, a proposal underscored by images of facilities like Google's Georgia data center.
The Virginia redistricting fight is undermining Governor Abigail Spanberger’s reputation as a moderate Democrat, as partisan map battles, immigration policy debates, and affordability proposals reshape her image and agenda ahead of midterm elections.
The House passed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act by a two-thirds vote under suspension of the rules, led by Rep. Brian Jack and Rep. Sharice Davids. The bill would create United Boxing Organizations to allow UFC-style boxing promotions, set a national per-round minimum pay, strengthen drug testing, and expand boxer safety provisions while not altering the Ali Act of 2000. Opposition from Top Rank's Bob Arum was noted, but the measure now goes to the Senate and potentially to President Trump's desk for signature.
Airline executives from Delta, Alaska, JetBlue, United, and Southwest (representing Airlines for America) urged Congress to shield and pay TSA, customs, and air-traffic workers during government shutdowns, criticizing $0 paychecks and linking stoppages to longer security lines and flight delays. They backed proposed laws—the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, Aviation Funding Stability Act, and Keep America Flying Act—to ensure pay during future shutdowns, while airports seek donations and travelers are advised to arrive early due to longer security queues.
A Republicans-led voting bill would tighten voter verification by requiring additional documents to vote, potentially imposing time and money costs on many Americans and possibly reducing turnout even as supporters say the move strengthens election integrity.
Florida lawmakers approved HB 991 to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and strip student IDs from eligibility, sending the bill to Gov. DeSantis for signing. The measure, which would take effect in January 2027, would require applicants to present documents such as REAL ID licenses, birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or other DHS-issued proof of citizenship. Supporters say it boosts election integrity; critics warn it could disenfranchise eligible citizens and cited potential impact gaps, noting past noncitizen-on-roll incidents and ongoing debates about how many voters would be affected.
The Senate has moved a major housing bill forward—the first in years aimed at expanding affordable housing and updating related policies—but its final fate remains unclear as it must navigate a likely uphill path through the House, potential White House opposition, and negotiations that could reshape funding and provisions before any law can be enacted.
At a Florida retreat, House Republicans scramble to chart a year-end legislative agenda amid internal divisions and looming midterm elections.
The Washington House passed SB 6346 to levy a 9.9% personal income tax on earnings above $1 million, projecting roughly $3.5 billion in annual revenue starting in 2029. Supporters frame it as tax fairness to offset a regressive system, while critics warn it could erode Washington’s business climate; high-profile concerns, including Howard Schultz’s relocation to Miami, amplify the debate. The measure now moves to the Senate and governor as the session nears its close.
Pennsylvania is advancing Senate Bill 1205 to ban dynamic pricing—changing the prices of essential goods or services within 24 hours based on demand or AI-driven factors—as a consumer-protection measure, reflecting a broader national debate as other states weigh similar laws and researchers scrutinize algorithmic pricing after incidents like Instacart's tests and New York's algorithmic pricing disclosure act.
California’s AB 1043 would require OS providers to add an age-verification step and an API to relay the user’s age bracket to apps and stores by January 1, 2027, with penalties for non‑compliance. The piece flags questions about how practical and enforceable the measure is, potential privacy risks of collecting age data, and the impact on open-source projects and the broader app ecosystem, suggesting the law could be more nuisance than effective and may invite amendments or workarounds.
The Senate Commerce Committee approved revisions to the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 that provide funding and strategic direction aligned with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s Artemis plan to return humans to the Moon and establish a long‑term presence. The bill empowers Isaacman to identify alternatives for a new upper stage, allows standardizing the SLS for more frequent flights, and removes earlier language about a Lunar Gateway in favor of a lunar outpost briefing. It also enables repurposing existing programs and extends the International Space Station to 2032 to aid private space facilities. The measure signals strong congressional support to accelerate Artemis, though full Senate and House approval remains forthcoming.