MoneySigned into law

One go-to team for people whose Social Security number is stolen

What it doesThis bill would make the Social Security Administration give identity-theft victims a single point of contact: a specially trained team that tracks each case until it is fixed and works with other offices to solve problems quickly.

How it affects youAnyone whose Social Security number has been stolen or misused, and their families.

1. Proposed
2. House
3. Senate
4. President
5. Law

Last action

Oct. 7, 2026 — Became law (Public Law 119-119).

H.R. 5345 on congress.gov ↗H.R. 5345 · Public Law 119-119 · Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act

EnergyPassed House

Make giant data centers pay for their own power upgrades

What it doesHuge data centers (the buildings that run AI and cloud apps) use enormous amounts of electricity. This bill asks every state’s utility regulators to consider a rule that makes data centers using 100 megawatts or more pay the full cost of the power-grid upgrades built to serve them.

How it affects youPeople who pay electric bills in states that adopt the rule: grid upgrades for these data centers would be charged to the data centers instead of other customers.

1. Proposed
2. House
3. Senate
4. President
5. Law

Last action

Sept. 30, 2026 — Senate vote to start debate fell short, 57–43 (60 votes needed).

Passed House

Sept. 16, 2026

H.R. 9340 on congress.gov ↗H.R. 9340 · Ratepayer Protection Act

SchoolsPassed Senate

National rules for paying college athletes

What it doesThis bill puts rules into federal law for college athletes earning money from their name, image and likeness (NIL), like endorsement deals. It lets athletes transfer once without losing eligibility, caps agent fees at 5%, and makes the current limit on what schools can share with athletes permanent.

How it affects youCollege athletes, recruits and their families, plus schools and fans. Big-money athletic programs would have to keep sports that don’t earn a profit, with some hardship waivers.

1. Proposed
2. Senate
3. House
4. President
5. Law

Based on the committee version. The Senate swapped in new text before passing it, so details may differ.

Last action

Sept. 28, 2026 — Passed the Senate, 77–22.

S. 4668 on congress.gov ↗S. 4668 · Protect College Sports Act of 2026

VotingCourt ruling

Supreme Court lets officials check voters’ citizenship with a federal database

What it doesThe Court let the government keep using an expanded version of SAVE, a federal system that now checks Social Security records so state and local officials can confirm whether registered voters are citizens. Lower courts had blocked it. This is a temporary order while the case continues.

How it affects youRegistered voters and people signing up to vote. If the system can’t confirm you are a citizen, election officials must contact you and ask for proof.

An emergency order, not the final word in the case.

Last action

Sept. 25, 2026 — Supreme Court order issued Sept. 25, 2026.

Opinion on supremecourt.gov ↗Department of Homeland Security v. League of Women Voters · No. 26A308

MoneySigned into law

New law: tough penalties on Russia, plus a tax break for preschool teachers

What it doesThis law puts sanctions (penalties) on Russian leaders, bans sending U.S. energy to Russia and new U.S. investment there, and orders tariffs (import taxes) of up to 100% on goods from big buyers of Russian oil or gas that keep buying. It also lets early-childhood teachers deduct classroom expenses.

How it affects youPreschool and child-care teachers of kids under 6 can now claim the educator expense tax deduction. If the tariffs are triggered, goods from that country would cost more to import.

1. Proposed
2. House
3. Senate
4. President
5. Law

Last action

Sept. 18, 2026 — Became law (Public Law 119-111).

H.R. 5334 on congress.gov ↗H.R. 5334 · Public Law 119-111 · Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026

ImmigrationCourt ruling

Supreme Court: babies born in the U.S. are citizens

What it doesThe Court ruled 5–4 that children born in the United States are citizens at birth even if their parents are here illegally or on temporary visas. That blocks the President’s 2025 order that tried to deny them citizenship.

How it affects youBabies born in the U.S. to immigrant parents and their families: those children keep their U.S. citizenship.

Last action

June 30, 2026 — Supreme Court opinion issued June 30, 2026.

Opinion on supremecourt.gov ↗Trump v. Barbara · No. 25-365