Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A bill to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to review and update Federal Aviation Administration regulations, policies, and guidance related to low-altitude airspace safety, and for other purposes.

The FAA would be required to review and update its rules, policies, and guidance for safety in low-altitude airspace, which is the airspace closer to the ground where small aircraft, drones, and helicopters operate. This review could lead to new or revised regulations to address potential safety issues in this airspace. The changes would affect drone operators, small aircraft pilots, and other users of low-altitude airspace.

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 This bill makes daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time. States with areas exempt from daylight saving time may choose the standard time for those areas.

A bill to regulate compressed air dusters to prevent inhalant abuse.

The legislation would restrict the sale and use of compressed air dusters (canned air products) by requiring age verification for purchases, similar to restrictions on other inhalant products, to prevent people—particularly young people—from abusing them to get high. Retailers would need to follow new rules about how these products are displayed and sold, and violators could face penalties. The goal is to reduce inhalant abuse, which can cause serious health problems including brain damage and sudden death.

Improving Travel for Military Members Act

Improving Travel for Military Members Act This bill allows the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a pilot program to expedite access to security screening for traveling active-duty military personnel and accompanying family members. In selecting airports to participate in the pilot program, TSA must give priority to airports in proximity to certain military installations.

Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026

Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026 This bill extends the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Reimbursable Screening Services Program through FY2031. The bill also allows TSA to expand the pilot program to up to 14 locations, from the current limit of not more than 8 locations. The Reimbursable Screening Services Program is a pilot program that allows TSA to be reimbursed for establishing and providing screening services outside an airport terminal’s existing primary screening area for passengers.

Mystic Alerts Act

The legislation would allow satellite companies to transmit emergency alerts to the public during disasters and crises, ensuring that people in remote areas or those without traditional cell service can still receive critical warnings. This would expand the current emergency alert system, which primarily relies on cell towers and broadcast stations, to include satellite networks as an additional backup communication method. The change would benefit rural communities, travelers, and anyone in areas with limited cellular coverage who need to receive timely warnings about severe weather, natural disasters, or other emergencies.

SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026

Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026 or the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 This bill allocates additional funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security, including checked baggage explosives detection equipment and security checkpoint technology. As background, TSA collects passenger civil aviation security service fees (often referred to as the 9/11 security fee or passenger security fee) on air carrier passengers originating at airports in the United States. In general, these fees are deposited into the Department of the Treasury general fund and applied towards debt reduction. A portion of these fees are allocated to TSA for aviation security. The bill requires that the first $500 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund. This is an increase from the currently required $250 million. This fund provides for the costs associated with acquiring and installing in-line baggage screening systems (i.e., systems that use a conveyor belt infrastructure to automatically screen, sort, and track baggage) to accommodate checked baggage explosives detection equipment and for certain other airport security improvements. The bill also requires that the next $250 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund for the costs associated with acquiring, installing, and sustaining aviation security checkpoint technology.

One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act

One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act This bill revises and extends the One Stop Security program of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Under this pilot program, eligible passengers and their checked baggage arriving in the United States from certain foreign airports with connecting flights may be eligible to continue without additional TSA security re-screening. The bill extends the pilot program through December 23, 2032, from the current December 23, 2028. The bill also revises the security requirements for excluding checked baggage from additional TSA security re-screening. Among other things, the bill specifies that a passenger must be unable to access their checked baggage until arrival at their final destination and that U.S. Customs and Border Protection must have received timely images of the baggage from the participating foreign airport prior to a passenger’s arrival in the United States.

Improving Travel for American Families Act

Improving Travel for American Families Act This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a pilot program to implement alternative security screenings for passengers traveling with children who are 12 years old and younger. Specifically, TSA must implement alternative security screening lanes and security screening approaches for passengers traveling with children in order to support and facilitate the ease of travel for these passengers. TSA must implement the pilot program at a minimum of five airports, with priority given to airports that have a high volume of passengers traveling with children.

Health and Location Data Protection Act of 2026

The legislation would prevent companies that collect and sell personal information from buying and selling sensitive data like social security numbers, financial account information, and health records without explicit permission from the people involved. Data brokers—companies that profit by gathering and reselling personal information—would face restrictions on what they can do with this most sensitive categories of data. This would primarily affect data brokers and the companies that buy information from them, while giving individuals more control over their most private information.

ITS Codification Act

The bill would officially establish the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences as part of the Commerce Department and require the government to create a program supporting the development of new emergency communication and tracking technologies. This would affect telecommunications companies, technology developers, and emergency responders who rely on communication systems during disasters and crises. The measure aims to strengthen the nation's ability to communicate during emergencies by investing in better technology solutions.

KIDS Act

Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act or the KIDS Act This bill requires specified online platforms to establish safeguards for minors. The safeguards include (1) limiting access to specified sexual material, (2) providing parental controls on social media and online video game platforms, and (3) requiring artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to disclose certain information to users who are minors. First, publicly available online platforms on which more than one-third of the content is considered sexual material harmful to minors under the bill must adopt technology to identify minors and prevent them from accessing such material. Next, social media platforms must (1) implement default settings for minors that limit compulsive usage features and the ability of other users to communicate with minors, and (2) provide tools for parents to manage the privacy and account settings of a minor. Social media platforms may not allow ephemeral messaging features for minors. The bill also requires online video game platforms to provide tools that allow parents to (1) limit communication between a minor and other users of the platform, and (2) restrict purchases by a minor on the platform. Further, providers of AI chatbots must disclose to users who are minors (1) that the chatbot is an AI system and not a human, and (2) suicide and crisis intervention hotline information. Finally, the bill requires specified studies and reports about the effects of social media platforms on minors and provides for enforcement of the bill's requirements by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.

A bill to improve the administration of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and for other purposes.

The bill would strengthen how the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership operates, a federal program that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers improve their competitiveness and productivity. The changes would affect manufacturing companies across the country that rely on this partnership for technical assistance, training, and business support services.

National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

The bill would establish a network of cloud-based laboratory facilities that researchers and students can access remotely to conduct experiments and simulations, making advanced scientific tools available to institutions that couldn't otherwise afford expensive equipment. This would help universities, schools, and research organizations across the country participate in cutting-edge science without building physical labs, while also potentially creating new opportunities for collaboration between scientists in different locations. The program would likely be funded and overseen by the federal government to ensure equitable access.

Lulu’s Law

Lulu’s Law This act requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue an order explicitly permitting the transmission of wireless emergency alerts to mobile phones in the event of a shark attack. (Under current regulations, authorized government authorities are permitted to send wireless emergency alerts regarding public safety emergencies, including severe weather, missing children, and other threats to life or property.)

National Fab Lab Network Act of 2026

The bill would create a nationwide network of local digital fabrication labs (called "fab labs") that give people free or low-cost access to advanced manufacturing equipment like 3D printers, laser cutters, and computer-controlled machines. These facilities would serve students learning STEM skills, workers developing new job abilities, entrepreneurs starting businesses, and inventors testing their ideas. The network would be run as a nonprofit organization to ensure these tools remain accessible to communities across the country.

Protect College Sports Act of 2026

Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement ). First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600. The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%. The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season. Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment. Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

No Lead in Toys Act

The government's watchdog agency (GAO) found ways to make children's products safer, and this bill would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to actually put those recommendations into practice. The changes could affect toy makers, clothing manufacturers, and other companies that make products for kids, as well as protect children from potential hazards. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Gas Money Saved Act

The federal government would review and potentially change the fuel efficiency standards that car manufacturers must meet for their vehicle fleets. This could affect automakers' production decisions and ultimately influence what kinds of cars are available to consumers and how much they cost at the pump. The proposal is currently being considered by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Next Generation Shipping Act

The federal government would create a program to help develop and test ships and boats that produce zero emissions, as well as upgrade existing vessels with cleaner technology and build the charging or fueling stations they need. This would affect shipping companies, boat manufacturers, and ports that would receive funding and support to transition away from diesel and other polluting fuels. The goal is to reduce pollution from maritime transportation while helping the industry adapt to cleaner alternatives.