Senate Committee on Finance

NO BOSS Act

States would gain more flexibility in how they run self-employment assistance programs, which help unemployed workers start their own businesses by providing training, counseling, and sometimes cash support while they transition from traditional jobs. The changes would modify tax rules that currently govern these state-run programs, potentially making it easier for states to design and manage them according to their own needs. This affects unemployed workers seeking to become entrepreneurs and the state agencies that administer these job training programs.

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".

This joint resolution prohibits the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from testing a new Medicare payment model in certain states that involves a prior authorization process and the use of enhanced technology by third-party contractors to determine whether certain claims should be paid. Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies a notice issued by the CMS on July 1, 2025, titled Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model . (On May 12, 2026, the Government Accountability Office issued a letter of opinion stating that this notice constituted an agency rule and is therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act.) The CMS selected six states to participate in this model over a six-year period: New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Under the model, contracted companies must process prior authorization requests (i.e., requests for coverage determinations before a service is furnished) for certain services using enhanced technology (e.g., artificial intelligence). Contracted companies are paid based on the share of resulting savings. The CMS aims to test the model's ability to produce accurate results while streamlining the prior authorization process for Medicare claims. The model is based in part on similar processes used for Medicare Advantage claims. CMS began implementing the model on January 1, 2026. This joint resolution prohibits the CMS from continuing to do so.

A bill to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, to provide for reinvestment in certain persons adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, to provide for expungement of certain cannabis offenses, and for other purposes.

The bill would remove federal criminal penalties for cannabis and reclassify it so it's no longer a controlled substance, while allowing people previously convicted of cannabis offenses to have those convictions cleared from their records. It would also direct money toward communities and individuals harmed by decades of drug enforcement policies. The proposal affects millions of Americans with cannabis convictions, cannabis businesses, and communities that experienced heavy enforcement of drug laws.

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on excessively disparate wages paid to chief executive officers.

The proposal would add a new tax on companies whose chief executive officers earn significantly more than their typical workers, with the tax rate increasing as the pay gap widens. This would affect large corporations and their shareholders, potentially encouraging companies to either raise worker pay or limit executive compensation to reduce their tax burden. The measure aims to address income inequality by making extreme pay disparities more costly for businesses.

A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate work disincentives for childhood disability beneficiaries.

Young people who receive Social Security benefits because of disabilities would be allowed to earn more money from work without losing their benefits, removing financial penalties that currently discourage them from employment. Currently, beneficiaries face strict limits on how much they can earn before their monthly payments are reduced or cut off entirely. This change would help disabled youth transition into the workforce and become more financially independent.

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for credits against tax for domestic manufacturing of critical medical supplies and drugs.

The proposal would give tax breaks to American companies that manufacture critical medical supplies and drugs domestically instead of importing them from other countries. These tax credits would reduce the amount of federal income taxes that qualifying manufacturers owe, potentially making it cheaper for them to produce medicines and medical equipment in the United States. The goal is to encourage domestic production of essential medical products and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing.

Mamas First Act

The proposal would expand Medicaid coverage to include services from doulas (birth coaches), midwives, and lactation consultants who help pregnant women and new mothers. This would allow low-income pregnant women and families covered by Medicaid to access these support services without paying out of pocket. The change aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by making these services more accessible to people who might not otherwise afford them.

Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026

The proposal would update how Medicare pays ambulatory surgical centers—medical facilities where patients have outpatient surgeries without staying overnight—to reflect current costs and procedures. These changes would affect both the surgical centers that perform the procedures and Medicare beneficiaries who use these facilities. The bill aims to ensure payment rates keep pace with modern medical practices and operating expenses.

PROMISE Act of 2026

The bill would create a plan to make sure Social Security's trust funds for retirement and disability benefits have enough money to pay benefits for the long term. It would likely involve changes to how Social Security operates—such as adjusting payroll taxes, benefit amounts, or eligibility rules—to prevent the funds from running out of money in future years. This affects millions of Americans who receive or will receive Social Security retirement or disability payments.

Protecting Innocent Taxpayers from Endless Assessments Act

The bill would change tax law to limit when the IRS can go back and audit someone for fraud, making it so the IRS can only use the extended fraud exception when a taxpayer deliberately tried to avoid paying taxes they owed rather than simply filing an incorrect return. This would protect taxpayers from extended audits in cases where mistakes were made without intent to cheat, while still allowing the IRS to pursue cases of intentional tax evasion. The change affects both individual taxpayers and businesses that file tax returns.

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act

Recover COVID Unemployment Fraud in Banks Act This bill extends to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions for fraud related to several unemployment insurance programs that were established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also establishes a task force to locate fraudulent payments and develop strategies to recover such payments. The extension applies to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The bill extends the statute of limitations for (1) criminal charges related to fraud, including aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud (currently subject to a 5-year statute of limitations); and (2) civil actions involving false claims (currently subject to a 6-year statute of limitations). However, the bill does not apply to a criminal prosecution or civil enforcement action if the applicable statute of limitations expired before the date of the bill's enactment. The task force established by this bill must coordinate with state agencies to identify federal pandemic unemployment compensation payments held by financial institutions and other entities or held by state agencies responsible for unclaimed property, coordinate with federal agencies to develop model processes that result in the cost-effective recovery of such payments, issue guidance to financial institutions on legal pathways for returning such payments, and issue guidance to state unclaimed property agencies on their obligation to review and return such payments.

Home Market Restoration Act of 2026

The proposal would limit how much of certain imported goods can enter the country at a lower tax rate, with any amounts beyond that limit facing higher taxes. This would affect businesses that rely on imports, consumers who buy imported products, and domestic manufacturers competing with foreign goods. The measure aims to protect American industries while potentially raising prices for imported items.

Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act

Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act This bill delays certain requirements relating to the reporting of quality measures by accountable care organizations (ACOs) under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. It also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a pilot program that tests alternative digital reporting methods for ACOs. The Medicare Shared Savings Program enables ACOs to receive payments for savings stemming from care coordination and management. In 2024, the CMS issued a rule requiring ACOs to report on quality measures using a certain electronic system beginning in 2025. The bill allows ACOs to continue to use prior methods of reporting quality measures through 2029. Additionally, the CMS must establish a pilot program to test other digital reporting methods from 2028-2032; ACOs that participate in the pilot program are exempt from using other methods. The CMS must publicly post an analysis of the program and any related recommendations for using the tested methods.

Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act

The Social Security Administration would be allowed to continue running test programs that try out new ways to help people with disabilities receive benefits and return to work. These demonstration projects let the agency experiment with different approaches before deciding whether to make changes permanent across the entire disability insurance program. The bill affects millions of Americans who receive disability benefits and the government agencies that manage these programs.

TRADES Act

The proposal would raise taxes on investment earnings for wealthy private colleges and universities, then use that additional revenue to fund career and technical education programs that train students for specific jobs like plumbing, nursing, or electrician work. This would affect private educational institutions with significant endowments while directing more money toward vocational training options for students who want alternatives to traditional four-year degrees.

COVID–19 Commuter Benefits Distribution Act

Workers who have set aside pre-tax money in transportation benefit accounts (used for parking, transit passes, or vanpools) would be allowed to withdraw that money one time without penalty or tax consequences. This would give employees more flexibility to access funds they've already contributed to these accounts, which are typically restricted to transportation-related expenses only. The change would primarily benefit workers who use public transportation or employer-sponsored commuting programs.

Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2026

The government would offer tax breaks and financial incentives to students who earn degrees in child care fields and then work at child care facilities, aiming to attract more qualified workers to an industry that often struggles with staffing shortages. This would help both students manage the cost of education in this field and help child care centers find and keep trained staff. The proposal is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee.

Medicare Cost Cap Act of 2026

This bill would limit how much money Medicare patients have to pay out of their own pockets for doctor visits, hospital stays, and other medical services, protecting seniors from unexpectedly high medical bills. It would also strengthen programs that help low-income seniors and people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid afford their healthcare costs. The changes aim to make healthcare more affordable and predictable for older Americans, especially those with limited incomes.

Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Students Act

This bill would create rules to protect students and workers who use income-share agreements, which are financing tools where borrowers repay their education costs by giving a percentage of their future earnings rather than taking out traditional loans. The framework would establish consumer protections, disclosure requirements, and oversight standards for companies offering these agreements to ensure borrowers understand the terms and aren't taken advantage of. The bill aims to make these alternative financing options safer and more transparent while supporting workforce training and postsecondary education programs.

Medicaid RAC Improvement Act of 2026

The government's auditing office has found ways to improve how Medicaid checks for billing mistakes and recovers money that was overpaid to healthcare providers, and this bill would put those recommendations into action. The changes would help identify more cases where Medicaid was billed incorrectly or fraudulently, allowing the program to recover additional funds that can be redirected to patient care. This affects healthcare providers, state Medicaid programs, and ultimately taxpayers who fund the program.