Monthly Legislative Update May 2025

Monthly Legislative Update: Congress Pushes Technology, Education, and Fiscal Reforms – May 2025

With funding secured for FY2025, the 119th Congress enters May with a renewed focus on technology regulation, education transparency, student debt relief, and economic competitiveness. April closed with bipartisan momentum on several fronts, and May promises major debates and votes on long-term structural reforms. Both chambers are pushing forward on a dynamic legislative agenda as the second quarter progresses.

🔹 Key Developments: April Recap & May Priorities

✅ Government Operations on Stable Footing

With the FY2025 appropriations bill passed in late March, federal agencies are now fully funded through September. This allows Congress to shift from crisis budgeting to forward-looking policy initiatives.

🧠 AI Safety and Regulation

• TheSenate Commerce Committeeadvanced an amendedAI Safety and Accountability Actin late April.

• The bill establishes:

  • Mandatory risk assessments for large-scale AI systems

  • A new Federal AI Safety Commission to oversee high-risk applications

  • Transparency requirements for AI-generated content

• Floor vote expected mid-May.

🏛 Senate Legislative Activity – May 2025

✔ FISA Reauthorization (Completed April 2)

Now law, with enhanced judicial review of surveillance and stronger privacy protections.

⏳ SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act

• Floor debate scheduled for mid-May.

• Would raise SSI asset limits to $10,000 (individual) / $20,000 (couple)—first update in over 30 years.

⏳ Higher Education Transparency and Accountability Act

• In markup phase.

• Proposes enhanced oversight of student loan programs, new disclosure requirements for for-profit colleges, and tracking of post-graduation outcomes.

🛫 FAA Modernization

• Senate oversight hearings continue on aviation infrastructure improvements following March’s reauthorization.

🏛 House Legislative Activity – May 2025

✔ H.R. 7213 – Autism CARES Act (Now Law as of April 4)

Provides expanded funding for autism research,early intervention and family support programs.

⏳ H.R. 2530 – Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios Act

• Floor debate ongoing.

• Strong advocacy from healthcare professionals; industry groups seeking amendments for implementation flexibility.

⏳ H.R. 5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act

• Scheduled for floor vote in May.

• Would establish new federal standards for parental access to public school curricula and student records.

🗳 Election Infrastructure and Integrity Act

• Advanced from committee in late April.

• Proposes funding forvoting system upgrades,mail-in ballot tracking, andmandatory post-election audits.

• Floor vote expected before Memorial Day recess.

🔮 What’s Coming in May & June

AI Safety Act – Senate floor vote (target: mid-May)

Student Loan Refinancing Act – bipartisan draft under review

House begins Farm Bill reauthorization hearings

Senate Finance Committee to take up affordable housing tax credits

Joint hearings on cybersecurity investments in critical infrastructure

📌 Conclusion

May finds Congress moving from stabilization to innovation and reform. The AI regulation framework, education accountability measures, and election modernization bills reflect growing bipartisan urgency around future-facing challenges. Meanwhile, debates on healthcare standards and student debt signal a busy summer ahead.

Stay tuned for the June 2025 update as Congress enters one of the most productive periods of the session. 🚀