Legislation

• On March 25, 2026, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting Amendment Act of 2026, unanimously passed by the Council on March 3, which required Metropolitan Police to document arrests involving federal agents. • The ACLU of DC expressed deep disappointment, arguing the emergency legislation was essential for transparency during federal-local law enforcement interactions. • This veto highlights tensions over federal oversight in the capital, potentially affecting accountability in joint operations.

• The House of Representatives returns Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with the Rules Committee preparing floor votes on bills addressing safety in Washington, D.C., Department of Homeland Security funding, and vessel security. • Speaker Johnson has no plans to bring a clean extension of FISA Section 702 to the floor this week, as the surveillance provision faces expiration in mid-April. • These votes occur amid ongoing bipartisan efforts in the House Financial Services Committee to initiate bicameral conference negotiations on differing housing bills between chambers.

• The Trump administration on Friday unveiled a sweeping legislative blueprint for regulating artificial intelligence, pressing Congress to establish a clear federal framework as the administration has threatened broadband and internet funding restrictions on states with overly restrictive AI regulations. • OpenAI signaled support for state-level alignment around California and New York models in the absence of national framework, while Google's Kent Walker flagged pro-big tech governor-backed legislation as exemplary. • Despite the White House push for swift action, the legislation faces a challenging path in Congress, with two previous attempts by the administration to enshrine federal preemption having failed.

• Indiana enacted a March 5, 2026, law allowing tax deductions for tipped and overtime pay aligning with federal rules, with similar bills in New Mexico, West Virginia, Arizona, Illinois, and New York. • Multiple states push E-Verify mandates for employment verification, building on 2025 immigration-focused proposals. • Virginia HB 923 passed the House on March 18, banning certain stay-or-pay contracts with $10,000 penalties, offering exemptions and private rights of action.

• Health workers in Massachusetts lobby for bill making assaults on staff felonies, approved by House last November awaiting Senate vote by July 31. • Violence surged post-COVID per surveys; bill mandates hospitals assess risks and implement ongoing safety policies. • "Health care workers don't feel supported," says Cambridge Health Alliance nursing officer; Sen. Joan Lovely optimistic for passage to reduce assaults.

• Two key Democratic lawmakers have raised national security concerns about the Trump administration's approval for exports of Nvidia chips to China, warning that the move risks harming U.S. technological leadership. • The legislators are calling for bipartisan legislation to prevent American technology from reaching Chinese hands and being used improperly, echoing broader concerns about technology transfer and competitive advantages in AI computing. • Nvidia has pushed back against criticism of the Trump administration's export approval decision, defending the company's position on international trade and technology availability.