Investigations reveal problems. Policy is where problems get solved — or don't. This tracker follows the legislation and regulation that matters most, so you always know where the fights stand.
CMS rule requiring minimum 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day — the first federal staffing standard in nursing home history.
Impact: Estimated 150,000 preventable deaths annually from understaffing. Industry lobbying succeeded in blocking enforcement.
Inflation Reduction Act provision capping insulin costs at $35/month for Medicare beneficiaries.
Impact: Applies only to Medicare. The 3.4 million uninsured diabetics and those with private insurance remain unprotected.
Federal waivers allowing states to impose work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility.
Impact: Studies show 80%+ of affected enrollees already work. Requirements primarily create paperwork barriers that cause coverage loss.
EPA maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS compounds in public drinking water systems.
Impact: 200 million Americans have PFAS in their drinking water. Water utilities and chemical companies are suing to block enforcement.
EPA rule requiring oil and gas companies to monitor and report methane emissions using satellite-verified data.
Impact: Industry currently underreports methane by 70%. Accurate reporting is prerequisite for any meaningful reduction.
First federal standard requiring employers to protect workers from heat illness, including water, rest, and shade requirements.
Impact: Heat kills hundreds of workers annually. The rule has been in development since 2021. Industry opposition has delayed finalization.
Federal legislation to limit or eliminate qualified immunity doctrine that shields police from civil liability.
Impact: The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed the House twice and died in the Senate. Police accountability remains severely limited.
State laws limiting solitary confinement to 15 days maximum and prohibiting isolation for vulnerable populations.
Impact: 20+ states have passed reform laws. Most are being ignored by corrections departments. 80,000 people remain in isolation.
FCC rule capping interstate and intrastate prison phone call rates at $0.14/minute.
Impact: Rates reduced significantly but video visitation fees and tablet rental fees remain unregulated. Families still pay billions annually.
Biden administration IDR plan capping payments at 5% of discretionary income and forgiving balances after 10–20 years.
Impact: 8 million borrowers enrolled. Federal courts have blocked implementation. Borrowers remain in limbo with no clear path to relief.
Tax credits for local news subscriptions and journalist salaries to support local news ecosystem.
Impact: 2,900 local papers have closed since 2005. The bill has been introduced multiple times and never received a committee vote.
Annual federal appropriation of $535 million for public radio and television stations.
Impact: The 2026 budget reconciliation bill proposes eliminating CPB entirely. Rural and tribal stations would close. 1,500+ local stations at risk.
$42.45 billion federal program to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities.
Impact: Funds allocated in 2021. As of 2026, less than 5% has been deployed. ISPs are lobbying to block competition from municipal broadband.
Federal mandate requiring government agencies to migrate to NIST post-quantum cryptography standards by 2030.
Impact: Applies only to federal agencies. Private sector — banks, hospitals, utilities — has no equivalent mandate and is largely unprepared.
Proposed expansion of GINA to cover life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance.
Impact: Current GINA has major loopholes. 15M DNA profiles exposed in 23andMe bankruptcy. Life insurers can still use genetic data to deny coverage.
Federal legislation to ban loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics in games marketed to children.
Impact: The $15B loot box industry targets children with gambling mechanics. Belgium and Netherlands have banned them. The U.S. bill has never received a committee vote.
This tracker is updated as legislation moves through Congress, regulations are finalized or challenged, and court decisions alter the legal landscape. Each entry links to the investigation that provides full context. Last updated: June 2026.