Capitol to Capitol | Feb. 17, 2026

Capitol to Capitol | Feb. 17, 2026

Questions? Please use the email icon at left to contact NCSL's State-Federal Affairs Division.

Congressional Updates

Voter Identification Bill

The House passed an elections overhaul bill that would impose new voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements for federal elections. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, would require state election officials to obtain documentary proof of citizenship from any person attempting to register to vote in a federal election. The bill would also impose criminal penalties on state officials who mistakenly register an applicant to vote without first acquiring proof of citizenship. Read the bill text here.

House Advances the Housing for the 21st Century Act

The bipartisan bill seeks to address the nation's housing shortage through supply-side reforms. It would modernize several Department of Housing and Urban Development programs and policies to support increased housing supply. The bill now moves to the Senate, which has considered its own bipartisan housing legislation, the ROAD to Housing Act.

If the House bill is enacted, HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program would be updated to align with current housing market conditions and development practices. Participating jurisdictions would have greater flexibility to use HOME funds for housing-related infrastructure.

HUD would be required to reclassify what housing-related activities are exempt from requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act and establish federal guidelines for point-access block buildings. The bill would also direct HUD to publish voluntary guidelines and best practices that states and localities could use to modernize their own local zoning frameworks. The bill would amend the federal definition of "manufactured home" to include housing built without a permanent chassis and establish HUD as the primary authority for any manufactured home construction or safety standard.

The bill includes numerous provisions that would expand protections for borrowers and families receiving federal assistance. It would enhance oversight of housing providers, including a requirement that HUD exclude disability benefits from its calculation of income when determining eligibility for its veterans housing program.

The bill also would provide targeted regulatory relief to support community bank lending and update the statutory maximum loan limits for Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance for residential multifamily construction to reflect current costs. Read the act here.

House Passes Disapproval Resolution on Canada Tariffs After Speaker's Moratorium on Tariff Votes Ends

Six Republicans joined Democrats to pass a resolution to repeal President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. The resolution, which passed by a 219-211 vote, would end the national emergency declaration the president has used to impose 35% tariffs on Canadian goods, with exemptions for products covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

The resolution was put up for consideration after House Speaker Mike Johnson was unable to renew a special rule blocking tariff-related votes. The rule expired on Jan. 31 and did not receive enough votes to be extended. The resolution now moves to the Senate. Read more.

Partial Government Shutdown Begins After Failed Senate Vote on DHS Budget

Lawmakers left town Thursday afternoon after a failed Senate vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring a partial government shutdown. Depending on the length of the shutdown, there could be further delays in state reimbursements from FEMA, limitations in the ability of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to assist state and local officials, and disruptions in Transportation Security Agency screenings at airports. The DHS agencies related to immigration enforcement would likely be unaffected, due to large appropriations in last year's budget reconciliation package. Read the Roll Call article.

Administration Updates

New Guidance on Title II Funding Flexibility

The department's guidance explains how state and local education agencies can use federal Title II formula funds-designed to support the development of educators and school leaders-for innovative models such as strategic school staffing activities. Read the guidance here.

States May Use Child Welfare Funds to Treat Opioid Addiction

The Administration for Children and Families announced the approval of three medications to treat parents struggling with opioid use whose children are at risk of entering foster care. All three medications meet the evidence standard for allowable use of child welfare prevention funding under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. States can receive a 50% federal match to provide the medications to parents with opioid use disorder. Read the press release.

Court Blocks Social Services Funding Freeze

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from freezing funding for three social services programs in five states while the states' lawsuit continues. The freeze applied to the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Social Services Block Grant in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. Read the court order here.

Repeal of Federal Greenhouse Emissions Regulations

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency's "endangerment finding," limiting federal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The finding, issued in 2009, concluded that greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to Americans' health and welfare and has been used by the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide, methane and emissions from tailpipes, fossil fuel wells, smokestacks and more. In revoking the finding, the administration argues that the Clean Air Act only allows for limitations on pollution that causes direct harm to Americans and only when the damage is "near the source" of the pollution.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR STATES: If the revocation survives the expected legal challenges, the responsibility for regulating greenhouse gas emissions would fall directly to states.

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