Legislative Intelligence Briefing - Friday, May 29, 2026

Executive Summary

Congress is in Memorial Day recess — the House returns June 3 and the Senate June 1 — so no floor votes or new bill introductions were recorded in the past 24 hours. The Federal Register published several significant regulatory actions overnight, including a sweeping OMB proposed rule to overhaul government-wide federal financial assistance regulations and a Department of Energy "zero-based regulating" proposed rule implementing sunset provisions on energy regulations. The FY2027 appropriations cycle is entering a critical phase, with subcommittee markups underway and a dense cluster of budget hearings scheduled for the week of June 2.

Congressional Session Status

Both chambers are in recess for Memorial Day. The Senate returns Monday, June 1; the House returns Wednesday, June 3. No floor votes, new bill introductions, or committee markups occurred in the 24-hour window. The next scheduled recess for both chambers is the Juneteenth recess beginning June 19, 2026.

→ See what's on the House and Senate floor schedule for the week of June 3

Regulatory Actions: OMB Proposes Government-Wide Overhaul of Federal Financial Assistance Rules

Published: May 29, 2026 | Document No. 2026-10817 | Comment Deadline: July 13, 2026

The Office of Management and Budget, joined by more than 40 federal agencies, published a proposed rule to revise the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance — the government-wide framework governing grants, cooperative agreements, and other federal awards. The proposal would:

Strengthen transparency, accountability, and oversight requirements for all federal awards
Prohibit use of federal award funds for activities deemed inconsistent with law and policy
Codify "equal opportunity" and anti-discrimination requirements throughout the award process
Reduce recipient administrative burden in certain areas
Clarify the regulatory status of OMB requirements and the process for future updates

Participating agencies span virtually every major department: HHS, USDA, State, DOD, DOE, Treasury, Transportation, Commerce, Interior, EPA, VA, SBA, DOJ, DHS, Labor, Education, NASA, NSF, and more. This is a broad-impact rulemaking affecting every organization that receives federal grants or cooperative agreements.

Comment deadline: July 13, 2026 (45 days remaining)

→ Walk me through the OMB federal financial assistance proposed rule and its impact on grant recipients

→ Draft a comment letter on the OMB federal financial assistance proposed rule

Regulatory Actions: DOE Proposes Sunset Provisions on Energy Regulations

Published: May 29, 2026 | Document No. 2026-10729 | Comment Deadline: June 29, 2026

The Department of Energy published a proposed rule implementing "Zero-Based Regulating" — inserting conditional sunset dates into certain DOE regulations, consistent with Executive Order "Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy" (signed April 9, 2025). A companion direct final rule was published simultaneously; if significant adverse comments are received, DOE will withdraw the direct final rule and proceed with this proposed rulemaking. The sunset provisions would require covered regulations to be affirmatively renewed or they expire.

Comment deadline: June 29, 2026 (31 days remaining)

→ Expand on the DOE Zero-Based Regulating proposed rule and which energy regulations face sunset

→ Draft a memo on the DOE sunset rule and its implications for energy sector compliance

Regulatory Actions: EPA Environmental Filings

Three EPA actions published in the 24-hour window:

Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Federal Permit Program — Comment Period Reopened (Doc. 2026-10641, published May 28): EPA is reopening the comment period on its February 20, 2020 proposed rule establishing a federal CCR permit program for coal ash disposal. Comments close June 29, 2026.

→ Pull the CCR federal permit program proposed rule and current comment issues

Ohio Air Nuisance Rule Removal from SIP (Doc. 2026-10643, published May 28): EPA proposes to remove Ohio's air pollution nuisance rule from the State Implementation Plan per Ohio EPA's November 14, 2025 request. Comments close June 29, 2026.

TSCA Significant New Use Rules — Chemical Substances (25-2.5e) (Doc. 2026-10712, published May 29): Final rule effective July 28, 2026, requiring 90-day advance notification to EPA before manufacturing or processing certain chemical substances subject to premanufacture notices and TSCA orders.

Maryland Municipal Waste Combustors — Comment Period Extended (Doc. 2026-10638, published May 28): Comment period for the April 29, 2026 proposed rule on reasonably available control technology extended to June 12, 2026 (14 days remaining — urgent for stakeholders).

Regulatory Actions: SEC and Financial Markets

The SEC published multiple self-regulatory organization (SRO) notices on May 28–29:

Nasdaq PHLX — Bitcoin Index Options Approved (Doc. 2026-10537): Accelerated approval granted for Nasdaq PHLX to list and trade Nasdaq Bitcoin Index Options (Amendment No. 1).
NYSE Arca — T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF (Doc. 2026-10667): SEC extended its review period for proceedings on whether to approve or disapprove listing of the T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E.
NYSE Arca Rule 6.40P-O Amendment (Doc. 2026-10536) and NYSE American Rule 928NYP Amendment (Doc. 2026-10538): Both took immediate effectiveness.
Nasdaq Texas — Complimentary Services Package (Doc. 2026-10666): New proposed rule change filed.

→ Expand on the SEC crypto ETF and Bitcoin index options regulatory activity from May 28–29, 2026

ITC Trade Complaint: Heavy Machinery

Published: May 29, 2026 | Document No. 2026-10673

The U.S. International Trade Commission received a new complaint — "Certain Heavy Machinery and Components Thereof" (Docket No. 3910) — and is soliciting public interest comments. This initiates a potential Section 337 investigation.

→ Pull details on ITC Docket 3910 heavy machinery complaint and likely respondents

FY2027 Appropriations: Subcommittee Markups Underway — Dense Hearing Week Ahead

The appropriations cycle is in the Subcommittee Markups phase (active), with Full Committee Markups beginning in approximately 3 days. Public testimony submission windows remain open. 55 member offices have live FY2027 appropriations request portals.

Budget Hearings Scheduled for the Week of June 2–3, 2026

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→ Pull witness lists and prep materials for the June 2 Senate DHS FY2027 budget hearing

→ Draft talking points for the June 3 Senate HELP hearing on gender transition procedures

Active FY2027 Member Request Portals (Sample — 55 Total Live)

The following member offices have open FY2027 appropriations request portals (detected April 22, 2026):

Action item: With full committee markups beginning in approximately 3 days and public testimony windows still active, organizations with pending FY2027 funding requests should submit testimony and contact member offices immediately.

→ Draft an FY2027 appropriations funding request one-pager

Presidential Actions

Memorial Day Proclamation (Doc. 2026-10733): President Trump signed the Memorial Day 2026 proclamation on May 22, 2026; it was published in the Federal Register on May 28, 2026. No other executive orders, memoranda, or determinations were published in the 24-hour window.

Friday, May 29, 2026