MGS AI/Data Center Newsletter: With the range of opportunities and challenges data centers present for local governments, understanding how to navigate the federal and state AI policy landscape is key for local governments considering measures to best support their communities. Our new attached AI/Data Center Newsletter provides an overview of AI and data center policy developments at multiple levels of government.
Congress:
FY 27 Appropriations: House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) released the House’s schedule of FY27 appropriations markups and text for the Financial Services and Mil-Con House appropriations bills. Committee markups for both bills are taking place today, April 17.
Reconciliation 2.0: Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is expected to release a budget resolution that instructs the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees to begin work on a new reconciliation package, with a vote on the resolution occurring as soon as Wednesday. Republicans have turned to budget reconciliation to fund CBP and ICE after Congress reached an impasse over the agencies’ funding through the regular appropriations process.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization: House Transportation Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) is targeting an April 29 Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup of this surface transportation bill. The legislation will include a registration fee on electric vehicles and is being negotiated at a $500-550 billion topline, though Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) reportedly wants a higher figure.
Congress Extends FISA: On April 17, Congress extended Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until April 30. FISA allows national security agencies to collect and review texts and emails sent to and from foreigners living outside the U.S. without a warrant.
House Financial Services to Amend Senate Housing Bill: House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-AR) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) are collaborating on amendments to the Senate’s housing bill (H.R. 6644). They are aiming to send text back to the Senate in the coming weeks.
House to Hold WIOA Markup: The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a markup on April 21st of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 (H.R. 8210), legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
House Holds FIFA World Cup Hearing: Senate Appropriations Subcommittees held a joint hearing to review FIFA World Cup 2026 security preparations. Witnesses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, DHS, and FBI testified that the ongoing DHS funding lapse has slowed coordination with state and local authorities, as well as led to the loss of hundreds of airport screeners.
House Passes ALERT Act: On Tuesday, April 14, the House passed the ALERT Act (H.R. 7613) 396-10, a bipartisan air safety bill that seeks to address last year’s deadly midair crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. House T&I and Senate Commerce leaders will now negotiate a compromise version between the House’s ALERT Act and the Senate-passed ROTOR Act (S. 2503).
House Approves Clean Air Act Bills: On Thursday, April 16, the House approved several pieces of legislation to ease air pollution and permitting requirements: H.R. 6409 makes it easier for states and localities to discount air pollution from sources outside the United States when calculating their emission compliance numbers. H.R. 6398 ends a Clean Air Act requirement for EPA to scrutinize environmental reviews by other agencies, purportedly eliminating duplicative environmental reviews.
Farm Bill: House leadership is set to vote on the Republican-led farm bill (H.R.7567) the week of April 27. The deadline for members to submit amendments is April 22.
FirstNet: The House will vote on H.R. 7386, legislation to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) through FY 2037.
Emergency Service Outages: The House will vote on H.R. 5200, legislation requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold public hearings and issue reports annually on internet and phone outages during natural disasters and their impact on first responders.
ADA Compliance: The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an interim final rule extending compliance deadlines by one year for its 2024 Title II ADA regulations governing the accessibility of state and local government websites and mobile applications. The rule is currently unpublished and scheduled for formal publication on April 20, 2026.
The final rule states that State and local government agencies with populations over 50,000 now have until April 26, 2027 to comply with ADA regulations, while public agencies with populations under 50,000 and all special district governments now have until April 26, 2028 to comply with said regulations.
DOJ will accept public comments on the final rule for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The unpublished final rule can be found here: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-07663.pdf.
Trump Administration:
ICE Director Departs Agency: The acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, will leave the agency for the private sector at the end of May.
WH Releases 2026 Economic Report: The White House Council of Economic Advisers released its 2026 economic report, which centers on the effect of OBBB, regulatory reform, trade and tariffs, artificial intelligence (AI, housing affordability, and domestic supply chains.
Iran: Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff will travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, to resume negotiations with Iranian leadership this week.
GOP Huddles on Midterms: White House Suzie Wiles will host a gathering of Republican operatives this week in D.C. to discuss the party’s strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Hearings and Markups:
Kevin Warsh: The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a nomination hearing tomorrow to consider Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve. Warsh will need to win the favor of Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who has vowed to block any nominee while the Justice Department continues its probe into the current Chair, Jerome Powell.
MilCon/Financial Services: On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a markup of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill and the Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Services and General Government Bill.
Energy: Energy Secretary Chris Wright will appear before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to discuss his department’s FY27 request.
Interior: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will appear before the House Appropriations Committee today and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to discuss his department’s FY27 request.
Treasury: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to discuss his department’s FY27 request.
HHS: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday to discuss his department’s FY27 request.
Commerce: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday and the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday to discuss his department’s FY27 request.
U.S. Leadership in Codes Development: On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to preserve the United States' leadership in the development of codes and standards, such as through the Pro Codes Act, by balancing copyrights with public access to privately developed codes that are incorporated by reference into law.
WIOA: On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a markup on April 21st of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026 (H.R. 8210), legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
The Week’s News:
- Strait of Hormuz opens to commercial ships (BBC) but is now at a standstill again (NY Times)
- House fails to pass war powers legislation to halt U.S. military operations against Iran (POLITICO)
- Democrats win NJ special election (NYT)
- Trump says energy secretary ‘totally wrong’ on gas prices not dropping to $3 until next year (The Hill)
- Senate girds for budget vote-a-rama in busy week for Congress (Roll Call)
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