1. The Week in one Paragraph
Congress remained in pro forma sessions this week without conducting legislative business. Federal executive agencies led activity through rulemaking notices, cost catalog reviews, and administrative updates, while state legislatures across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana operated in interim recess ahead of upcoming post-election work.
2. Bills Passed / Signed into law
No Federal bills were passed by Congress or signed into law by the President during the week of October 26,2026.
3. Notable Votes
No notable votes were held in either the U.S. House of Representatives of the U.S. Senate during the week of October 26,2026
4. Hearings Held
There were no notable committee hearings this week.
5. Bills Introduced
U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act (H.R. 10911): Introduced on October 26 by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), alongside Reps. Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Don Davis (NC-01). The bipartisan bill amends the Animal Health Protection Act to establish a voluntary, nationwide swine health program modeled after the National Poultry Improvement Plan to prevent and mitigate disease outbreaks.
Strong American Wood Act / Timber Market Expansion: Introduced on October 29 by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). The bill seeks to ease regulatory burdens on domestic timber, lower trade barriers for wood biomass, expand the carbon storage tax credit for biochar, and promote U.S. forest products in federal procurement.
Socially Disadvantaged & Veteran Farmers Assistance (H.R. 10914): Introduced on October 26 to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to expand outreach and assistance programs for veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Cloud Infrastructure Cybersecurity (H.R. 10915): Introduced on October 26 to direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish updated standards and recommendations for cloud-based infrastructure security.
Death in Custody Reporting Act Amendments (H.R. 10909): Introduced on October 26 to refine reporting requirements submitted to the Bureau of Justice Statistics regarding deaths occurring in law enforcement custody.
Commemorative & Expressive Resolutions:
H.Res. 1639: Designating October 26, 2026, as "Day of the Deployed".
H.Res. 1640: Expressing support for designating October 2026 as "National Financial Planning Month".
6. What’s Coming Next Week
Based on the official legislative record for the week of November 1, 2026. both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will continue Pro Forma sessions.
7. Statehouse
State legislatures across Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana operated in interim recess ahead of upcoming post-election work and veto sessions, though state executive agencies continued issuing administrative register notices and committee hearing schedules.
8. Federal Register an Agencies
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Cost Catalog: The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau requested public input on its preliminary cost catalog regarding Upper C-Band relocations (GN Docket No. 25-59).
Medicaid Access Information Collection: CMS issued a proposed information collection notice regarding methods for assuring access to covered Medicaid services (CMS-2026-3136 / CMS-10391).
CMS Privacy Act Matching Program: CMS published a notice re-establishing a Privacy Act matching program for health benefit eligibility verification (91 FR 68151).
9. Deadlines
November 9, 2026: Reply comments due for FCC Upper C-Band Preliminary Cost Catalog (GN Docket No. 25-59).
November 13, 2026: Comments due for CMS Medicaid Access Proposed Collection (CMS-2026-3136).
10. Reader Question and Answer
Q: How does the Federal Register work, and how can the public participate in agency decisions?
A: The Federal Register is the official daily publication for federal agency rules, proposed regulations, and official notices. Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), when an executive agency intends to issue binding regulations, it must first publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This opens a public comment period, typically 30 to 90 days, where citizens, businesses, and organizations can submit feedback or data via Regulations.gov. Agencies are legally required to review all substantive public comments and address them when issuing a final, enforceable rule.
Who is affected: Members of the public, business owners, and regulated entities who want a direct role in shaping federal administrative policy before rules take legal effect.
11. Sources This Week
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