BOTH CHAMBERS OUT OF SESSION THIS WEEK
The U.S. House of Representatives is currently in a District Work Period. No floor votes are scheduled until Tuesday, May 12. The U.S. Senate is conducting pro forma sessions only — brief, ceremonial gaveling with no legislative business conducted — on Monday, May 4 and Thursday, May 7.

What is a District Work Period?
A District Work Period is a scheduled recess during which members of the House return to their home districts. During this time, members are expected to meet with constituents, attend local events, hold town halls, and engage with the communities they represent. No floor votes, committee hearings, or legislative floor sessions take place in Washington.
This is a normal, planned part of the congressional calendar. The House adopted its 2026 schedule in November 2025, and this recess was built into the calendar in advance.

What is a Pro Forma Session?
A pro forma session is a brief, largely ceremonial meeting of the Senate in which one senator gavels the chamber into session and then immediately adjourns it. Pro forma sessions are used to technically keep the Senate “in session” — which prevents the President from making recess appointments without Senate confirmation during short breaks. No votes are held and no legislation is considered.

What Happens Next?
The House returns to Washington on Monday, May 11, with the first recorded votes expected Tuesday, May 12. The Senate is expected to resume regular legislative business when it next convenes following its pro forma session on May 7.
Bills that were pending floor action before the recess will return to the calendar when both chambers reconvene.

The following bills carry a HIGH priority designation based on their legislative significance, broad impact on residents, or notable recent action. All status information is sourced from official state legislative records via LegiScan.

OHIO HB772:
Establish the Rural Health Transformation Program
Introduced March 24, 2026 and referred to the House Finance Committee. This bill would codify Ohio’s participation in the federal Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program into state statute. The federal RHT Program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is a five-year, $50 billion national initiative to improve health care delivery in rural communities. Ohio’s approved application will receive $202 million in federal fiscal year 2026 — the 25th highest total nationally, though ranked 46th in funding per rural resident according to Health Policy Ohio. Ohio’s plan targets its 73 non-urban counties, where nearly one in five rural hospitals is at risk of closure, 13 counties are designated maternity care deserts, and primary care availability is roughly half that of urban regions. Key initiatives in Ohio’s plan include Rural Health Innovation Hubs, EMS transformation, school-based health centers, mobile vision and dental services, and a rural workforce pipeline. HB 772 has not yet received a committee vote.

KENTUCKY SB 214
An Act Relating to Agriculture and Declaring an Emergency
Signed into law April 17, 2026. This bill amends Kentucky Revised Statute 246.055 to authorize the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to accept nonfederal funds and grants from any source — public or private — that benefit the Department’s programs. The emergency designation means the law took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature rather than waiting for a standard effective date. The change broadens the Department’s authority to secure supplemental funding outside of federal channels, potentially expanding its capacity for agricultural programs and services.

WEST VIRGINIA SB 63:
Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics in Rural Schools (SOAR) Act
Signed by the Governor on March 25, 2026. Passed the Senate 32–2 and the House 70–21. The SOAR Act addresses a pattern of school closures and consolidations in rural West Virginia counties. Under the law, when a county board of education moves to close a public school, a public charter school may submit a conversion application within 90 days of state approval of the closure. The county board must provide the proposed charter school with right of first refusal on the property. The bill also establishes an abbreviated application process for existing authorized charter schools seeking a second location. Supporters contend the measure preserves educational access in communities where school closures have significantly reduced local options. The bill does not require any school to convert to a charter; it creates a pathway for communities that wish to pursue that option.

WEST VIRGINIA HB 4006:
Creating the West Virginia Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Growth Act
Reached third reading in the 2026 Regular Session. This bill would create a statutory framework to attract and expand aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries in West Virginia. The Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing sector represents significant economic development potential for the state. As of the most recent available legislative record, the bill had not yet received a final floor vote. Third reading is the final stage before a chamber vote.

INDIANA HB 1424:
Farm and Homestead Food Sales
Signed by the President of the Senate on March 2, 2026 and enacted as Public Law 163. Effective July 1, 2026. This law exempts “homestead vendors” and “small farms” — defined as operations with under $1.5 million in annual gross sales — from many state health regulations that apply to standard food establishments. Covered sellers may offer meat products, prepared foods, baked goods, and produce directly to consumers from their property or at farmers’ markets. State and local health departments are prohibited from imposing rules beyond federal law requirements on these vendors, though they retain authority to investigate foodborne illness complaints. Vendors must still provide ingredient and allergen disclosures through labeling or signage. According to the Indiana Legislative Services Agency, approximately 90 percent of Indiana farms could qualify under the bill’s definition of a small farm.

U.S. House Press Gallery — 2026 House Calendar and vote schedule. pressgallery.house.gov
Senate Democratic Caucus Floor Schedule — Pro forma session dates and Senate floor status. democrats.senate.gov/floor/senate-schedule
Roll Call — 2026 Congressional calendar overview (November 2025). rollcall.com
LegiScan — State bill text, status, vote records, and sponsor data (OH HB772, KY SB214, WV SB63, WV HB4006, IN HB1424). legiscan.com
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — Rural Health Transformation Program overview and Ohio award details. cms.gov
Health Policy Ohio — Ohio RHT funding per rural resident analysis (January 2026). healthpolicyohio.org
West Virginia Legislature Official Blog — 2026 Completed Legislation Part 4; SB 63 and HB 4006 session records. blog.wvlegislature.gov
Indiana General Assembly — HB 1424 full text, fiscal note, and enrolled bill. iga.in.gov