The Categories of End-of-Year Legislation

The remaining 2025 legislative agenda is significant (and growing).  It would be more than a miracle if Congress were to complete its ambitious agenda, especially with the hyper-partisanship and frustration that have defined Congress in recent months.  Nonetheless, there is a lot to be done, and leadership is in the process of categorizing priorities.  Here is one way to evaluate the looming policy agenda before Congress: 

Must-Pass Bills:  These include all the bills that have a deadline (with consequences for inaction). A continuing resolution by September 30th would be at the top of that list since the consequence for inaction is a government shutdown.  Others on that list would be the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which needs to be signed into law by the end of the year, and the healthcare extensions, which need to be extended by the end of the month. 

Nice to Have Bills:  There is a long list of bills that do not necessarily need to be done (and can be easily extended), but would be a win if they crossed the finish line.  This would include the Farm Bill (already outlined as a “skinny” version of the bill) and the House version of Surface Transportation Reauthorization (an effort to pass legislation before the end of the year, almost a year early).  

Unlikely Wins:  There is also a long list of legislation that policymakers would like to advance and are actively working on, but in all likelihood will not be able to finish, given how much competition there is on the agenda.  

Of course, nothing is off the table until Congress adjourns…but the list of items with member interest is growing and time is rapidly shrinking.  The next couple of months will be a race to see how much can get done before the real political season kicks in early next year.