Committee Deadlines Looming
As the legislature works towards the first round of committee deadlines, high profile issues including gun violence, fraud, and immigration enforcement continue to be the themes of the session. With only two weeks remaining for committees to consider and act on policy bills, committee chairs are faced with prioritizing issues and evaluating urgency as the Friday, March 27. 2026 deadline approaches.
With the legislature set for an Easter/Passover break between March 27th and April 7th, committee chairs will only have a short window of time to assemble and pass finance proposals prior to the April 17, 2026 committee deadline. It remains to be seen where legislators in a nearly evenly divided legislature can find sufficient agreement to advance proposals this session before all 201 legislative seats are on the ballot in November.
What’s Going on at the Capitol
This week, legislators dedicated time and attention to a number of high-profile, controversial or meaningful proposals. Below are some notable ones, as well as updates on other news at the Capitol:
Important Dates
Deadlines are as follows:
Legislative leaders also announced the schedule for legislative breaks, including:
The legislature must adjourn no later than midnight on May 18, 2026.
With war raging in the Middle East, the Department of Homeland Security still shut down and another winter storm bearing down on the East Coast, Congress returns to Washington this week facing a complex set of national security, legislative and political challenges. The House has already postponed its first votes of the week until Tuesday afternoon due to the storm affecting the region.
Potential Supplemental for the Iran Conflict
The White House, the Pentagon and congressional leadership have begun preliminary discussions around a supplemental appropriations package tied to military operations in Iran. While a formal request is not expected immediately, early estimates circulating among congressional offices suggest the cost could exceed $100 billion. If pursued, this package could become one of the final major legislative vehicles of the year.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are already evaluating whether additional policy priorities or spending proposals could be attached. Republican leadership is exploring the possibility of advancing such a package through reconciliation procedures to avoid a Senate filibuster. However, reconciliation would require offsetting spending reductions elsewhere in the federal budget, setting up what is likely to become a major political debate in the weeks ahead.
Department of Homeland Security Shutdown
The Department of Homeland Security has now been shut down for 30 days, leaving tens of thousands of employees working without pay and raising operational concerns across several agencies. Airport security lines are beginning to worsen nationally as staffing pressures mount. The Senate will hold a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, the President’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
FISA Section 702 Reauthorization
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is scheduled to expire on April 20. Congress has limited legislative days between now and that deadline, increasing pressure on lawmakers to act quickly. The core debate centers on whether to pass a clean extension of the surveillance authority or attempt to include reforms addressing privacy concerns. The administration is advocating for a straightforward extension, while several members in both parties are pushing for changes to the program.
House Dynamics and the SAVE America Act
Speaker Mike Johnson faces significant procedural challenges in the House as several conservative members continue to demand progress on the SAVE America Act before allowing other legislation to advance. This internal pressure is likely to complicate the House floor schedule in the coming weeks.
The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the SAVE America Act as early as Tuesday in what could become an extended and contentious floor debate. Senate Republican leadership intends to use the process to highlight divisions over election policy and Senate procedural rules, including the feasibility of a talking filibuster.
Under the expected process, the Senate will first vote to proceed to the House-passed version of the bill. That vote could require the Vice President to break a tie if Republican defections occur. Rather than moving directly to cloture, Majority Leader John Thune plans to allow a prolonged debate period that will keep senators on the floor for extended periods. Democrats are expected to slow the process through quorum calls and procedural motions, and they may also force a vote on war powers related to the Iran conflict.
Additional amendment votes tied to election policy issues demanded by the President are expected during the debate, including proposals related to mail-in ballots and transgender policy. These amendments will require 60 votes and are unlikely to pass. The mail-in ballot provisions could also expose divisions within the Republican conference.
The duration of the debate will depend largely on how long supporters of the legislation continue to block efforts to end discussion and move toward final votes.
Looking Ahead
The next several weeks are shaping up to be one of the most volatile legislative stretches of the year. Between the escalating international conflict, unresolved appropriations issues and internal divisions within Congress, leadership in both chambers will face significant challenges in moving major legislation forward.
LHPA will continue closely monitoring developments on supplemental defense funding, the DHS shutdown, FISA reauthorization and the evolving Senate debate on election legislation. We will keep you apprised of key developments and any implications for our clients and partners.
