Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]
Republican · NC · 13 bills sponsored
Home School Graduation Recognition Act
# Home School Graduation Recognition Act (HR 6392) - Summary **What the bill does:** This legislation clarifies that students who graduate from home schools—as long as those home schools are recognized under their state's laws—are considered official high school graduates. This recognition would make them eligible to apply for federal student financial aid programs, including grants and loans that are typically available to traditional high school graduates. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects home-schooled students and their families who wish to pursue higher education. It also impacts colleges and universities that administer federal student aid, as it establishes clearer eligibility guidelines. Additionally, states with existing home school regulations would see those rules formally recognized at the federal level for aid purposes. **Current status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives. Its next step would be consideration in the Senate. The bill addresses what some see as an ambiguity in federal student aid rules, ensuring that home-schooled students meeting their state's graduation requirements have the same access to federal education funding as traditionally schooled students.
Child Predators Accountability Act
# Child Predators Accountability Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill strengthens federal laws against child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by expanding what conduct is illegal. Currently, federal law prohibits forcing or coercing minors to *participate in* sexually explicit conduct for photos or videos. This bill broadens that to also criminalize forcing or coercing minors to simply *appear* in such material, even if they're not actively participating. It also clarifies that a minor counts as "depicted" in such material simply by being present in it, regardless of what they're doing. **Who It Affects:** The bill directly targets child predators and those who produce CSAM. It also affects law enforcement and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute these crimes, as it gives them clearer legal tools. Child protection advocates support the expansion, arguing it closes gaps that previously allowed some forms of child exploitation to go unprosecuted. **Current Status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives. It now awaits consideration in the Senate. As written, it maintains existing constitutional standards for criminal law while expanding the definition of prohibited conduct to address forms of child exploitation that may not have been clearly covered under previous law.
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
# Cashless Bail Reporting Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The Cashless Bail Reporting Act would require the federal government to collect and publish data about bail practices across the country, specifically focusing on cases where defendants are released without having to pay bail (known as "cashless" or "release on recognizance" bail). If passed, this bill would create a standardized reporting system so the public and policymakers could track how often judges are releasing people without requiring bail payments and how those cases turn out. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** This bill primarily affects state and local court systems, which would need to report bail-related data to the federal government. The legislation focuses on criminal procedure and how bail decisions are made at the state and local level. By collecting this information nationally, the bill aims to provide transparency about bail practices and their outcomes, though the bill itself doesn't change how bail is set—it only requires reporting on current practices. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet advanced to a full vote in the House of Representatives. As of now, it remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
No Taxpayer Funded Abortion Travel for Illegal Aliens Act
# Bill Summary: No Taxpayer Funded Abortion Travel for Illegal Aliens Act **What the bill would do:** This bill (HR 6191) would prohibit federal funding from being used to pay for abortion-related travel expenses for people who are in the United States illegally. The legislation aims to prevent taxpayer dollars—whether through federal grants, programs, or agencies—from covering transportation costs for undocumented immigrants seeking abortion services across state lines or to other locations. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill would primarily affect undocumented immigrants and federal programs that currently allocate funds for healthcare or travel assistance. It targets federal funding mechanisms rather than individual states. The bill doesn't specify which federal programs or funding streams it applies to, as those details would typically be clarified in committee discussions. **Current status:** As of now, HR 6191 remains in committee, meaning it has not advanced to a full House vote. The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC). No companion legislation in the Senate has been identified in the provided information.
Ask the Union Members Act
# Ask the Union Members Act (HR 6142) Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would require labor unions to obtain written consent from their members before spending union dues on political activities or campaigns. Currently, unions can use a portion of members' dues for political purposes unless members specifically opt out. This bill would flip that approach, requiring unions to get affirmative permission from members before using their money for political spending. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects union members, unions themselves, and potentially political candidates and organizations that receive union funding. It could influence the amount of money available for political activities and campaigns supported by organized labor. **Current Status:** HR 6142 is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC). **Note:** The specific details of key provisions are not fully detailed in the information provided, so this summary reflects the general purpose based on the bill's title and common legislative approaches to union political spending.
Fair Access to Justice for Union Members Act
# Fair Access to Justice for Union Members Act (HR 6141) **What the Bill Would Do:** The Fair Access to Justice for Union Members Act aims to provide union members with greater legal protections and access to the court system regarding union-related disputes. While the bill's specific provisions aren't detailed in the available information, the title suggests it would address barriers that union members face when pursuing legal claims against their unions or employers. **Who It Affects:** This legislation primarily affects union members and potentially unions themselves. It could also impact employers and the labor dispute resolution system more broadly. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet advanced to a full floor vote in the House of Representatives. No further action has been recorded at this time. --- *Note: To provide more specific details about the bill's exact provisions (such as changes to filing procedures, damage awards, or dispute resolution processes), I would need access to the full text of HR 6141. If you're interested in learning more, the bill text is available on Congress.gov.*
No Funding for Lawless Jurisdictions Act
# Summary: No Funding for Lawless Jurisdictions Act (HR 5624) **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would allow the federal government to withhold funding from cities or states that the administration deems "lawless jurisdictions." The legislation appears designed to give federal authorities power to cut federal grants and funding to local governments based on enforcement of certain laws, though specific criteria for what constitutes a "lawless jurisdiction" are not detailed in the available information. **Who It Affects:** The bill would potentially impact state and local governments, as well as residents in jurisdictions that receive federal funding for various programs (education, infrastructure, law enforcement, etc.). It could also affect nonprofit organizations and services that depend on federal grants distributed through local governments. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. No additional details about specific provisions or the administration's enforcement criteria are available from the summary provided. *Note: For a complete understanding of the bill's specific definitions and provisions, review the full legislative text, as this summary is based on limited information.*
To make technical amendments to update statutory references to provisions reclassified to title 34, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors.
# Summary of HR 4499 **What the Bill Does:** This bill is a housekeeping measure that updates references throughout U.S. federal law to reflect changes in how criminal justice and law enforcement statutes are organized. When Congress reorganizes laws into different sections of the U.S. Code (the official compilation of all federal laws), existing references scattered throughout other laws can become outdated. This bill corrects those broken references and fixes related technical errors to ensure the law books are consistent and accurate. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions:** The bill primarily affects federal agencies, courts, and legal professionals who need to cite and apply federal law correctly. It doesn't create new policies or change what the laws actually do—it simply updates the "address" where those laws can be found in the U.S. Code. This type of bill is routine maintenance work that prevents confusion and ensures the legal system functions smoothly. **Current Status:** HR 4499 was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) in the 119th Congress and is currently under review in committee. No further action has been taken yet. These technical correction bills often pass with bipartisan support since they don't involve policy disagreements.
National Education Association Charter Repeal Act
# National Education Association Charter Repeal Act (HR 4450) Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would repeal the federal charter that was granted to the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union representing public school teachers and education support staff in the United States. If passed, it would eliminate the NEA's special federal charter status, which currently gives the organization certain legal recognitions and authorities at the federal level. **Who It Affects** The bill would directly impact the NEA and its approximately 3 million members, primarily public school teachers nationwide. It could also indirectly affect school employees, education policy, and labor union operations more broadly, though the specific practical consequences would depend on how the repeal is implemented. **Current Status** As of now, HR 4450 is in committee, meaning it has been referred to the appropriate House committee for review but has not yet advanced to a full floor vote. The bill was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) in the 119th Congress. *Note: The bill's specific charter provisions and detailed policy rationale are not publicly detailed in the basic information available, so interested readers may want to review the full bill text for complete details on what authorities or benefits the federal charter currently provides.*
Free Speech Fairness Act
# Free Speech Fairness Act (HR 2501) Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The Free Speech Fairness Act is a proposed law currently under review in the House of Representatives. However, specific details about what this bill contains are not publicly available in the information provided. To understand its exact provisions, you would need to access the full text of HR 2501 through Congress.gov or similar legislative databases. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House. Bills at this stage often undergo revisions and may never receive a final vote. **To Learn More:** For complete details about this bill's provisions, which groups it would affect, and its progress, I recommend visiting Congress.gov and searching for "HR 2501" or reviewing official summaries from relevant House committees. This will provide the most accurate and comprehensive information about the bill's actual content.
No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025
# No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would prevent people from receiving asylum in the United States if they have been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor crime. Currently, asylum seekers can only be denied based on specific serious crimes (like aggravated felonies or particularly serious crimes that make them a danger to the U.S.). If passed, the bill would expand this restriction to cover all criminal convictions, with a narrow exception: the Department of Homeland Security could allow asylum for certain political crimes committed outside the U.S. **Who it affects and current status:** The bill would primarily affect asylum seekers with any criminal record, including people convicted of misdemeanors. Currently, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) in the 119th Congress.
No Contracts with Foreign Adversaries Act
# No Contracts with Foreign Adversaries Act (HR 938) Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would prevent U.S. colleges and universities from signing contracts with countries deemed "foreign adversaries" (North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran) or companies controlled by these countries. Schools that want to enter such contracts would need to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education at least 120 days in advance. If approved, waivers would last one year and could be renewed. The Department of Education would also have to notify Congress before approving any waivers. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions that currently do business with designated adversary nations or their companies. This could impact research partnerships, technology collaborations, student exchanges, and other institutional contracts. It also gives Congress and the Department of Education new oversight responsibilities. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House. The bill addresses national security concerns regarding foreign influence in American higher education institutions.
Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025
# Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025 Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would ban remote/telehealth provision of medication abortions (chemical abortions). If passed, doctors would be required to physically examine patients in person, be physically present during the abortion procedure, and schedule a follow-up visit. The only exception is when an abortion is necessary to save a mother's life. Providers who violate these requirements could face fines and up to two years in prison. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects healthcare providers who offer medication abortion services via telehealth, as well as patients seeking remote abortion care. It would not apply to patients—only providers can face criminal penalties. The legislation would impact people in areas with limited access to in-person abortion services, as it eliminates the option of receiving abortion medications remotely. **Current Status** The bill (HR 729) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.