Mike Lee

Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act

This bill deems all biosimilars licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) interchangeable with their reference products.

A biosimilar is a biological product (e.g., a drug or vaccine) that is very similar to a brand-name biological product (i.e., the reference product). Under current law, a biosimilar that meets additional requirements may be deemed interchangeable with the reference product; this designation allows pharmacists to substitute the interchangeable biosimilar when filling a prescription for the reference product, depending on state law. Further, the first biosimilar deemed interchangeable with a given reference product is awarded a period of marketing exclusivity.

The bill eliminates additional requirements for demonstrating interchangeability so that all licensed biosimilars are deemed interchangeable with their reference products. (Draft guidance released by the FDA in 2024 proposed to make some of these interchangeability requirements optional, including studies related to the safety of switching between use of the biosimilar and reference product. It has not been finalized.)

This change takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, and previously licensed biosimilars must be deemed interchangeable with their reference products on that date. However, the bill preserves the exclusivity period for first interchangeable biosimilars licensed before the bill’s enactment. For example, if a new biosimilar licensed after the bill takes effect relies on the same reference product as an existing biosimilar that is subject to an unexpired exclusivity period, the new biosimilar is not deemed interchangeable with the reference product until the exclusivity period has ended.

Brian Head Town Land Conveyance Act

This bill directs the Forest Service to convey approximately 24 acres of land within the Dixie National Forest to Brian Head Town, Utah, along with any improvements made to the land. The town must use the land for a public works facility or any other uses determined to be necessary by the town. The Forest Service must convey the land to the town without consideration (such as payment).

Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2025

This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for agricultural checkoff programs. These are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands (e.g., the Cotton Board, Cattlemen's Beef Board, or National Watermelon Promotion Board).

The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program with annual assessment revenue equal to more than $20 million or a USDA order issued under such a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out activities under the program with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture.

A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any

• act that may involve a conflict of interest;

• anticompetitive activity;

• unfair or deceptive act or practice; or

• act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product.

Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board.

Further, the board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds.

The USDA Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs.

University of Utah Research Park Act

This bill confirms the use by the University of Utah of approximately 593 acres of specified nonfederal land in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a university research park and for related university purposes (including development of student housing and a transit hub) as a valid public purpose.

Stopping Harmful Incidents to Enforce Lawful Drone Use Act or the SHIELD U Act

This bill authorizes and expands counter-drone activities by state, local, and airport law enforcement, and federal agencies.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state, local, and airport law enforcement to carry out Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (Counter-UAS) activities on commercial service airport property to detect, identify, and mitigate threats posed by unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones).

Further, the bill authorizes state and local law enforcement to carry out Counter-UAS activities off commercial airport property; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must establish a process that allows for collaboration and coordination with these entities.

In addition, each commercial airport must convene a task force to establish or modify the airport's tactical response plan for drone threats. The FAA and Transportation Security Administration must also publish (and update annually) best practices guidance on Counter-UAS activities at commercial service airports.

The bill also allows DHS and the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Energy to contract with other entities to carry out authorized Counter-UAS activities.

Further, the bill amends restrictions on the use of radio frequency jamming technology to allow state, local, and airport law enforcement to use the technology to detect, identify, or mitigate a drone threat.

Finally, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers must develop and implement training curricula on the use of Counter-UAS activities. The training must be available to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, as well as private sector security agencies.

Drone Integration and Zoning Act

This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prescribe regulations or standards related to unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) and allow limited state and local regulation of drones.

The FAA must designate the area between 200 feet and 400 feet above ground level for use by (1) civil drones, and (2) commercial and recreational drones.

The bill prohibits the FAA from authorizing the operation of civil drones within 200 feet above ground level above private property without the property owner's permission. For structures above this level, the FAA may not authorize civil drone operations (1) within 50 feet of the top of the structure, or (2) within 200 feet laterally or inside the property line, whichever is closer to the structure, with exceptions.

Further, the bill specifies that the FAA must preserve state, local, and tribal authority to issue reasonable restrictions on the time, manner, and place of operation of drones below 200 feet above ground level. The bill includes additional exceptions to federal preemption requirements allowing for these entities to regulate specific drone activities.

The FAA must also establish a process for the designation of authorized commercial routes, which must be at least 200 feet above ground level.

The Department of Transportation must also establish a process for state, local, and tribal authorities to apply for a designation of complex airspace. This designation for an area allows the FAA to assign these entities with designated responsibilities for the management of drone operations.

Abolish TSA Act of 2025

This bill abolishes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in three years and directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a reorganization plan for the TSA, which is subject to congressional approval.

DHS must submit a reorganization plan for the TSA to Congress within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

The reorganization plan must include

• the establishment of the Office of Aviation Security Oversight within the Federal Aviation Administration;

• the rapid transfer of all aviation security activities and equipment to qualified private screening companies;

• any necessary changes to TSA's Screening Partnership Program, which currently allows commercial airports to use private screening companies for airport screening services;

• proportional reductions of operations and personnel until the transfer is complete; and

• the transfer to the Department of Transportation of TSA functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities related to surface transportation (e.g., activities relating to mass transit and freight rail).

The bill specifies that no employee of the new office shall conduct airport screening services.

Further, the plan may not include any agency requirement or regulation compelling private contractors conducting airport security screening services to conduct warrantless searches and seizures.

DHS must submit a progress report to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Congress within 60 days of the bill's enactment and every 30 days thereafter. The GAO must submit a report to Congress every 180 days detailing DHS's compliance with this bill.

In addition, the bill establishes a congressional review and approval process for the reorganization plan.

SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025

This bill amends how U.S. poverty levels are determined and modifies Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and enforcement provisions.

The Bureau of the Census must (1) collect specified data regarding the receipt of federal benefits and individual income, and (2) use the data to provide an alternative poverty measure. The bill also establishes a commission to recommend the valuation of specific federal benefits for the purpose of estimating the Federal Poverty Level.

The bill also expands the applicability of the general work requirements for SNAP recipients to include those who are ages 16-64 (currently 16-59) with exemptions.

This bill also expands the applicability of the work requirements for SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) to include those who are ages 18-64 (currently 18-55). In general, ABAWDs have work requirements in addition to the general SNAP work-related requirements and are limited to receiving 3 months of SNAP benefits in a 36-month period, unless the additional work-related requirements are met. Further, the bill allows married individuals with a dependent over the age of six to jointly fulfill hour-based work requirements.

Additional changes to SNAP include

• requiring states participating in SNAP to contribute specified matching funds, beginning at 10% for FY2025 and increasing annually until the matching requirement reaches 50% for FY2033 and each subsequent fiscal year;

• requiring SNAP beneficiaries to participate in fraud investigations; and

• establishing penalties (e.g., benefit suspensions) for unauthorized uses of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.