**Lame-duck priorities under outgoing Republican majorities are the main near-term driver for 2026 enactments.** Congress reconvened November 9 facing a December 11 government-funding deadline after a continuing resolution, alongside the annual National Defense Authorization Act, farm bill reauthorization, and bipartisan permitting reform negotiations. Recent midterms gave Democrats control of both chambers starting in January 2027, prompting Republican efforts to advance spending measures, tax extenders, and a potential debt-ceiling increase via reconciliation before power shifts. Dozens of narrower reauthorizations and administrative bills have already become law in 2026, but larger contested items face tighter timelines and require bipartisan support or procedural majorities to clear before year-end.