Sen. Angela D. Alsobrooks

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to deny corporations a tax deduction for excessive executive bonuses paid to certain high-level employees. It expands the definition of "covered individual" to include more executives (such as those who performed services after 2024 or were top earners before 2025) and requires companies to meet specific SEC filing criteria. The change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, making large bonuses non-deductible for affected corporations. The policy directly impacts publicly traded companies that pay significant compensation to covered executives.

Maddy summaryS 1564, the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act, exempts ecosystem restoration projects from standard flood insurance map change fees and streamlines approvals for projects that recover or enhance floodplain functions. It allows communities to permit certain restoration projects within regulatory floodways if they meet specific criteria: the project won't increase base flood elevations by more than 1 foot, won't harm critical infrastructure, and includes a post-project analysis submitted within 180 days. The bill directly affects communities, developers, and landowners undertaking floodplain restoration, as it modifies FEMA's processes for approving such projects under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must issue implementing guidance within 180 days of the bill's enactment.

This bill increases the annual limit on the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenses (also referred to as the short line railroad tax credit) and expands eligibility for claiming the credit. Under current law, the tax credit is limited each tax year to $3,500 multiplied by the sum of the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the taxpayer (miles owned or leased) and the number of railroad track miles assigned to the taxpayer by a Class II or III railroad (miles assigned). This bill increases the annual limit to $6,100 multiplied by the sum of miles owned or leased and miles assigned. The $6,100 amount used in the calculation of the tax credit limit is adjusted for inflation for tax years beginning after 2025. The bill also expands eligibility for the tax credit to include gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2024. Under current law, the tax credit is limited to gross expenses for maintaining railroad tracks owned or leased as of January 1, 2015.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act by giving the Attorney General new authority to sue violators and seek penalties up to $10,000 per day for ongoing violations. It requires dealers and exhibitors to hold valid licenses for animal sales or transport and allows seized animals to be taken by the government if they’re harmed by violations. Fines collected from violations will fund temporary care for animals during legal cases. The law directly affects animal dealers, exhibitors, and enforcement agencies (USDA and DOJ), clarifying that violations include breaches of related rules and regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law governing replacement of stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It directly affects SNAP recipients who have had benefits stolen through EBT skimming (criminal theft from electronic benefit cards). The key change requires that replacement benefits equal the exact amount stolen from a household, replacing the previous calculation method. This ensures victims receive full compensation for their stolen benefits under federal rules.

Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (S 1503) amends existing civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and jury service. It expands the definition of "sex" in federal civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, clarifying that discrimination based on these factors is prohibited under current law. The bill directly affects individuals, businesses, government entities, and service providers by requiring compliance with these expanded anti-discrimination protections. It does not create new rights but makes clear that existing protections against sex discrimination already cover sexual orientation and gender identity, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County. The legislation aims to provide consistent nationwide protections against discrimination that LGBTQ+ people have historically faced in key areas of public life.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1519) designates approximately 1.56 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as wilderness under federal law. It permanently protects this specific area from development like oil drilling or road construction by adding it to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The designation directly affects the refuge's management, ensuring this coastal plain ecosystem remains preserved in its natural state.

Maddy summaryThe Combating Organized Retail Crime Act amends federal law to strengthen legal tools for addressing organized retail crime, including theft from stores, online, and supply chains. It establishes a new Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts. The Center will share information, assist with investigations, track crime trends, and provide training to combat these crimes. The bill expands legal definitions to include organized retail crime as a specific category and requires annual reports on the Center's activities. The Center will operate for 7 years before sunset.

Maddy summaryThe Find It Early Act requires health insurance plans and government health programs to cover breast cancer screenings with no cost-sharing for certain high-risk individuals. It affects people at increased breast cancer risk (based on medical guidelines), with dense breast tissue, or determined by healthcare providers to need screening due to factors like age, race, ethnicity, or family history. The bill mandates coverage for various screening methods including mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI, and molecular imaging without frequency limitations. This applies to group health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and VA health care, with most provisions taking effect January 1, 2026.