Sen. Mike Lee

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the memory of five wildland firefighters and a pilot who died during the 2026 wildfire season while responding to fires in Colorado. It specifically recognizes Emily Barker, Nicholas Hutcherson, Sydney Watson, Nathan Matthews, and Nicholas Dale for their service and ultimate sacrifice. The text expresses sympathy to the families of the deceased and gratitude to all emergency responders who protect communities from wildfires. Additionally, it acknowledges the need for continued support for these personnel and responsible stewardship of public lands to mitigate wildfire risks.

Maddy summaryThe Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026 requires federal courts to issue permanent no-contact orders against individuals convicted of specific violent felonies or sexual offenses. These orders, which take effect at sentencing, prohibit any direct or indirect communication or physical interaction between the defendant and the victim for the rest of the defendant's life. Victims can request these injunctions without paying any fees, and violations are punishable as contempt of court. The only ways to end or suspend the order are if the victim petitions the court due to a pardon or changed circumstances, or if the defendant proves their conviction was dismissed or overturned on appeal.

Maddy summaryThe Stopping Border Surges Act proposes significant changes to U.S. immigration law regarding unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. It mandates that unaccompanied alien children be repatriated to their home countries if they do not meet specific criteria, while also allowing for the detention of families who entered the country together for misdemeanor border-crossing charges. For asylum applicants, the bill restricts eligibility to those arriving at designated ports of entry and shortens the deadline to file an application from one year to six months. It introduces a "safe third country" provision that can bar asylum claims if an individual transited through another nation without seeking protection there first. Additionally, the legislation requires audio or video recording of expedited removal interviews, imposes criminal penalties for asylum fraud, and terminates asylum status if an individual voluntarily returns to their home country.

Maddy summaryThe Ballots by Election Day Act would amend federal election law to require that absentee and mail-in ballots for federal offices be received by election officials no later than the time polls close on Election Day. This provision directly affects voters who use mail or absentee voting methods, as it prohibits states from counting ballots that arrive after this deadline. An exception is included for uniformed service members and overseas citizens, whose ballots may still be accepted after Election Day if state laws allow it. The new rules would apply to federal elections held in 2027 and any subsequent years.

Maddy summaryThe Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 2026 restructures the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts to better align their geographic boundaries with current population distribution. The bill moves Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming from the Ninth Circuit to the Eighth, while transferring Arizona and Nevada from the Ninth to the Tenth Circuit, leaving California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the newly defined Ninth Circuit. Each affected circuit receives a specific number of judges based on its new composition, with existing judges assigned to their respective new circuits based on their current locations while retaining their original seniority dates. Additionally, the legislation requires that states changing circuits immediately adopt the legal precedents of their new courts and mandates the General Services Administration to plan for new courthouse facilities in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Maddy summaryThe Energy Efficiency Reform Act of 2026 mandates that the Department of Energy finalize specific procedural rules for setting appliance efficiency standards, including requirements for comparative economic analysis and longer lead times before new standards can be proposed. The bill significantly restricts the agency’s ability to issue new or stricter regulations by requiring clear evidence that changes are necessary to ensure product availability and prevent market disruptions, while also prohibiting standards that would eliminate consumer-valued features such as specific fuel types or installation methods. Additionally, it extends compliance timelines for manufacturers to at least five years after a rule is published and requires separate efficiency standards for different venting categories of heating equipment. The legislation also strengthens federal preemption over state and local laws regarding the sale and use of energy-efficient products, explicitly preventing jurisdictions from banning appliances based on their fuel source or emissions, and permanently halts new efficiency standard-setting for distribution transformers.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames a U.S. Postal Service facility at 50 East 100 North in Moab, Utah, as the "2nd Lieutenant Mitch Williams Post Office." It directly affects the postal service location in Moab and all official references to it. The key provision updates all federal laws, documents, and records to use the new name instead of the previous designation. No policy changes or funding are involved - this is purely a naming and reference update.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the GOOD Act (Guidance Out Of Darkness Act), requires federal agencies to publish all their non-binding guidance documents - such as memos, bulletins, letters, and blog posts - on a single, publicly accessible government website. It applies to all federal agencies and mandates that existing guidance be posted within 180 days of the law's enactment, with new guidance published immediately upon issuance. Agencies must also maintain rescinded guidance documents online with clear labels indicating they are no longer in effect. The law does not apply to documents already exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution seeks to disapprove a specific rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding pollution standards for small off-road engines in California. If passed, the measure would nullify the federal regulation, preventing it from taking legal effect. The bill directly impacts the EPA and manufacturers of small off-road equipment operating under California's environmental standards. It is a procedural action that relies on the Congressional Review Act to overturn an existing administrative decision.

Maddy summaryThe Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 significantly narrows the federal definition of "navigable waters" by excluding wetlands without continuous surface connections, intermittent streams, and groundwater from federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits federal agencies from using aggregation methods or the "significant nexus test" to assert authority over these excluded water bodies and invalidates existing regulations that expand the definition of covered waters. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to obtain written consent before entering private property for data collection and mandates that they pay affected landowners double the value of any economic loss caused by new federal water regulations.