Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for any program, activity, literature, or material provided to children under 18 that includes "sexually oriented material," defined as depictions of explicit conduct or content involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism. It exempts standard science courses (like biology and anatomy), religious texts, and specific "classic" works of literature and art listed in designated references (e.g., *Great Books of the Western World* and Smarthistory guides). The law directly affects federally funded K-12 educational programs, restricting how school districts can use federal dollars for curriculum materials. It does not ban teaching about human anatomy, art history, or literature, as those are explicitly excluded from the definition of prohibited material.
Maddy summaryThis bill prevents public colleges receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities and official recognition - same as other student organizations. It requires equal treatment for religious groups regarding meeting spaces, events, and institutional support, prohibiting discrimination based on religious beliefs or practices. The law directly affects all public universities participating in federal student aid programs (over 400 institutions). It mandates policy changes to ensure religious groups receive the same access and benefits as secular clubs.
Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.
Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act This bill repeals the Corporate Transparency Act. The act requires existing companies and newly created companies to report beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for purposes of addressing the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act, expands legal protections for firearm manufacturers and sellers by strengthening their immunity from civil lawsuits. It requires courts to immediately dismiss any pending cases against these companies that are based on the criminal or unlawful misuse of a gun by a third party, while also clarifying that sellers are not liable for negligence in entrusting products to others. The legislation further restricts who can file such suits by prohibiting foreign governments from bringing these claims and adding a specific exception for victims under the age of 17, though it maintains immunity for cases involving design or manufacturing defects. Additionally, the bill allows companies to move these cases to federal court and grants them the right to appeal dismissal orders immediately, along with the ability to recover legal fees if they win. Finally, it preempts state and local laws that attempt to impose liability on these entities for the same types of misuse-related harms.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to allow the Secretary of Education to extend paperwork reduction waivers for states that are struggling with administrative burdens. Under the new provisions, the Secretary can grant multiple extensions of these waivers, with each extension lasting up to four years. The change directly affects state education agencies that currently hold waivers to reduce reporting requirements for special education services, giving them the option to extend these relief periods rather than facing stricter compliance deadlines.
Maddy summaryThe Rural Grants Transparency Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create clear, plain-language guides for rural development grant programs, helping small towns and nonprofits better understand eligibility and application steps. The bill mandates that these guides be updated every 90 days and include specific details like evaluation criteria, common reasons for rejection, and contact information for local offices. Additionally, the law ensures applicants receive standardized notifications about their application status and, if denied, a plain-language explanation of why their request was rejected along with advice for future submissions. To further increase openness, the Secretary must publish a searchable database of all awarded grants and release detailed scoring factors for competitive programs. These changes are designed to improve access to funding without requiring new money or altering existing program rules.
Maddy summaryHR 7086 creates a federal grant program to help states improve charter schools' access to facilities. It provides competitive grants to state education agencies that submit detailed plans showing how they will increase charter schools' access to funding, public buildings, and adequate facilities - particularly in low-income and rural communities. States receiving grants must use federal funds (capped at 60% of costs) to support facility acquisition, leasing, renovation, or financing mechanisms, while ensuring these funds supplement - rather than replace - existing state resources. The bill directly affects charter schools and state education agencies, focusing on closing facility access gaps between charter schools and traditional public schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to create a new content descriptor for video programming that depicts or discusses gender identity, transgender identity, or non-binary identity. The primary goal is to ensure this descriptor is displayed on children's programming, such as shows rated TV-Y, TV-Y7, or TV-G, so parents can use it with existing parental control tools like the V-chip. The legislation requires the FCC to first check if the voluntary TV Parental Guidelines have already added this descriptor; if they have not, the Commission must establish and enforce the new rating system. A key provision clarifies that the bill does not ban or censor any video content, focusing instead on labeling and parental guidance.
