Rep. Kevin Hern

Maddy summaryThe Choice Arrangement Act creates a new type of employer-provided health benefit called a "CHOICE arrangement" that allows employees to use employer funds to pay for health care expenses. These arrangements must meet specific requirements including nondiscrimination rules, enrollment verification, and proper notice to employees. Employers offering CHOICE arrangements can claim a tax credit of $100 per month for the first year and $50 per month for the second year for each employee enrolled. Employees in CHOICE arrangements remain eligible to purchase health insurance through the marketplace. The changes apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures Medicare coverage for new medical devices designated as "breakthrough devices" during a 4-year period after FDA approval. To qualify, devices must meet specific criteria, including FDA priority review, clinical data from Medicare beneficiaries, and a safety review showing benefits outweigh risks. Medicare must finalize coverage decisions within 6 months of manufacturer applications and before the 4-year period ends. The law appropriates $10 million annually (2025-2030) for Medicare to administer this process.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare regulations to include "blood culture contamination" as a hospital-acquired condition starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects Medicare-participating hospitals, requiring them to maintain blood culture contamination rates below 1% to avoid penalties. The key provision establishes a specific 1% threshold for contamination rates that hospitals must meet under Medicare's quality reporting system. This change aims to improve diagnostic accuracy by holding hospitals accountable for preventing contamination in sepsis testing.

Maddy summaryHR 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, restricts how consumer reporting agencies share credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents agencies from sending these reports to third parties unless the request is tied to a firm credit offer and the recipient has either the homebuyer’s explicit written consent or is directly involved in the mortgage (like the lender, loan servicer, or the homebuyer’s bank holding an active account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by limiting unsolicited sharing of their credit information. The law amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to strengthen privacy protections around mortgage-related credit data.

Maddy summaryHR 5142, the Home Health Stabilization Act of 2025, prevents payment cuts to Medicare home health providers for 2026 and 2027. It requires the Medicare Secretary to adjust payment rates to fully offset two planned negative adjustments (-4.059% and -5.0%) that would have reduced payments under the 2026 rate update rule. This ensures home health agencies receive full reimbursement for services during those years without further reductions based on prior payment formulas. The bill directly affects home health providers who rely on Medicare payments for patient care.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading certain investments, including stocks, commodities, and derivatives (referred to as "covered investments"). It requires affected individuals to divest these investments within 90-180 days, with specific exemptions for Treasury bonds, diversified mutual funds, small business interests, and family trusts meeting strict conditions. Violations incur penalties of 10% of the investment's value plus disgorgement of profits, paid directly to the U.S. Treasury. The law applies to all covered individuals during federal service, with exceptions for investments acquired through inheritance or occupational trading (e.g., a spouse’s finance job).

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 5080) is purely procedural - it changes the name of the Department of Defense to "Department of War" and the Secretary of Defense to "Secretary of War" for all existing legal references. It does not alter military operations, funding, or policy; it only updates terminology in laws, regulations, and official documents. The bill directly affects how federal agencies and documents refer to the military department but has no impact on actual defense functions or the public. It is a symbolic renaming with no concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 201 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the "Oscar J. Upham Post Office." It updates all official U.S. government references (laws, maps, documents) to use this new name for the specific post office location. The bill does not change postal services, funding, or operations - it is solely a ceremonial naming designation.

Maddy summaryHR 4788 would amend a 1932 District of Columbia law to allow Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) to carry concealed firearms in Washington, D.C., if they hold a valid concealed carry license from a state where they are permitted to carry, or are otherwise legally allowed to carry concealed in their home state. The bill requires these members to not be federally prohibited from possessing firearms, to carry a valid state-issued license or proof of residency rights, and to present photo identification. This exception applies only to Members of Congress and does not alter D.C.'s general concealed carry laws for other individuals. The provision would take effect upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 4706 prohibits Chinese government-linked entities (including Chinese corporations, CCP-affiliated organizations, and entities controlled by China) from acquiring, leasing, or owning U.S. agricultural land or residential real estate. The bill requires such entities to sell all existing U.S. agricultural land holdings within one year (with a 180-day letter of intent deadline) and residential real estate holdings within one year, imposing daily fines of $100 per acre for agricultural land violations and $1,000 per residential unit. It also voids noncompete agreements between these entities and their employees. The law applies to all 50 states and territories, with enforcement by the Agriculture and Commerce Departments, and includes a 2-year temporary residential purchase ban ending in 2026 (extendable by the President).