Maddy summaryThis bill extends tax deferral for company stock sold to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and fixes a rule that previously caused small businesses to lose government benefits after 49% ownership transferred to an ESOP. It creates a new Treasury Department office to provide education and technical assistance for companies adopting ESOPs, and establishes a Labor Department Advocate for Employee Ownership to coordinate federal efforts and promote employee ownership. These changes directly affect S corporations considering ESOPs, current ESOP-owned businesses, and small businesses seeking to maintain eligibility for government programs. The bill focuses on removing barriers to employee ownership through concrete tax, eligibility, and support mechanisms.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2362, the Ending Lending to China Act of 2025, directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at multilateral development banks (like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank) to oppose all new loans and financial assistance to China. It targets China specifically because the bill states China has "graduated" from needing such aid (exceeding the income threshold for borrowing since 2016). The bill requires the Treasury to submit annual reports to Congress on China’s borrowing status, voting power at these banks, and efforts to encourage other countries to graduate from borrowing eligibility. This legislation changes U.S. voting policy at these institutions but does not alter China’s actual eligibility or stop existing loans.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits lawsuits based on "disparate impact" in employment and housing. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act to ban claims alleging that neutral policies unintentionally disadvantage protected groups (like race or gender), even if the policy doesn't intend discrimination. The key mechanism removes the legal basis for such claims, meaning plaintiffs can no longer challenge employment practices or housing rules solely because they have disproportionate effects on certain groups. This directly affects employers, housing providers, and individuals who might have filed such lawsuits under current law. The bill does not change protections against intentional discrimination.
Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This act permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the act, offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are triggered by the same quantity thresholds and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). Additionally, the act establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research. The act also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration. Finally, the act expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act in United States v. McCray , a 2018 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In that case, the court held that butyryl fentanyl, a controlled substance, can be considered an analogue of fentanyl even though, under the Controlled Substances Act, the term controlled substance analogue specifically excludes a controlled substance.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new federal crime for assaulting first responders (like police, firefighters, and paramedics) causing serious injury or death, with enhanced penalties. It specifically applies when the assault involves interstate travel, weapons that crossed state lines, or interference with the responder's work affecting commerce. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison for serious injury, or life imprisonment if death occurs, kidnapping, or an attempt to kill happens. Federal prosecution requires Attorney General certification unless states decline jurisdiction or fail to adequately address the crime.
Maddy summaryThe PRICE Act (S 2269) increases penalties for assaulting, resisting, or impeding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or employees. It would double the maximum prison sentence and adjust the fine for such offenses when committed against ICE personnel, as specified in amended federal law (18 U.S.C. § 111). This bill directly affects individuals convicted of violent or obstructive acts against ICE officers, making their penalties more severe than for similar crimes against other federal officers. The key provision modifies existing penalties without changing the definition of the offense or creating new requirements for ICE operations.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to prohibit public schools from teaching concepts related to "gender ideology," as defined by a specific executive order. It directly affects K-12 public schools receiving federal funding by banning instruction on certain gender-related topics. The key provision adds a new restriction to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, explicitly forbidding the teaching of these concepts in classrooms. The bill does not specify which topics are covered, only referencing the executive order's definition. This change applies to all federally funded elementary and secondary schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2206) increases the annual limit for tax-free distributions from 529 college savings accounts. It raises the current $10,000 cap on qualified education expenses (like tuition and fees) to $20,000 per year. The change directly affects families using 529 plans to save for college costs, allowing them to withdraw more tax-free each year. The amendment applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires adding a citizenship checkbox to the 2030 and future decennial censuses, asking respondents about their U.S. citizenship status for themselves and all household members. It mandates that the Census Bureau publicly release each state's total citizen and noncitizen population counts within 120 days after each census. The bill then changes how congressional representation is calculated by excluding noncitizens from the population numbers used to apportion House seats and electoral votes starting with the 2030 census. This directly affects how states' representation in Congress and the Electoral College is determined based on citizen population counts rather than total population.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress by March 1st, detailing defense spending and military contributions from all NATO member countries and nations in the NATO Membership Action Plan. The report must include specific data on each country's defense budget (as a percentage of GDP), participation in joint military operations, contributions to Ukraine (categorized as "hard" or "soft" power), and assessments of their defense industrial base and military readiness. It aims to provide Congress with transparent, data-driven insights to evaluate whether NATO allies are meeting shared security commitments, particularly amid evolving threats. The bill does not alter U.S. policy but establishes a formal process for tracking allies' defense efforts.