Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require schools to notify parents at the start of each school year that they may include individuals with special knowledge or expertise about their child (such as related services personnel) on their child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. It directly affects parents of children with disabilities and the local/state educational agencies responsible for developing IEPs. The key mechanism is a new annual notification requirement for schools, ensuring parents are informed of their right to expand IEP team membership beyond standard members. This change aims to better incorporate specialized insights into educational planning for students with disabilities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill blocks the Commerce Department from enforcing its October 2023 pause on new export licenses for specific firearm-related items (classified under Commerce Control Numbers 0A501, 0A502, 0A504, and 0A505). It directly affects U.S. gun exporters who rely on these licenses to ship certain firearms and parts internationally. The key provision prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from taking any action to maintain, restart, or implement similar pauses on these exports. The bill does not create new regulations but prevents the government from continuing a specific regulatory pause.
Maddy summaryThe ACE Act (S 3520) expands the use of 529 education savings accounts to cover a broader range of elementary and secondary school expenses, including homeschooling, tutoring, educational therapies, and standardized test fees, while raising the annual distribution limit from $10,000 to $20,000. It also increases the annual gift tax exclusion for contributions to 529 plans, allowing up to $20,000 in gifts to be excluded from gift tax calculations. Additionally, the bill restricts tax-exempt bonds for school construction to states with school choice programs that meet specific criteria, such as having at least 40% of school-age children eligible for such programs and spending at least 60% of per-pupil funds on eligible students. These provisions apply to distributions, gifts, and bonds after the bill's effective dates.
Maddy summaryS 3529, the ATF Accountability Act of 2023, establishes a formal appeals process for gun industry businesses (manufacturers, importers, and dealers) who receive rulings or stop-work orders from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It requires the ATF to issue written rulings on regulatory questions within 90 days and allows licensees to appeal those rulings within 30 days by requesting a review from an ATF Director of Industry Operations. If a hearing is requested, an administrative law judge must schedule it within 14 days and issue a final decision within a reasonable timeframe, with the outcome binding on both the ATF and the licensee. This bill directly affects gun industry licensees by creating clearer, time-bound procedures for challenging ATF decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal tax dollars from funding contributions to three specific United Nations climate initiatives: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Green Climate Fund. It blocks all assessed or voluntary payments made by U.S. federal departments or agencies to these organizations. The law directly affects how federal agencies allocate existing budget resources for international climate programs. This policy change eliminates current and future U.S. financial support for these UN climate bodies using taxpayer funds.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal grant rules for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells (orphan wells). It removes a requirement for states to measure methane emissions or conduct specific monitoring activities to qualify for these grants, giving states flexibility to choose whether to collect such data. Additionally, it directs the Interior Department to commission a National Academies study within 180 days to examine how plugging these wells affects local economies, housing, and water quality in communities where many wells were cleaned up. The study must include input from all five U.S. regions and report to Congress within 18 months of the last grant being awarded, using existing funding.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 492) honoring the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It expresses the Senate's condolences for her passing and recognizes her lifetime of humanitarian work, including her advocacy for mental health care, founding of caregiver support programs, and service with The Carter Center. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a commemorative statement. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2023.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides retroactive pay, benefits, and seniority for senior military officers (O-7 and above) whose promotions were delayed due to a suspension of Senate confirmation hearings starting in February 2023. It specifically applies to officers confirmed to their ranks between December 5 and December 31, 2023. The Secretary of Defense must pay retroactive compensation starting 30 days after the appointment was placed on the Senate Executive Calendar, use that date for seniority calculations, and waive any negative impacts from the confirmation delay. This addresses a specific backlog of promotions affected by the Senate's temporary suspension of its advice-and-consent process.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Special Inspector General within the Department of Education to investigate admissions practices at colleges receiving federal student aid that violate the Equal Protection Clause (following the *Students for Fair Admissions* Supreme Court ruling) or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It requires the Inspector General to review complaints from applicants or students about race-based discrimination, recommend corrective actions, and potentially block federal funding for institutions found in violation. The law directly affects all colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid under the Higher Education Act. Key provisions include quarterly reporting to Congress on investigations and a $25 million funding allocation for the new office, with the position set to sunset after 12 years.
Maddy summaryThe Putting American Autoworkers First Act of 2023 (S 3397) requires vehicle manufacturers to maintain domestic production in the U.S. to qualify for certain tax credits and government grants. The bill prohibits manufacturers from moving vehicle production, manufacturing, or final assembly outside the U.S. or reducing/eliminating such production in the U.S. and then obtaining vehicles or parts from outside the country. Manufacturers must report annually to the Secretary of the Treasury about their production locations, and those who violate these requirements would have to pay back credits and face penalties equal to the value of the credits they received. The requirements apply to multiple programs including clean vehicle tax credits, advanced energy project credits, and various vehicle grant programs. The "applicable period" for these requirements is 10 years from the date of enactment of the bill.