Maddy summaryHR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the Route 66 National Historic Trail, covering approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, along all historical alignments of U.S. Highway 66 (1926-1985). It directs the National Park Service to administer the trail while respecting its unique character, requiring tribal consultation for significant impacts on Native American tribes, and explicitly prohibiting land acquisition beyond 1/4 mile on either side of the trail. The bill clarifies it does not create buffer zones, disrupt energy infrastructure (including pipelines or renewable projects), or designate the trail as part of the National Park System, while affirming existing authority for easements and rights-of-way.
Maddy summaryThe Saving Today's Acute-Care Resources Act modifies how Medicare calculates payment rates for long-term care hospitals to ensure they receive appropriate funding for treating complex patients. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the bill expands the criteria for avoiding payment reductions by adding a "high acuity" standard that considers patients transferred from acute care or critical access hospitals with severe diagnoses. It also updates existing rules to include discharges from long-term care hospitals that have undergone significant construction projects or hold state certificates of need. These changes aim to adjust reimbursement levels based on the severity of patient conditions and the specific history of the hospital treating them.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
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 summaryHR 5498 requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to share information about health insurance reimbursement plans (specifically "individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements" or ICHRAs) with small businesses. The SBA must distribute this information through its local offices, small business development centers, and online channels like social media and its website. This bill directly affects small business owners by helping them understand a coverage option where employers reimburse employees for individual health insurance premiums. It focuses on increasing awareness of existing federal health coverage tools, not changing the rules themselves.
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 summaryThe Precious Metals Parity Act amends tax rules to treat precious metals the same way as foreign currencies for regulated investment companies. Specifically, it updates the Internal Revenue Code to include gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion when calculating how these companies report income. This change ensures that investment funds holding these specific metals are taxed consistently with those holding foreign currency assets. The provision applies to taxable years starting after the law is enacted.
Maddy summaryThis bill would add pharmacist services to Medicare Part B coverage for beneficiaries, specifically covering pharmacist-led testing and treatment for illnesses like flu, COVID-19, or strep throat during public health emergencies. It defines covered services as those performed under state law, often requiring collaboration with a physician, and sets payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates. Pharmacists would be prohibited from balance billing for these services, ensuring Medicare beneficiaries pay only their standard copayment. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThe Rural MOMS Act of 2026 modifies how Medicare counts hospital beds, specifically excluding labor and delivery rooms from the total number of acute care inpatient beds used to determine if a facility qualifies as a Critical Access Hospital. This change directly affects rural hospitals that provide maternity services by altering the financial thresholds required to maintain their special status under the Medicare program. By removing delivery rooms from the bed count calculation, the bill aims to prevent these facilities from losing their designation solely because they offer childbirth care. The legislation does not change how these hospitals are funded or operated, but rather adjusts the metric used to evaluate their eligibility for critical access benefits.