Maddy summaryThe Credit for Prior Learning Act allows students to use federal financial aid to pay for assessments that evaluate their existing knowledge and skills for college credit. It specifically allocates up to $2,000 per year to cover reasonable costs like test fees for these evaluations, provided the assessments meet specific criteria regarding skills rather than just experience. The law also requires colleges to have clear, expert-reviewed standards for granting credit and mandates that institutions publicly report data on how many students receive this credit, broken down by race, income, and Pell Grant status. These changes are designed to make it easier for individuals to earn academic credit for what they already know while increasing transparency in higher education. The provisions will take effect on July 1, 2027.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026 creates a five-year pilot program to help non-home-based child care providers, such as those in commercial spaces or community centers, purchase nutritious meals for children. Under this initiative, eligible and licensed programs can receive federal reimbursements for food costs at the same rate currently given to family day care homes. To ensure proper use of funds, the bill mandates regular audits by the Department of Agriculture, requiring the exclusion of programs with unresolved audit findings for two years. Additionally, the program includes measures to prevent duplicate payments and requires a final evaluation report to Congress after the pilot period ends.
Maddy summaryThe Right to Vote Act establishes federal protections ensuring that citizens can vote in elections for federal office without undue burdens or substantial impairments. It prohibits governments from making voting more difficult unless they can prove that such restrictions are the least restrictive way to achieve an important government interest. The bill creates a specific legal pathway for voters to challenge voting rules in court, requiring officials to provide strong evidence justifying any limitations on the voting process. Additionally, it mandates that courts handle these cases quickly and allows for the recovery of attorney fees for successful plaintiffs. These measures apply to all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia for elections occurring on or after September 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThe Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act prohibits states and their officials from restricting or penalizing health care providers who offer reproductive health services that are legal in the state where they are performed. This includes banning laws that stop doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or their staff from providing abortion, contraception, or other reproductive care, as well as preventing the denial of professional liability insurance based on these services. The bill establishes a private right of action allowing providers to sue in federal court to challenge such restrictions and mandates that the federal government cannot use funds to support legal cases against providers acting within state law. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $80 million in grants to support legal defense funds for providers facing lawsuits and to improve physical and cybersecurity measures at health care facilities.
Maddy summaryThe NO FAKES Act of 2026 establishes a new property right for individuals to control the creation and use of their digital voice and visual likeness replicas, extending protection to both living people and their heirs for up to 70 years after death. The bill requires companies and platforms that distribute these digital replicas or sell tools to create them to obtain explicit authorization from the right holder, while also setting up a notification system for online services to remove unauthorized content. Additionally, the law preempts existing state laws regarding digital likeness rights and includes specific penalties and safe harbor protections for platforms that comply with the new requirements.
Maddy summaryThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by doubling the maximum Federal Pell Grant award to $10,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, with amounts rising annually to reach $15,000 by 2031-2032. The bill also changes the funding structure so that Pell Grants become a mandatory program that automatically adjusts for inflation rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations. Additional provisions expand eligibility to include students with negative financial aid indexes, provide special rules for recipients of means-tested benefits, and allow Dreamer students who become citizens or permanent residents to qualify for aid. The legislation further restores the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and modifies how institutions determine satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students struggling with course requirements.
Maddy summaryThe Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2025 allows federal appellate and district court judges to permit media coverage of court proceedings - including photographing, recording, broadcasting, or televising - at their discretion. It requires judges to obscure witnesses' faces and voices upon request (for non-parties), prohibits broadcasting jurors or attorney-client conferences, and mandates that the Judicial Conference create mandatory guidelines within six months for protecting vulnerable witnesses like crime victims or minors. The law includes a three-year sunset for district court media authority and prohibits interlocutory appeals of judges' media coverage decisions. This bill directly affects federal courts, media organizations, and witnesses, balancing public access with due process and witness safety protections.
Maddy summaryS 1146, the "Cameras in the Courtroom Act," requires the U.S. Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all publicly open court sessions. This directly affects the Supreme Court (as the entity implementing the rule) and the public (who would gain access to live coverage of proceedings). The bill's key provision states that the Court may block TV coverage in a specific case only if a majority of justices determine it would violate a party's fair trial rights. The law does not mandate coverage but sets a default rule allowing it unless the Court unanimously decides otherwise for due process reasons.
Maddy summaryThe BINS Act of 2026 expands the types of agricultural storage facilities eligible for federal loans under the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. Specifically, it amends existing laws to include fertilizer storage infrastructure, such as dry bins, liquid tanks, and equipment for handling anhydrous ammonia. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture to update its regulations within 180 days to cover essential components like foundations, electrical systems, and plumbing needed for fertilizer storage. This change directly affects farmers and agribusinesses by broadening their access to financing for building and maintaining fertilizer storage facilities.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 23, 2026, as "Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day" to honor individuals who have suffered harm or died due to social media activities. The bill acknowledges risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to trafficking, and links to increased suicide rates among youth, while noting the platform's benefits for communication and education. It urges communities, organizations, and social media companies to observe the day with educational events and advocacy, and calls on government agencies to collaborate on improving online safety and digital literacy. The resolution does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness and encourage efforts to mitigate social media-related harms.