Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Maddy summaryThe End Unaccountable Amnesty Act (S 225) makes significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. It restricts Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by requiring new legislation with specific conditions to designate foreign countries, limits TPS designations to 12 months with no automatic extensions, and mandates termination if conditions no longer exist. The bill also reforms immigration parole to limit it to specific humanitarian or public benefit cases, caps parole grants at 1,000 per year, and prohibits certain identification documents like the CBP One app from being used for air travel. Additionally, it repeals provisions for "cancellation of removal" and changes procedures for handling unaccompanied alien children.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to require states to establish and enforce child support obligations from biological fathers for unborn children, directly affecting mothers expecting a child and the fathers of those children. Key provisions include allowing mothers to request support starting from the month of conception (as confirmed by a physician), permitting retroactive payments even after birth if paternity is later established, and requiring court determination of payment amounts considering the mother's and child's best interests. The bill prohibits mandatory paternity testing without the mother's consent and bans any procedures posing risk to the unborn child. It defines "unborn child" as any human fetus at any developmental stage carried in the womb, with the law taking effect two years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe DTC Act of 2025 requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply (or typical treatment course) of prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer advertisements. This applies to drugs covered by Medicare or Medicaid, excluding those with a WAC under $35 per 30-day supply. The bill mandates clear, conspicuous display of the WAC in ads, along with a note that actual patient costs may vary based on insurance coverage. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and includes penalties for noncompliance, such as civil fines up to $100,000 per violation. The law aims to increase price transparency for consumers seeing drug ads, particularly affecting patients with high-deductible plans or Medicare beneficiaries.

Maddy summarySRES 30 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Mississippi's Gestational Age Act, introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and others on January 22, 2025. It expresses gratitude to Mississippi State Representative Becky Currie for introducing the 2018 law that banned abortions after 15 weeks gestation, which later became central to the Supreme Court's 2022 *Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health* decision overturning *Roe v. Wade*. The resolution does not create new laws or alter abortion access but formally recognizes Mississippi's role in the legal shift. It is purely symbolic, with no policy impact, and acknowledges the state law as a catalyst for the Supreme Court's ruling.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds from being used for abortions or health plans covering abortion. It amends the Affordable Care Act to block premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for health plans that include abortion coverage (except for rape/incest cases or life-threatening conditions), and requires clear disclosure of abortion coverage and related surcharges in plan materials. The law explicitly exempts abortions performed due to rape, incest, or to preserve a mother's life, and allows separate abortion coverage using non-federal funds. It applies to all federal health programs and ACA marketplace plans, effective for plan years beginning after 2025.

Maddy summaryS 6, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, requires healthcare providers at facilities performing abortions to provide the same medical care to infants born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any newborn, including immediate hospital admission. The bill mandates that any provider or facility employee who witnesses a failure to provide this care must report it to law enforcement, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. It also allows women who undergo abortions to pursue civil lawsuits for damages if providers fail to comply, including three times the abortion cost plus punitive damages. The bill defines "abortion" as procedures intended to kill the unborn child or terminate pregnancy without preserving the child's life after viability.

Maddy summaryS 157, the CONTAINER Act, allows border states (adjacent to the U.S. northern or southern border) to place movable, temporary structures on federal land for border security without needing a special use permit from federal agencies. The bill requires border states to provide 45 days' notice to the relevant federal agency (like the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service) before placing such structures, which can remain for up to one year and be extended in 90-day increments if U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines operational control has not been achieved. This directly affects border states managing border security and federal land management agencies overseeing borderlands. The law streamlines the process for temporary border barriers by removing a permitting requirement, focusing on rapid deployment rather than permanent infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the federal Controlled Substances Act to automatically classify all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. It defines "fentanyl-related substances" to include any compound structurally similar to fentanyl through specific chemical modifications (like changes to rings or groups), covering isomers, salts, and derivatives. This means any new fentanyl analogues created by manufacturers would be immediately illegal without needing separate scheduling. The law directly affects drug manufacturers, distributors, and anyone possessing these substances, aiming to prevent new fentanyl variants from entering the market and causing overdoses.

Maddy summaryS 167, the "Protect and Serve Act of 2025," creates new federal criminal penalties for individuals who assault law enforcement officers causing serious injury or attempt to do so under specific circumstances. It directly affects law enforcement officers (including federal, state, and local officers) and those who commit violent acts against them. Key provisions include enhanced penalties (up to life in prison if death or kidnapping occurs) when the crime involves crossing state lines, using interstate commerce, weapons that traveled across state lines, or interfering with the officer's duties. Federal prosecution requires certification from the Attorney General or designee, ensuring states are notified or have declined jurisdiction before federal action. The bill aims to strengthen federal authority to prosecute such offenses when they impact interstate commerce or involve federal officers.

Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct two offshore oil and gas lease sales per year for 10 years in the Gulf of Mexico Region Program Area, places a moratorium on oil and gas leases in certain areas, and establishes related requirements. Interior must offer at least 74 million acres for each offshore lease sale in such region. The bill stipulates the terms and conditions of such leases. Interior must also carry out the lease sales in accordance with the Record of Decision approved by Interior on January 17, 2017. Interior may waive certain requirements under the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program that would delay final approval of those lease sales. In addition, the bill prohibits such lease sales from being invalidated as a result of lawsuits relating to environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It also limits delays to the lease sales as a result of the lawsuits. Finally, the bill extends through 2035 a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico; (2) any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 miles of Florida's coastline; and (3) certain areas in the Central Planning Area, including specified areas along Florida's coastline. It also places a moratorium through 2035 on oil and gas leasing in the South Atlantic Planning Area or the Straits of Florida Planning Area.