Sen. Tim Scott

Maddy summaryS 45 extends a tax credit for employer social security taxes paid on employee tips to beauty service establishments (like salons, spas, and barbershops), directly affecting businesses where tipping is customary for services such as hair care, nail care, or esthetics. It creates a "safe harbor" that protects businesses from IRS tip audits if they implement employee tip reporting training, monthly tip tracking, and maintain records for four years. The bill also requires businesses renting space to beauty service providers (e.g., salon landlords) to report annual rental income over $600 to the IRS. Finally, it mandates a 5-year GAO study on how the tax credit impacts small business tax compliance and employee benefits.

Maddy summaryThe Student Empowerment Act (S 57) expands the use of 529 college savings plans to cover more elementary and secondary school expenses. It allows families to use these tax-advantaged accounts for tuition, curriculum materials, books, online resources, tutoring by licensed instructors, standardized test fees, dual enrollment courses, and licensed therapies for students with disabilities. This applies to students in public, private, religious, and homeschool settings, directly benefiting parents and students using 529 plans for K-12 education. The amendment takes effect for distributions made after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThe Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023 would establish a program providing $6,000 annually (increasing with inflation) into education savings accounts for children of military personnel on active duty. Eligible children must have a parent on active duty and have attended public school for at least 100 consecutive days in the previous school year. Parents could use account funds for private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, educational materials, and other approved expenses, but not for full-time public school enrollment. The program would prioritize siblings of previously enrolled children, followed by children of enlisted members, warrant officers, and commissioned officers when funding is limited. Unused funds would return to the Treasury at the end of the account period, which ends when children turn 22 (or 26 for children with disabilities).

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit Members of Congress to a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate. It specifies that filling a vacancy for more than one year in the House or more than three years in the Senate counts toward these term limits. The amendment would not apply to terms served before its ratification. If approved by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years, it would change how long representatives and senators could serve. This is a proposed constitutional change, not current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the reporting threshold for payment platforms like PayPal or Venmo. It requires these platforms to report transaction data only if a business receives over $20,000 in payments across more than 200 transactions in a year. This change directly affects payment processors and their business users by reducing the volume of transactions they must report to the IRS.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Secretary of Energy from selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party or to any buyer unless they guarantee the oil won't be exported to China. It directly affects the Department of Energy (which manages the SPR) and any companies or entities seeking to purchase SPR oil with potential Chinese ties. The key mechanism requires the Secretary to block sales to China-linked entities or impose strict export restrictions on all sales. The bill aims to prevent SPR oil from reaching China, without creating new programs or altering existing SPR management rules.

State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022 This act reauthorizes through FY2027 grants awarded to state offices of rural health for improving health care in rural areas.

Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021 This act provides for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. After it is awarded, the medal shall be given to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 This act directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop scenario-based training curricula (or identify existing curricula) that includes topics such as alternatives to the use of force, de-escalation tactics, and safely responding to an individual experiencing a mental, behavioral health, or suicidal crisis. The act also directs DOJ to make grants to states for costs associated with providing the training to law enforcement officers or mental health professionals.

Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis (November 4, 1979-January 21, 1981) in recognition of their bravery and endurance throughout their captivity.