Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025 This act permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution. Among the changes, the act removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.) The act permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States. Additionally, the act authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business. Finally, the act limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibiting defenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); and discretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries). These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Ensuring Better Interest Treatment and Deductibility Act modifies how businesses calculate interest expense limits for tax purposes. It removes a specific exception related to adjusted taxable income calculations that was added in previous legislation. This change applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, affecting businesses that deduct interest expenses on their federal income tax returns. The bill aims to alter the rules governing Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code without changing the overall cap on deductible interest.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal child pornography laws to strengthen protections against the sexual exploitation of minors. It requires that laws against importing or depicting children in sexually explicit material apply even when the child did not participate in the conduct, as long as the person intentionally included the child in the image. The changes update legal definitions to ensure that individuals who knowingly place minors in explicit visual depictions face criminal penalties regardless of the minor's actual involvement. These provisions directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals involved in the production or distribution of such material. The bill focuses on closing legal gaps in how child exploitation cases are defined and prosecuted under existing federal statutes.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to allow states to use federal grants to support pregnancy centers. It defines pregnancy centers as organizations that protect the lives of mothers and unborn children while offering services like counseling, education, and material support to families. The change removes previous restrictions that prevented states from using these funds for such centers. The legislation directly affects state governments managing federal grants and the organizations that provide pregnancy-related resources.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Dalilah's Law Act, prohibits individuals with certain immigration statuses from obtaining or using commercial driver's licenses in interstate commerce. It requires state officials to verify an applicant's employment eligibility through E-Verify before issuing such licenses and imposes criminal penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences for accidents causing injury or death. The legislation also establishes civil penalties for businesses that assist in violations and allows victims of accidents caused by these drivers to sue for triple damages. Additionally, it adds the use of commercial licenses by these individuals as an aggravated felony and grounds for deportation under immigration law.
Maddy summaryThis bill abolishes the César E. Chávez National Monument in California and stops federal funding for its operation. It redirects any remaining unspent money from the monument to support DNA analysis backlog elimination efforts instead. The legislation directly affects the National Park Service by removing its authority to maintain the site and reallocates resources to a different federal program.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Members of Congress from receiving expedited or preferential access to airport security screenings based on their official positions. It requires the Transportation Security Administration to use standard security procedures for all travelers, including lawmakers, and bars the use of federal funds to facilitate special treatment. While Members of Congress can still participate in publicly available Trusted Traveler Programs, their eligibility cannot depend on their congressional status. The bill also mandates that the TSA update its policies to comply with these rules and submit a compliance report to Congress within 180 days of enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to create new provisions specifically for sea turtles. It establishes a dedicated $5 million annual grant program (2025-2030) for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, funded through a new "Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund" with $500,000 yearly. Eligible applicants include coastal organizations with Endangered Species Act authorizations or cooperative agreements, required to follow specific care standards and data reporting. The law directly affects wildlife rehabilitation groups and coastal communities handling stranded sea turtles by providing targeted federal funding and clear grant eligibility criteria.
Maddy summaryThe Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2025 requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a cybersecurity incident response plan within one year, including strategies for risk assessment, prevention, detection, and recovery. It mandates new cybersecurity standards for healthcare entities, such as multifactor authentication for systems holding protected health information, encryption requirements, and mandatory audit protocols. The bill also updates breach reporting rules to require public disclosure of corrective actions and security practices considered during investigations, while creating grants to help rural healthcare providers adopt cybersecurity best practices. Additionally, it establishes training programs for healthcare cybersecurity staff and requires HHS to issue guidance on recognizing security practices that may reduce fines for covered entities. These provisions directly affect hospitals, clinics, and health organizations handling protected health information.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act of 2026, adds a new section to the U.S. Copyright Code to address standards that are incorporated by reference into federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The legislation requires standards development organizations to make these incorporated standards freely available online at no cost to the public, including searchable tables of contents and indexes, while still protecting the organizations' copyright rights. The bill defines key terms such as "incorporated by reference" and "standards development organization" to clarify which materials fall under these requirements. It also establishes that copyright protection for these standards continues even after they are referenced in laws, provided the organization makes them publicly accessible online within a reasonable time of being notified about the incorporation. The measure aims to balance public access to technical standards used in regulations with the ability of standards organizations to fund their work through licensing and sales.