Rep. Laurel M. Lee

Maddy summaryThe SAFE for Manatees Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study identifying potential new habitats for manatees in Florida as industrial sites are decommissioned and water temperatures change. This study must evaluate natural warm-water locations and explore methods for building artificial warm-water refuges in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and Florida wildlife officials. The bill requires the Interior Department to publish a report on these findings within 180 days of enactment to inform future conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act, modifies federal energy laws to ensure that large industrial customers pay for the specific infrastructure upgrades needed to serve their high electricity demands. It directly affects non-residential facilities with a peak power usage of 100 megawatts or more, requiring utilities to charge these customers the full incremental cost of any necessary generation, transmission, or distribution improvements. Under the new rules, large customers must also provide financial guarantees or contributions before such upgrades are made, ensuring utilities can recover costs even if the customer leaves the contract early. State regulators have two years to implement these standards, though the bill exempts utilities in states that have already enacted similar measures or are actively considering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Restore Florida Water Independence Act of 2026, aims to streamline environmental permitting for the State of Florida by recognizing a specific federal biological opinion as fully compliant with the Endangered Species Act. By deeming this existing document sufficient, the legislation eliminates the need for additional federal consultations regarding dredge and fill projects under the Clean Water Act. The primary effect is to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to approve Florida's request to manage its own state-level permitting program without further federal oversight on these specific environmental matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Safe Cloud Storage Act, would provide legal protection for private companies that store child sexual abuse material on behalf of law enforcement agencies. It directly affects technology firms and cloud storage providers that contract with police departments and prosecutors to keep digital evidence of child exploitation. The legislation limits liability for these approved vendors by shielding them from civil lawsuits and criminal charges when performing their contractual duties, except in cases of intentional misconduct, negligence, or acting with reckless disregard. To qualify for this protection, vendors must meet strict cybersecurity requirements including end-to-end encryption, regular independent audits, keeping data within the United States, and maintaining detailed records of who accesses the sensitive material. The bill also establishes procedures for notifying the Department of Justice about contracts and ensures evidence is preserved if a law enforcement agency fails to pay or breaches the agreement.

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.

Maddy summaryThe FEMA for Safe Recovery Act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue regulations within one year that prevent gender-based violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation during disaster response and recovery operations. Key provisions include establishing joint federal and local coordination centers, improving staff stability in shelters, and creating non-adjudicatory reporting mechanisms for abuse by housing providers. The bill also mandates that all FEMA employees receive training on identifying and referring victims of these crimes, while ensuring that state and local governments retain the authority to implement stricter protections or manage their own emergency systems.

Maddy summaryThe Ballots by Election Day Act would amend federal election laws to require that all ballots for Federal office, including absentee and mail-in votes, be received by election officials no later than the time polls close on Election Day. This change directly affects voters in states that currently allow ballots postmarked before the deadline but received afterward to be counted. The bill creates a specific exception for uniformed service members and overseas citizens, whose ballots would not be subject to this strict receipt deadline. These new rules would apply to Federal elections held in 2027 and any subsequent years.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a 34-mile segment of the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida, as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It classifies specific river segments as "wild" (11.2 miles), "scenic" (multiple segments totaling 22.9 miles), or "recreational" (1.5 miles), based on their natural character. The bill establishes cooperative management through the existing Myakka River Management Coordinating Council and prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from administering the river as a National Park System unit or using land condemnation. It requires the Secretary to work with Florida and local entities to implement a management plan already developed under state law, without altering current land ownership or management authority.

Maddy summaryThe Packaging and Claims Knowledge Act of 2025 requires companies to ensure that recyclable, compostable, and reusable claims on consumer product packaging are accurate and supported by third-party certification. The bill mandates that recyclable claims must include information about local recycling availability, while compostable claims must be backed by scientific evidence and clearly explain disposal limitations. Companies must also provide actual reuse systems or products for reusable packaging claims, and the Federal Trade Commission will issue guidance on compliance without creating binding regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026, raises the maximum debt amounts individuals and small businesses can owe while still being eligible to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. For small businesses, it increases the debt limit from $2,750,000 to $7,500,000, while for individual consumers, it raises the limit from $483,000 to $2,750,000. The changes apply to cases filed on or after the bill becomes law and affect people who meet the income requirements for Chapter 13 repayment plans. The bill excludes large corporations and certain affiliated business groups from the new higher limits.