Sen. Rick Scott

Maddy summaryThe ROOT Act (S 1692) requires doctors ordering outpatient imaging tests (like X-rays and MRIs) to use a tool that verifies test appropriateness starting January 1, 2026, with exceptions for preventive screenings (e.g., mammograms, lung cancer screenings), clinical trials, and small/rural practices. The tool must transmit data to Medicare, including the ordering doctor’s ID and test details, to track compliance. Medicare will identify doctors with low compliance rates (using the tool infrequently) and study how this affects imaging use, reporting findings to Congress every five years beginning in 2031.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at international financial institutions (like the World Bank) to oppose loans for projects that risk using forced labor or involve state entities in Xinjiang. It requires these institutions to explain how they vet projects for forced labor risks and outline mitigation steps. The Treasury must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing any projects with potential forced labor risks and U.S. efforts to block such funding. The bill applies specifically to projects where forced labor is a significant risk or linked to Xinjiang's state entities, using definitions from existing U.S. law.

Maddy summaryThe FLIGHT Act requires covered airlines to notify passengers via email or text every 15 minutes during domestic or international flight delays of 15+ minutes. It mandates that each notification include the updated departure/arrival time and an option to opt out of further alerts. This applies directly to travelers on affected flights and aims to improve communication during operational delays. The bill modifies existing aviation law to establish these specific notification standards for passenger information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1694) restricts U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes or designated "Chinese entities of concern." It defines "Chinese entities of concern" as institutions or organizations tied to China's military, defense industry, or government security agencies. Starting 12 months after enactment, schools with such relationships would lose eligibility for DHS funds unless they terminate those ties. The law directly affects higher education institutions receiving DHS funding and requires them to sever connections to avoid losing federal support.

Maddy summaryThe INDEX Act (S 1670) requires investment advisers managing passively tracked funds (like index funds) to vote proxy ballots according to their clients' instructions, directly affecting millions of retail investors who own these funds. It mandates that advisers vote shares proportionally based on client ownership percentages - e.g., if 20% of a fund's clients hold shares, their voting preference applies to 20% of the fund's votes. Exceptions allow advisers to vote "routine" matters (like board elections) without client input if instructions aren't received 10 days prior, or to mirror other shareholders' votes for majority-required proposals. The bill aims to align voting with investor preferences while prohibiting advisers from charging funds for compliance costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1647) requires the Federal Reserve Board and its banks to submit two new annual reports to Congress: one analyzing how Fed policies impact the middle class's economic health, and another tracking how Fed actions since 2000 affected small business lending availability. It also restricts the Fed from purchasing Treasury bills with maturities over 3 years, mortgage-backed securities, or holding newly acquired common stock after enactment. The bill mandates that all Fed financial filings follow standard accounting principles (GAAP) and use mark-to-market valuations for financial estimates. These changes directly affect the Federal Reserve's operational rules and reporting obligations, altering how it manages its portfolio and communicates its economic impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the Federal Reserve's total assets to no more than 10% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), with the requirement taking effect 10 years after enactment. It eliminates the Federal Reserve's Overnight Reserve Repurchase Facility within one year and prohibits creating a similar program. The Federal Reserve must also submit annual reports to Congress detailing how it will meet these limits, including how it handles interest payments to foreign-owned banks and financial institutions. The bill directly affects the Federal Reserve's operations and asset management practices.

Maddy summaryS 1646, the "Rein in the Federal Reserve Act," requires the Federal Reserve Board to provide detailed reports to Congress when starting emergency monetary programs like quantitative easing. The bill mandates that the Fed submit an initial report explaining the program's rationale, financial projections (including potential taxpayer losses), and a specific 3-year phaseout plan, with updated reports every 90 days until the program ends and assets are removed from its balance sheet. It also limits such programs to a maximum 1-year duration without explicit congressional approval. This directly affects the Federal Reserve's operational authority over emergency financial programs, increasing congressional oversight of monetary policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special review board to address career impacts on service members who requested religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine and remained in the military. The board will audit all such requests since 2020, assess whether promotions, assignments, or records were unfairly harmed, and order corrections like backdated promotions, restored pay, and expungement of negative records (e.g., reprimands or promotion denials). Service members directly affected are those who filed vaccine-related religious accommodation requests and stayed in service. The review must be completed within one year, with corrective actions finalized within 60 days of case reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1612) prevents U.S. funding for United Nations agencies if Palestine gains any status beyond observer status. It amends existing laws to replace "full membership" with "any status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status" in U.S. funding rules for UN agencies. This would block U.S. financial support for UN bodies if Palestine achieves full membership or equivalent standing. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign aid policy toward UN agencies and Palestine's potential UN representation.