Sen. Jim Banks

Maddy summaryThe INSULIN Act of 2026 requires health insurance plans to limit insulin copayments to $35 per 30-day supply starting in 2027, with plans choosing to cap costs at 25% of the negotiated price after 2028. The bill also mandates that pharmacy benefit managers pass all rebates and discounts related to insulin directly to health plans rather than retaining them. Additional provisions include measures to speed up the approval process for generic and biosimilar insulin products, establish a pilot program to provide affordable insulin to uninsured individuals in 10 states, and create a resource center and hotline to help uninsured people access assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThe READ Act aims to improve student literacy by directing federal funding toward evidence-based reading instruction known as the science of reading, which explicitly teaches phonics and decoding while prohibiting the use of the three-cueing model. Under this bill, the U.S. Department of Education would distribute grants to states, with a specific focus on those performing in the lowest tier of reading assessments, to implement statewide policies, update teacher training standards, and provide universal early literacy screenings for all students before third grade. The legislation also requires schools to notify parents when a student is identified as at risk for reading difficulties and mandates that these notifications be provided in the family's primary language. Additionally, the act allocates funds to support high-quality instructional materials, literacy coaching for teachers, and interventions like tutoring for struggling readers, while ensuring that federal money supplements rather than replaces local education spending.

Maddy summaryThe Accountable Produce is Medicine Act of 2026 directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to launch a five-year pilot program that tests a bundled payment model for chronic disease management. This initiative targets patients with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease who reside in rural, medically underserved, or health professional shortage areas. Participating programs must provide a comprehensive package of services, including personalized nutrition counseling, remote patient monitoring, telehealth, and access to nutrient-dense foods, while prioritizing locally grown produce and regenerative agriculture. The model requires regular tracking of patient health metrics like weight and blood pressure, with the option for programs to assume financial risk for performance starting in the third year. All services under this pilot are provided without deductibles or copayments, aiming to evaluate whether these integrated food and medical interventions can improve health outcomes and reduce overall healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryThe MATCH IT Act of 2026 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create a uniform definition for patient match rates and establish a minimum data set required to accurately link patients with their medical records. These new standards would be integrated into federal health information technology certification criteria and Medicare interoperability program requirements, affecting electronic health record vendors and healthcare providers participating in these programs. To encourage adoption, the bill introduces a voluntary bonus measure within the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program that allows eligible providers to receive payment adjustments for achieving high patient match rates, such as 90 percent or higher. Additionally, the legislation mandates the creation of an anonymous reporting program where providers can submit matching accuracy data to help the government monitor progress and adjust incentive thresholds over time.

Maddy summaryThe RISE Act amends the Higher Education Act to improve support for college students with disabilities. It requires institutions to accept multiple forms of documentation (like high school IEPs or 504 plans) to verify disability status and mandates transparent, accessible processes for determining accommodation eligibility. Colleges must also report specific disability-related data to federal databases, including the number of students receiving accommodations and degree completions. Additionally, the bill authorizes $10 million annually (2027-2031) for a national center providing technical support to students with disabilities, without altering existing ADA definitions or rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to formally define dyslexia as a specific learning disability. It adds a clear definition stating dyslexia involves unexpected reading difficulties due to phonological processing challenges, affecting students diagnosed with dyslexia. The bill also requires schools to provide equal access to accommodations and services for all eligible students, specifically including those from low-income families, low socioeconomic backgrounds, and limited English proficiency. These changes ensure dyslexia is explicitly recognized in federal education law and mandate equitable access to support for affected students.

Maddy summaryThe Kids Online Safety Act (S 1748) requires major social media platforms, online video games, and other "covered platforms" to implement specific safety features for minors (under 17). These features include default privacy settings that limit harmful design features like infinite scrolling and auto-play, parental controls for managing minors' accounts, and restrictions on advertising illegal products to minors. The bill also mandates annual transparency reports about how platforms are used by minors and requires platforms to provide clear notices about their content algorithms. It creates a Kids Online Safety Council to advise Congress on online safety issues for children. The law applies to platforms with more than 10 million monthly users in the U.S. and takes effect 18 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Prescription Information Modernization Act of 2026 allows pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide FDA-approved prescribing information for prescription drugs exclusively through electronic means. To ensure accessibility, the bill requires manufacturers to offer prescribers and dispensers the option to receive paper copies either on a continuing basis or as needed, at no additional cost. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue final regulations within one year of enactment to implement these changes and minimize adverse economic impacts on healthcare professionals. A public workshop will be held within two years to discuss optimizing the format and usability of this information, with the new requirements applying to drugs introduced into commerce after a two-year transition period or upon the effective date of the final regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new administrative account for the Railroad Retirement Board to manage funds specifically for its operations and technology upgrades. It establishes strict limits on how much money can be moved into this account between 2027 and 2031, based on a percentage of benefits paid or investment trust amounts, while also setting aside millions of dollars annually for modernizing outdated computer systems. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to produce reports reviewing the Board's efforts to update its legacy IT systems and consult with various stakeholders, including railroads and unions.

Maddy summaryThe College Transparency Act establishes a federal data system to collect and analyze student-level information about college enrollment, costs, completion rates, and post-graduation outcomes. The National Center for Education Statistics must develop this system within 4 years, collecting data on student demographics, program of study, financial aid, and earnings while prohibiting sensitive information like health data or citizenship status. The system will provide public, aggregated data through an online tool that allows students and families to compare institutions and make informed education decisions. The bill repeals a previous prohibition on such a data system and amends requirements for colleges to submit data, aiming to reduce reporting burdens while improving transparency. It includes privacy protections, an advisory committee with diverse representation, and prohibits using the data for federal rankings or to limit student services.