Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act of 2026, would prohibit the Department of Defense from selling or purchasing certain weapons and ammunition in the commercial marketplace. It directly affects the Department of Defense, private contractors, and firearms dealers by restricting access to military-grade assault weapons and high-caliber ammunition. The law requires dealers to meet strict background check standards, maintain detailed electronic records, implement security measures, and complete mandatory training on recognizing illegal activity. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reporting to Congress on government-owned plants that produce firearms and ammunition for commercial sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Foreign Service Age Integration and Reform Act of 2026, would change the mandatory retirement age for U.S. Foreign Service officers. Currently, these employees must retire at age 65, but the bill would raise that limit to age 67 or the applicable Social Security Full Retirement Age, whichever is higher. The change directly affects career diplomats and Foreign Service personnel by allowing them to continue working longer before being required to leave the service. This adjustment aligns the retirement rules for Foreign Service officers with the retirement age system used for Social Security benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the End Prediction Market Corruption Act, would prohibit certain U.S. government officials from trading event contracts, which are financial agreements based on specific occurrences or outcomes. The law directly affects the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and senior executive branch officials, banning them from buying, selling, or exchanging these contracts entirely or restricting senior officials from trading contracts related to matters they personally handle in their official capacity. To enforce these rules, the bill establishes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation plus any profits gained from prohibited trades, requires foreign trading platforms to report violations, and mandates annual financial disclosure reports from covered officials detailing any event contract transactions. Additionally, the bill directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to create rules preventing the misuse of nonpublic information for profit through event contract trading.

This joint resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force for such purpose has been enacted. The resolution specifies that it shall not be construed to prevent the United States from defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to join as an advisory member of state watershed management teams, including Maryland's Whole Watershed Program and similar programs in other states. The legislation allows the office to coordinate with state and local governments and federal agencies while providing technical assistance and financial resources for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. By formalizing this advisory role, the bill enables the federal office to participate more directly in state-level watershed planning and implementation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026, requires most health insurance plans to cover HIV prevention medication without charging patients any cost-sharing fees. It directly affects people enrolled in private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health programs by mandating that these plans cover the medication, related lab tests, and follow-up care without requiring prior approval. The law also prohibits insurance companies from denying life, disability, or long-term care insurance to individuals taking HIV prevention medication and requires a public education campaign to increase awareness about the medication.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the DISCLOSE Act of 2026, strengthens campaign finance transparency by requiring corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs, and other entities to disclose more information about their spending and funding sources. It closes loopholes that allow foreign nationals to contribute to U.S. elections by expanding disclosure requirements and prohibiting foreign money in ballot initiatives and referenda. The legislation also mandates that certain advertisements include lists of top funders and requires reporting of spending related to federal judicial nominations. Additionally, it streamlines administrative processes for challenging campaign finance laws and ensures coordination between the Federal Election Commission and financial authorities to enforce these rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill, called the BRAVE Burma Act, extends the existing sanctions law on Burma by ten years and requires the President to annually assess whether specific Burmese entities and individuals should face sanctions. It mandates the creation of a Special Envoy for Burma with ambassadorial rank to coordinate U.S. diplomatic efforts, including working with international partners to impose sanctions and arms embargoes on the Burmese military. The legislation also directs the Treasury Department to limit Burma's shareholding benefits at the International Monetary Fund if the State Security and Peace Commission remains in power, while allowing the President to waive this restriction for national interest reasons.

Maddy summarySRES 624 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating the week of March 2-6, 2026, as "National Social and Emotional Learning Week." It recognizes the role of social and emotional learning (SEL) in supporting students' academic success, well-being, and long-term outcomes, citing research on SEL's benefits. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but encourages federal agencies to advance SEL initiatives. It directly affects no specific group, as it is a non-binding expression of support. The resolution was introduced by Senators Durbin, Kaine, Van Hollen, and others.

Maddy summaryThe Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act (S. 3956) imposes a new 5% annual wealth tax on individuals and trusts whose net assets exceed $1 billion, with the threshold adjusted for inflation. The bill also expands Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing, and vision services, establishes a $60,000 minimum annual salary for public school teachers, and creates a birth-through-five child care entitlement program for families with income up to 250% of state median income. Additional provisions include permanent extensions of Medicaid protections for home and community-based services, increased funding for housing trust funds, and expanded child care and early learning support for working families.