Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public elementary and middle schools receiving federal funding to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, or before allowing changes to sex-based accommodations like bathrooms or locker rooms. It directly affects parents of K-8 students in these schools by mandating their involvement in decisions about their child's gender-related information and facility access. The key mechanism is a condition for continued federal funding, requiring schools to seek parental permission for these specific changes. The bill aims to prevent schools from making such decisions without parental knowledge, as cited in its findings about specific school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the U.S. Department of Energy from selling petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to any entity owned or controlled by China, or to entities that might later export those products to China. It directly affects the Department of Energy’s management of the reserve and Chinese entities seeking to purchase U.S. oil. The key mechanism requires the Secretary of Energy to block sales to China-linked entities and to ensure any sale does not result in the petroleum being exported to China. This is a direct restriction on existing reserve operations, not a new policy. The bill applies to all current and future sales from the reserve.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers performing abortions to provide the same immediate medical care and hospital admission to any infant born alive during or after the procedure, as they would for any newborn. It mandates reporting of any failure to provide this care to law enforcement and imposes penalties including fines or up to 5 years in prison for violations. Women who undergo abortions may pursue civil lawsuits for damages, including compensation for physical/psychological harm and three times the abortion cost, if providers fail to comply. The law directly affects abortion providers, hospitals, and the women receiving abortion services.

Maddy summaryThe Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023 would require Congress to approve most major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules, defined as those with significant economic impact (estimated at $100 million or more annually), would need a joint resolution of approval from both chambers within 70 days. Agencies would be required to submit detailed reports to Congress before rules take effect, including cost-benefit analyses, economic effects, and other relevant information. This would increase congressional oversight of the regulatory process, though it includes exceptions for national security, emergencies, and monetary policy rules.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 5) disapproves the District of Columbia Council’s approval of the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-640), which would have expanded voting rights for D.C. residents. It directly affects the D.C. law that was enacted by the District Council on November 21, 2022, and transmitted to Congress under the Home Rule Act. The resolution uses Congress’s statutory authority to block the D.C. law from taking effect by formally expressing disapproval. This is a procedural action, not a new policy, and does not create new voting rules itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all U.S. employers to use E-Verify, an electronic employment verification system, to check the work authorization of all new hires and existing employees. It mandates verification before hiring, with all employers required to comply within one year of enactment, and expands verification requirements to existing employees. The bill increases penalties for non-compliance, including higher civil fines (up to $25,000 per violation) and potential debarment from federal contracts for repeat violations. It also establishes a new Employer Compliance Inspection Center to standardize enforcement and improve accountability for employers who fail to verify employment eligibility.

Maddy summaryThe JOBS Act of 2023 expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs that provide 150-600 clock hours (8-15 weeks) of instruction aligned with in-demand local industries. It directly affects students enrolled in eligible career-focused programs at institutions of higher education, requiring programs to offer industry-recognized credentials and meet validation standards from employers or sector partnerships. Key provisions include mandatory industry validation of program quality, institutional credit articulation for noncredit programs, and lowering the minimum Pell Grant percentage from 10% to 5% for qualifying students. The bill ensures these programs count toward students’ total Pell Grant eligibility period while maintaining standard Pell Grant terms and conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the federal government from promoting, supporting, or contracting with organizations that provide abortions on federal lands or in federal facilities, including national parks, military bases, and courthouses. It directly affects federal agencies and contractors operating on public lands or in government buildings by banning any federal funding, promotion, or contractual relationships with abortion providers. Key provisions define "abortion entity" as any organization performing, referring for, or financially supporting abortions, and prohibit federal actions that expand access to abortion in these settings. The law creates a clear policy restriction on federal involvement in abortion services within government-controlled spaces.

Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving Mothers and Fathers Act or the HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act This bill revises the family and medical leave entitlement and limits funding to certain family planning programs. Specifically, the bill provides family and medical leave due to the spontaneous loss of an unborn child of an employee or spouse of the employee. It also establishes a tax credit for an individual who experiences, during the taxable year, the stillbirth of a child who would have been a qualifying child of the individual for the taxable year if the child had been born live. The bill further prohibits the Office of Population Affairs within the Department of Health and Human Services from providing federal assistance to voluntary family planning programs that (1) perform abortions, (2) provide funding to another entity that performs abortions, or (3) refer patients to abortion providers.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act revises federal firearm regulations to eliminate separate restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. It redefines shotguns used for sporting purposes to avoid being classified as destructive devices and removes language that previously treated these weapons differently from other firearms. The bill also requires states to recognize federal compliance as meeting state registration requirements for these weapons and preempts state taxes or registration rules on them in interstate commerce. Finally, it mandates the federal government to destroy related ownership records within 365 days of enactment.