Sen. John Barrasso

Maddy summaryThe SMART Savings Act of 2026 modifies federal tax rules to allow individuals to use certain retirement accounts for specific transactions without triggering penalties. It achieves this by updating the definition of a "plan" and removing specific prohibited transaction categories that previously restricted how these funds could be used. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules regarding self-dealing and defines "relationship benefits" to include reduced costs or improved services tied to account value. These changes apply to transactions occurring after the law is enacted, aiming to simplify how people manage their retirement savings while maintaining core protections against abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to change how bonus payments are made for specific coal leases. Under the new rules, the total bonus amount would be split into ten equal annual payments instead of being paid all at once. The first installment must be submitted with the initial bid, while the remaining nine payments are due over the following nine years. This provision directly affects companies bidding for coal leases and the government agencies managing those leases.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. government to conduct a comprehensive review of its relationship with Tanzania following allegations of election fraud, political repression, and violence during the October 2025 general elections. It mandates the Secretary of State to assess Tanzania's democratic trajectory, security partnerships, and ties with China, requiring a detailed report to Congress within 90 days. Based on findings, the legislation authorizes the President to impose sanctions, such as asset freezes and visa bans, on Tanzanian officials responsible for human rights abuses and to prohibit most U.S. security and investment assistance until the government enacts specific democratic reforms.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 25, 2026, as "National Day of the American Cowboy" to honor the historical and cultural contributions of cowboys to the United States. It encourages citizens to observe the day with ceremonies and activities that recognize the cowboy's role in establishing the American West and its enduring presence in literature, media, and the economy. The measure highlights values associated with the cowboy archetype, such as integrity, hard work, and environmental stewardship, while noting that the role transcends gender, ethnicity, and political affiliation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a technical definition in grazing regulations to replace "lands within National Forests" with "National Forest System land" as defined in another law. It does not change existing grazing rules or directly affect any specific groups, as it only updates terminology for administrative consistency. The amendment explicitly states it won't alter other provisions governing national grasslands grazing under existing laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act or the Public Rangelands Improvement Act. This is a procedural clarification with no new policy changes or impacts on livestock operators or land management practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends an 1890 federal law governing Wyoming's public land trust for education. It updates specific language in sections 5, 7, and 8 by replacing "interest" and "income" with "earnings" when referring to funds generated from the trust lands. The change is purely linguistic, modifying how the trust's financial returns are described in the law. It directly affects Wyoming's system for managing educational trust funds derived from public land sales. The bill does not alter the underlying funding mechanism or distribution of these funds.

Maddy summaryThe Making National Parks Safer Act (S 290) requires the National Park Service to assess emergency communications centers in national parks regarding their use of Next Generation 9-1-1 systems. Specifically, it mandates an evaluation of current system implementation, estimated costs for installation and maintenance, and challenges like jurisdictional or technological barriers. Within one year of enactment, the National Park Service must submit a report to Congress detailing these findings. Based on this report, the agency must then develop a plan to install these systems at relevant park emergency centers, consulting with state/local emergency officials and federal agencies like the FCC. This bill directly affects national park emergency operations and the National Park Service's communication infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThe Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026 establishes a system where operating system providers must collect a user's date of birth and share only their age range with apps and websites using secure, privacy-preserving methods. This bill directly affects technology companies, internet service providers, and users by mandating that platforms verify a user's age bracket before allowing access to age-restricted content. Key provisions prohibit the sale of children's data, ban targeted advertising toward minors, and prevent companies from using age information for profiling or marketing purposes. Additionally, the law includes anti-competitive rules to ensure that third-party apps face the same age-related restrictions as those owned by the platform itself. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, who can impose fines for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, aims to speed up the permitting process for broadband internet projects by requiring federal agencies to create better tracking tools and reporting systems. It mandates the creation of a public dashboard to monitor how grant funds are spent and where broadband service has been established, as well as a tool to help local groups identify and track federal permit requirements. The legislation also requires federal agencies to analyze and report on factors causing delays in processing communications applications and to alert staff when projects are at risk of missing deadlines. Additionally, it clarifies that large-scale broadband construction projects involving over $5 million must undergo environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Maddy summaryThe Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and use of connected vehicles and related technology from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to protect national security. Starting in 2027, the bill generally bans these vehicles if they originate from or are controlled by these countries, with separate restrictions on software and hardware taking effect in 2030. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to issue specific exemptions for items that do not pose a security risk and must publish a list of approved products. The law also requires companies to submit declarations confirming their vehicles comply with the rules and imposes heavy fines for violations.