Rep. Darren Soto

Maddy summaryHR 7856, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026, amends the Fair Housing Act to explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on being a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking in persons. It adds "survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or severe trafficking" as a protected class in the law, alongside existing categories like race or national origin. This means landlords, housing providers, and programs cannot deny housing, evict, or otherwise discriminate against individuals due to their status as a survivor. The bill directly affects survivors who face housing barriers, including those with protective orders, shelter histories, or past evictions linked to abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Direct File Act of 2026, would establish a government-run online system allowing taxpayers to prepare and file their individual income tax returns for free. The legislation prohibits the Treasury Department from entering into agreements that restrict its ability to provide tax preparation or filing services, and it voids any existing contracts with such restrictions. The program would use IRS data to simplify filing, include customer support, be available in multiple languages, and allow users to file even if they are not required to. It also enables taxpayers in participating states to file state and local returns alongside their federal returns, with funding provided to states that meet certain standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the AI Fraud Accountability Act, makes it a federal crime to use artificial intelligence or other technology to create realistic digital impersonations of real or fictional people for the purpose of defrauding others of money, documents, or other valuable items. The law applies to communications across state lines and foreign borders, and it allows for criminal penalties including fines and up to three years in prison, along with the forfeiture of assets used to commit the fraud. In addition to criminal provisions, the bill gives the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules as unfair or deceptive business practices and requires the creation of a working group to develop technical best practices for detecting and preventing digital impersonation fraud. The legislation also establishes mechanisms for international cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies to combat cross-border fraud and includes a safeguard protecting parody, satire, and journalism from being classified as illegal impersonation.

Maddy summaryHRES 1087 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing community water fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. It acknowledges decades of scientific support for fluoridation, including CDC recognition as a top public health achievement, and highlights its cost-effectiveness in reducing dental treatment costs. The resolution encourages states and localities to maintain or adopt optimal fluoridation levels but does not create new legal requirements or directly affect any specific group. It serves as a symbolic endorsement of existing public health practice, referencing support from major health organizations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HRES 1088) is a non-binding House of Representatives measure recognizing the importance of Black history museums and cultural institutions. It formally acknowledges their role in preserving Black American history and contributions, particularly in relation to the 2026 100th anniversary of Black History Month and the U.S. 250th anniversary. The resolution urges the House to affirm that Black history is foundational to American history and calls for federal agencies to support these institutions through funding and partnerships. It also encourages the public to visit these museums, support them financially, and engage with their educational resources. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding, but serves as a symbolic endorsement of these institutions' cultural and historical significance.

Maddy summaryHR 7740, the African American History Act of 2026, authorizes $4 million annually for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to develop educational resources and support teaching about African American history. The bill directs the museum to create digital and print materials, provide teacher training, and expand access to curriculum resources for K-12 and college classrooms. It requires annual reports to Congress on fund usage and expires in 2030. This program directly affects educators and students by enhancing classroom materials and professional development on African American history.

Respect State Housing Laws Act This bill eliminates a provision that requires a 30-day notice period before a landlord may begin eviction proceedings against a tenant in federally assisted or federally backed housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs U.S. agencies to support Iranian people's access to uncensored information and hold Iranian officials accountable for human rights abuses. It requires the State Department and FCC to report on technologies (like satellite networks and mesh systems) that could bypass internet restrictions in Iran, and authorizes $2 million annually to develop such tools. The bill also establishes a new "Iran Kleptocracy Initiative" at FinCEN to track corruption, freeze assets of Iranian regime officials and state-owned businesses, and coordinate with international partners. These measures apply to U.S. policy toward Iran but do not alter Iran's domestic laws; they focus on U.S. sanctions, technology development, and anti-corruption efforts targeting the Iranian regime.

Maddy summaryHR 7599 creates a federal framework for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), allowing family members or law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily prohibit individuals from possessing firearms when they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. The bill establishes a process for issuing ex parte orders (up to 14 days) followed by a hearing within 72 hours to determine if a longer-term order (up to 180 days) should be issued, requiring respondents to surrender firearms to U.S. Marshals or designated law enforcement. Courts must consider specific factors like recent threats, violence, substance abuse, or cruelty to animals before issuing orders, with no fees for petitioners. The law requires law enforcement training to address bias, includes annual reporting requirements, and ensures firearms are returned once the order expires and the individual is eligible to own firearms under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.