Rep. Mike Kennedy

Maddy summaryHR 5639, the Co-Location Energy Act, allows the Secretary of the Interior to permit solar and wind energy development on existing federal energy leases for oil, gas, coal, or geothermal projects. It requires leaseholder consent before evaluating or issuing permits for renewable energy systems on these leased areas. The bill mandates the Secretary to determine within 180 days whether such renewable projects qualify for simplified environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. This legislation directly affects federal leaseholders and renewable energy developers seeking to co-locate projects on currently leased federal lands.

Maddy summaryThe TECH Act would allow qualified technical schools to receive the same federal grant funding as traditional two-year and four-year colleges. It directly affects vocational institutions that offer specific career training programs in high-demand fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and public safety. The bill requires federal agencies to update eligibility rules and application processes within 180 days to include these schools in existing grant programs. To qualify, technical schools must offer programs of at least 150 clock hours that lead to recognized industry credentials and meet state educational requirements. The legislation aims to expand workforce training opportunities by treating technical schools equally with other higher education institutions for federal funding purposes.

Deporting Fraudsters Act of 2026 This bill makes certain acts related to public benefits fraud grounds for (1) barring a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual. The bill also makes such an individual ineligible for immigration enforcement relief, including relief for an individual in danger of subjection to torture. Specifically, this bill applies to individuals who have been convicted of, admit to having committed, or admit to acts which constitute certain offenses. Offenses covered by this bill include (1) fraud involving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, (2) fraud involving Social Security benefits, (3) fraud involving programs that receive federal funds, and (4) the production of fraudulent identification documents.

Maddy summaryHR 6399 requires the United States Postal Service to assign a single, unique ZIP Code exclusively for Highland City, Utah, within 270 days of the bill's enactment. This change would directly affect residents and businesses in Highland City by providing them with a dedicated postal code for mail delivery, separate from surrounding areas. The bill does not alter postal rates or services, only establishing a distinct ZIP Code for the city's geographic boundaries.

Maddy summaryHR 4716 transfers approximately 20.32 acres of federal land in Saratoga Springs, Utah (Parcel #58:022:0021) from the Secretary of the Interior to the U.S. Postal Service. The bill requires the Postal Service to construct and operate a new post office on this land within two years of the bill's enactment. This procedural bill directly affects the USPS by providing specific land for a facility, with no broader policy changes or impacts on the general public.

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act This bill confers legal jurisdiction to the State of Utah over certain civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It also allows the tribe to lease its land held in trust. The tribe is located in southwestern Utah. Specifically, the bill confers jurisdiction to the State of Utah over any civil cause of action (1) to which the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is a party, and (2) that arises on or within Indian lands. Under the bill, Indian lands are lands of the tribe that are (1) held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, or (2) subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer). Additionally, the bill specifies that any cause of action arising from any contract or agreement (including a lease) to which the tribe is party or that affects or arises on these Indian lands shall be deemed a civil cause of action. Therefore, this bill allows the tribe and third parties to resolve contract disputes in state court. The bill also authorizes the tribe to lease its land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 This bill imposes sanctions on certain foreign persons (individuals and entities) that are involved in Iran's petroleum sector as well as certain associated persons. The bill also requires or authorizes actions to facilitate the enforcement of sanctions on Iran. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person that, after the bill's enactment, knowingly engages in any transaction related to the processing, export, or sale of oil, condensates, gas, liquefied natural gas, or other petrochemical products in whole or in part from Iran. The President must also impose sanctions on certain foreign persons associated with a sanctioned individual or entity. For example, the President must sanction the subsidiaries and corporate officers of a sanctioned business. The bill provides certain exceptions to these sanctions, including specifying that sanctions do not apply to the importation of goods or to conducting or facilitating transactions for humanitarian assistance. The Department of State must establish an interagency working group that shall seek to establish a multilateral contact group to coordinate international efforts to enforce sanctions on Iran. The bill expands the State Department rewards program to authorize a reward payment to any individual who furnishes information leading to the identification of a person (1) subject to sanctions under this bill, or (2) that has attempted or is attempting to evade sanctions under this bill.

Maddy summaryThe Semi-Trailer Tax Parity Act modifies federal tax rules to allow floor plan financing interest rules to apply to semi-trailers and their chassis. This change directly affects businesses that finance semi-trailers for commercial use, such as trucking companies and logistics firms. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include semi-trailers in the category of property eligible for specific interest deduction treatments previously reserved for other types of vehicles. This adjustment ensures that financing costs for semi-trailers are treated similarly to those for other commercial vehicles under existing tax provisions. The policy change takes effect for taxable years beginning after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Diabetes Foot Health Access and Modernization Act of 2026, makes two main changes to federal healthcare programs. First, it allows Medicaid to cover foot and ankle care services provided by podiatric physicians, ensuring patients have access to this specialized care. Second, it updates Medicare rules to clarify documentation requirements for diabetic shoes, specifying conditions under which patients can receive extra-depth or custom-molded footwear. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, for Medicaid services and January 1, 2028, for Medicare shoe coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the No Federal Tax Dollars for Illegal Aliens Health Insurance Act of 2026, amends the Affordable Care Act to restrict the use of federal taxpayer funds for health insurance coverage. It directly affects states that receive funding under the ACA and individuals seeking health insurance coverage through federal programs. The key provision prohibits states from using pass-through funding to pay for health insurance or related benefits for individuals who are not U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawfully present aliens. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to rescind any existing waivers that would have allowed such funding for unauthorized individuals had the new restrictions been in place at the time of approval.