Rep. Warren Davidson

Maddy summaryHR 1138, the Payment Choice Act of 2025, requires most retail businesses to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 per transaction and prohibits charging higher prices for cash payments compared to other methods. Businesses may temporarily refuse cash only due to system failures, insufficient change, or if they offer a prepaid card conversion device meeting strict conditions (no fees, no minimum deposit, no expiration). The bill allows businesses a 5-year period to phase in accepting $50 bills or larger, after which the Treasury Secretary must mandate acceptance of $1-$20 bills. Consumers can send a 45-day notice to businesses for violations before pursuing legal action, with potential damages of at least $250 per violation. The law does not override stricter state cash acceptance protections.

Maddy summaryThe People CARE Act establishes a commission to review federal means-tested welfare programs that assist low-income Americans, including cash assistance, healthcare, food programs, housing, and education. The commission would evaluate opportunities to consolidate programs, improve efficiency, and eliminate "benefit cliffs" where people lose benefits when earning slightly more income. Within 18 months, the commission would submit a report with findings and a proposed bill to Congress, which would receive expedited consideration. The goal is to streamline programs to help individuals transition off welfare and maintain income above poverty levels without government assistance.

Maddy summaryHJRES 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how U.S. Representatives are apportioned among states. It would require counting only U.S. citizens in each state when determining representation, rather than the current total population (including non-citizens). This would directly affect states with large non-citizen populations, potentially reducing their number of House seats. The amendment, if ratified, would replace the current constitutional standard for apportionment. It is a procedural proposal seeking constitutional change, not an enacted law.

Maddy summaryHR 1057, the Safe Passage on Interstates Act of 2025, creates a new federal criminal offense for intentionally obstructing interstate highways. It makes it illegal to deliberately delay traffic, stand near vehicles, or endanger movement on interstates with the intent to block normal use. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in such obstruction, with penalties including fines up to $15,000 or imprisonment up to 20 years (or life if death results). Exceptions cover lawful activities authorized by federal, state, or local governments. This bill amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to establish specific penalties for highway obstruction.

Maddy summaryHR 149, the Lead by Example Act of 2025, requires Members of Congress and their staff to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare instead of other federal health plans for their service-related coverage. Beginning January 3, 2027, the VA would be the sole provider of health care for these individuals, including at VA facilities and non-VA facilities under existing VA authority, treating them as veterans. The bill mandates that the VA Secretary and Office of Personnel Management submit an implementation plan to Congress by September 15, 2025, detailing how to execute this change. This policy directly affects all current and future Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners, along with their defined staff members.

Maddy summaryHR 991, the Cost Estimates Improvement Act, requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to include debt servicing costs (interest payments on the national debt) in their budget estimates "to the extent practicable." This change directly affects how Congress evaluates the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, as these estimates determine whether bills qualify for budget reconciliation and influence funding decisions. The key mechanism amends the 1974 Congressional Budget Act to mandate this inclusion within existing cost estimation processes. The bill does not alter spending or tax policy but aims to make budget scoring more comprehensive by accounting for ongoing interest costs.

Maddy summaryHR 925, the "Dismantle DEI Act of 2025," would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal government operations. The bill requires federal agencies to close DEI offices, rescind related executive orders, and prohibit the use of federal funds for DEI training, offices, or initiatives. It defines "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as any activity that discriminates based on race, ethnicity, religion, biological sex, or national origin, or requires employees to complete training asserting that certain groups are inherently superior or inferior. The legislation also prohibits requiring employees to sign statements about race, ethnicity, or gender, and establishes private lawsuits for violations with potential damages of $1,000 per violation per day. This bill would directly affect federal agencies, contractors, grantees, and advisory committees receiving federal funding.

Maddy summaryHR 899 would end the U.S. Department of Education by December 31, 2026, terminating its federal agency status. This bill directly affects all federal education programs and operations currently managed by the Department, such as student aid and school funding. The key mechanism is a fixed termination date, requiring the transfer of the Department's responsibilities to other federal agencies without specifying new administrative structures. The bill focuses solely on ending the agency's existence, not altering education policy or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 778, the Safeguarding American Workers’ Benefits Act, modifies Social Security Number (SSN) requirements for claiming the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It requires taxpayers to provide SSNs issued to U.S. citizens or under specific legal provisions (as defined in the bill) before the tax return deadline, replacing previous allowances for certain alternative numbers. This directly affects individuals filing taxes who seek these credits, as they must now use only eligible SSNs to qualify. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill does not alter the credit amounts but tightens verification rules for eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to publicly publish the models, data, and detailed methodology it uses to estimate the costs and effects of legislation. Specifically, it mandates that the CBO make available all fiscal models, data routines, and the underlying assumptions behind its cost estimates, allowing independent verification. This applies to all CBO analyses of proposed bills, including the specific data and computational details needed for others to replicate the results. The requirement applies to all users of CBO reports - lawmakers, researchers, and the public - except for data legally restricted from disclosure, which would still require a public list of variables and descriptive statistics.