Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThis bill allows disaster victims to use their previous year's income instead of current year's income when calculating eligibility for the child tax credit and earned income credit. It directly affects taxpayers whose homes or workplaces were in a federally declared disaster zone during the disaster period, or those displaced from their homes due to the disaster. Key provisions let eligible individuals elect to substitute their prior taxable year's earned income for the current year in credit calculations, simplifying access to relief after income disruptions. The changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025 This bill allows certain individuals with health savings accounts (HSAs) to receive federal payments. It also restricts payments under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) regarding certain noncitizens and restricts coverage of gender-transition procedures. Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Department of Health and Human Services to deposit payments into an individual’s HSA during 2026-2027 if the individual has a bronze or catastrophic plan through a health insurance exchange, is between the ages of 18 and 64, and has income up to 700% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Individuals may receive $1,000 or $1,500 annually, depending on age.  The bill also provides funds, beginning in 2027, for cost-sharing reductions for certain individuals who have a silver plan and income up to 250% of the FPL. Beginning in 2027, the bill allows any individual to enroll in a catastrophic plan. Currently, these plans are limited to those under the age of 30 or who have certain exemptions. The bill also reduces the enhanced federal matching rate for the Medicaid expansion population in states that provide any health benefits for individuals who are not qualified aliens under federal law. The bill makes Medicaid and CHIP coverage of individuals while their status is being verified optional and conditions federal payment during this period on verification.  Finally, the bill prohibits exchange plans from covering gender-transition procedures as an essential health benefit and prohibits federal payment under Medicaid and CHIP for these procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve transparency and efficiency in processing veterans' benefit appeals. It mandates annual reports tracking key metrics like remanded claim processing times, case dismissals (including those related to veteran deaths), and expeditious case advancements under section 7107(b). The VA must also implement new tracking systems for specific claim types (e.g., remanded cases, claims awaiting hearing, and those with fiduciary assignments) and develop guidelines for accelerating case reviews. Additionally, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals gains authority to aggregate similar appeals involving common legal or factual issues to streamline decision-making.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to commission an independent study comparing the quality of mental health and addiction therapy care provided by VA health care providers versus non-VA providers. The study must assess key factors like health outcome improvements, use of evidence-based practices, coordination between providers, veteran satisfaction, and care for veterans with co-occurring conditions. It will cover various treatment settings - including telehealth, inpatient, and outpatient care - and must be completed within 18 months, with results published publicly. The study directly affects veterans receiving mental health or addiction therapy services through VA or non-VA providers. The bill does not change benefits or funding but aims to gather data to inform future care decisions.

Maddy summarySRES 536 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating December 2, 2025, as "World Nuclear Energy Day." It commemorates nuclear energy's role in clean power generation, highlighting historical milestones like the first nuclear chain reaction (1942) and the first commercial nuclear plant (1957). The resolution celebrates nuclear energy's contributions to U.S. electricity (18% of generation, 43% carbon-free), job creation (over 70,000 direct jobs), and national security, without creating new laws or affecting any group. It serves as a symbolic recognition of the industry's achievements.

Maddy summarySRES 531 is a non-binding Senate resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on November 29, 2025. It recognizes IDEA's historical role in guaranteeing children with disabilities access to free appropriate public education in inclusive settings, transforming educational opportunities for millions. The resolution honors students, families, educators, and advocates who advanced IDEA's principles since its 1975 enactment. It does not create new policy but formally acknowledges the law's enduring impact on educational equity.

Maddy summaryThe PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to be more transparent about drug pricing and ensure accurate payments to pharmacies. It establishes national average drug acquisition cost benchmarks for Medicaid, prohibits PBMs from keeping excessive profits through "spread pricing," and mandates detailed reporting of drug pricing, rebates, and fees. The bill affects Medicaid programs, Medicare Part D plans, and the PBMs that negotiate drug prices on behalf of insurers. It includes enforcement mechanisms like civil penalties for non-compliance and requires PBMs to report detailed pricing information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Maddy summaryThe Back the Blue Act of 2025 creates new federal criminal offenses for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers, judges, and certain public safety personnel (including firefighters and first responders) while they are on duty or because of their official status. It increases penalties for these crimes, including minimum 10-year prison terms for killing officers and longer sentences for assaults causing serious injury, with the death penalty possible for killings. The bill also adds a "flight to avoid prosecution" provision for those fleeing to evade charges for killing officers, expands law enforcement officers' rights to carry firearms in certain circumstances, and limits federal habeas corpus relief for individuals convicted of killing law enforcement officers. This legislation directly affects law enforcement officers, judges, and public safety personnel, as well as individuals who commit violence against them.

Maddy summaryS 3379 (EARLY Benefits for Workers Act) allows states to use up to 20% of their unemployment grant funds (or $3 million) to provide job training and support services to workers *immediately* after they file for unemployment benefits, rather than waiting for later stages of their claim. This directly affects unemployed workers filing initial claims for regular unemployment benefits, enabling faster access to reemployment help. States cannot deny benefits solely because a worker didn’t use these early services during the initial claim period. If a worker later loses eligibility, states keep the grant funds spent on the early services and aren’t penalized for providing them. The bill changes how states administer unemployment grant funds to speed up job support access.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs to evaluate existing research on menopause, perimenopause, and mid-life health for women serving in the military or who are veterans. It directs them to identify gaps in knowledge about treatments for symptoms, the impact of military service (including combat exposure and toxins like PFAS), and the availability of care and training for healthcare providers. Within 180 days of enactment, the departments must submit a report and strategic plan to Congress detailing findings and outlining steps to address research gaps and improve care. The law directly affects military women, veterans, and their healthcare providers by aiming to enhance understanding and services for menopause-related health issues.