Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new pathway for coal ash storage facilities to transition from waste storage to beneficial use. Owners of coal ash units (like landfills or impoundments) can apply to be designated as "beneficial use staging units" if they meet environmental standards, submit a removal plan, and commit to removing at least 25% of stored ash for reuse (e.g., in construction materials) within 5-12 years, depending on facility size. Once designated, facilities cannot accept new ash and must comply with groundwater monitoring, but cannot be forced to close by states for failing to meet removal deadlines. The EPA will track progress through annual reports, and states cannot override these federal provisions. It directly affects coal ash facility operators seeking to repurpose stored ash instead of maintaining long-term storage.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe CREATE Act increases tax credit limits for film and television productions, raising the annual spending cap from $15 million to $30 million for qualified productions and adjusting related thresholds from $20 million to $40 million. It adds an annual inflation adjustment mechanism to these limits starting in 2026, automatically increasing them based on the cost-of-living index. The bill extends the program's expiration date from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2030. This directly affects producers of eligible entertainment projects by expanding available tax credits and providing long-term stability for the industry. The changes apply to productions starting in taxable years ending after December 31, 2025.
Maddy summaryHR 4835, the Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act, amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to prevent discrimination against fossil fuel industries in financial support decisions. It prohibits the President from denying financial support (under sections 301, 302, or 303) for fossil fuel exploration, development, production, or sale, except when the denial is specifically for environmental protection purposes. This directly affects energy companies seeking federal financial assistance under the Defense Production Act and federal agencies administering those programs. The bill’s key provision ensures fossil fuel-related activities cannot be excluded from support solely based on their energy source, with environmental protection being the sole permitted exception.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to change how gambling losses are deducted for tax purposes. It allows taxpayers to deduct gambling losses against all income (not just gambling winnings) in the same tax year, directly affecting individuals who itemize deductions and have losses exceeding their gambling winnings. The key provision removes a prior restriction that limited loss deductions to winnings, making the deduction more broadly applicable. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
Maddy summaryHR 4735, the Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, clarifies that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) cannot enforce federal consumer financial laws over companies already regulated by state insurance departments for their insurance activities. The bill amends Section 1027(f) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act to explicitly state that the CFPB lacks authority to regulate insurance products or services when a company is subject to state insurance regulation. It also requires the CFPB to broadly interpret its authority in favor of state insurance regulators for such entities. This directly affects insurance companies operating under state oversight, preventing overlapping federal enforcement. The change focuses on defining regulatory boundaries, not altering insurance product rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying coverage, canceling policies, or increasing premiums based solely on a person's status as a living organ donor. It directly protects living organ donors by preventing insurance discrimination unrelated to actual health risks. The bill also requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to update public educational materials about organ donation benefits, risks, and insurance impacts within six months of enactment. These materials will include information on the new insurance protections established by the bill. The law relies on state insurance regulators for enforcement of the insurance provisions.
Maddy summaryHR 4620 amends federal law to include rioting as a form of racketeering activity under Title 18, United States Code. This change would allow prosecutors to charge individuals who organize or participate in riots as part of a larger criminal enterprise under federal racketeering laws. The bill specifically targets coordinated riot activities linked to organized crime, not isolated or spontaneous protests.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and federal employee leave rules to clarify that recovery from organ donation surgery qualifies as a "serious health condition." It directly affects private-sector workers covered by the FMLA and federal civil service employees. The key change adds "including recovery from surgery related to organ donation" to the definitions of serious health conditions in both the FMLA and federal leave statutes. This ensures eligible employees can use their existing family and medical leave benefits to recover after donating an organ, without requiring new leave entitlements.
Maddy summaryHR 3095 requires the U.S. Postal Service to assign a single, unique ZIP Code to 74 specific communities across 16 states (including Canyon Lake, CA; Castle Pines, CO; and Estero, FL) within 270 days of the bill's enactment. This addresses current issues where these communities share ZIP Codes with neighboring areas, causing mail delivery confusion. The bill directly affects residents and businesses in these designated locations by simplifying mail routing. It creates a concrete administrative change without altering broader postal policies or funding.
Maddy summaryHR 4500, the HELP Act, exempts certain commercial vehicles transporting livestock, insects, or aquatic animals from federal hours-of-service rules and electronic logging device (ELD) requirements. This directly affects livestock haulers who operate covered vehicles, including when driving empty to pick up or return from deliveries. The bill removes two specific regulatory burdens: the mandatory rest periods under 49 U.S.C. § 311 and ELD tracking under 49 U.S.C. § 31137. It applies only to vehicles defined as "covered livestock hauling vehicles" under the law, which includes all commercial livestock transport for commercial purposes. The exemption aims to provide operational flexibility for this specific segment of the transportation industry.