Sen. Steve Daines

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to update terminology related to military members' credit protections. It replaces the outdated term "active duty military consumer" with the broader "armed forces member consumer," which now includes all military members regardless of current duty status (e.g., active duty, reservists, National Guard). This change ensures credit reporting rules consistently apply to all service members when credit bureaus handle their information. The amendment directly affects how credit bureaus and lenders identify and apply protections under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for military personnel.

Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 This bill prohibits life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term insurance carriers from denying or otherwise restricting coverage for living organ donors. Specifically, carriers may not deny, cancel, vary premiums, or otherwise impose conditions on policies based on an individual's status as a living organ donor. The bill also expressly specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery constitutes a serious health condition that entitles eligible employees to job-protected medical leave. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must update educational materials on living organ donation to include information about the benefits and risks of living organ donation and the impact of donation on insurance access, particularly with respect to the bill's changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the America's Living Library Project, a pilot program within the Department of the Interior to collect and analyze genomic data from species found in National Park System units. The program will create a publicly available genomic database while protecting sensitive location information and requires coordination with multiple federal agencies including the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and Department of Agriculture. It authorizes funding through fiscal year 2031 to support genome sequencing, sample storage, and data management, with initial implementation at five selected parks and potential expansion to twenty additional units within two years. The bill also mandates tribal consultation, establishes cybersecurity safeguards for genomic data, and includes provisions for long-term sample storage in U.S. facilities only.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the National Constitutional Carry Act, would prohibit states and local governments from imposing criminal or civil penalties on U.S. citizens for carrying firearms in public places. It directly affects state and local laws by declaring any statute, ordinance, or regulation that restricts public firearm carry for eligible citizens unenforceable. The legislation defines "public" to include most open spaces while allowing private property owners to post clear signs prohibiting firearms, and it explicitly includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. possessions under its jurisdiction. By amending federal law, the bill would override state restrictions on public carry for individuals who are legally allowed to own firearms under both state and federal rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Stop Unemployment Fraud Act, requires states to verify the identity of unemployment compensation claimants using government-issued IDs and supporting documents, while also mandating data matching with systems like the National Directory of New Hires to detect fraud. It prohibits states from relying solely on a claimant's self-attestation to prove eligibility and strengthens work search requirements by mandating that claimants maintain and submit weekly records of job search activities. The legislation also allows states to use up to 5% of recovered overpayments or collected contributions to fund fraud prevention efforts, technology upgrades, and proper employment classification systems.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 6, 2026, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It does not create new laws or funding but encourages educational institutions, businesses, and communities to celebrate and promote these programs. The resolution highlights how speech and debate education develops communication, critical thinking, and civic skills for students. It directly affects schools, teachers, and students participating in these programs by raising awareness of their importance. The Senate formally designates the date and urges nationwide participation in honoring this educational focus.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes wilderness study area designations from three specific Montana public lands: the 81,000-acre Middle Fork Judith area (managed by the Forest Service), and the 11,380-acre Hoodoo Mountain and 11,580-acre Wales Creek areas (managed by the Bureau of Land Management). These lands were previously evaluated and determined unsuitable for wilderness designation under federal law. The bill directs land managers to instead implement existing management plans developed through collaborative processes, which allow for activities like improved public access, wildlife habitat projects, and sportsmen opportunities. This change affects over 104,000 acres of public land in Montana that had remained under wilderness study status despite being deemed unsuitable for wilderness management.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to create simplified application forms for rural communities seeking federal economic development grants. It defines rural communities as incorporated municipalities, Tribal areas, or territories with populations of 10,000 or fewer people or those outside metropolitan statistical areas. The legislation mandates that the Assistant Secretary gather input from rural stakeholders on reducing application length, minimizing required documentation, standardizing forms across programs, and eliminating repetitive information requests. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to publicly share sample successful applications, decision-making criteria, and standardized guidance to help rural applicants navigate the grant process.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 21-28, 2026, as "National FFA Week" to honor the National FFA Organization’s work in agricultural education. It recognizes FFA’s role in developing leadership and career skills for students (with over 1 million members nationally) and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Alaska’s State FFA Association, which has 19 chapters and 493 members. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect but formally expresses Senate support for FFA’s mission.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 617) designates February 2026 as "Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month" to symbolically recognize CTE programs nationwide. It supports CTE's role in preparing students for high-demand careers by promoting workforce readiness through academic and technical skills training. The resolution encourages educators, counselors, parents, and school administrators to advocate for CTE as a valid educational pathway. As a non-binding Senate resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but affirms bipartisan support for CTE's importance in workforce development.