Rep. Josh Harder

Maddy summaryThe Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program to conserve forest land through easements. The program provides cost-share assistance (50-75% of fair market value) for eligible entities to purchase forest land easements or for the Secretary to purchase forest reserve easements directly. It requires forest management plans for enrolled land, prioritizes protection of endangered species habitat, and sets aside 10% of annual funding for beginning, socially disadvantaged, veteran, and limited resource forest landowners. The program replaces the Healthy Forests Reserve Program and allocates $100 million annually from 2026-2030 for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new tax credits to support homebuyers. It provides a first-time homebuyer credit of up to $50,000 for down payments on primary residences, with income limits ($150,000 single filers, $225,000 head of household, $300,000 joint filers). A separate starter home construction credit offers 15% (30% for first-time buyers) of costs for new homes under 1,200 square feet priced at or below 80% of local median home prices. The credits require repayment if the home is sold or no longer used as a primary residence within five years, with exceptions for new purchases, death, divorce, or military service.

Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). DOT must apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.

Maddy summaryHR 3460, the AI Whistleblower Protection Act, prohibits employers from retaliating against employees or independent contractors who report AI security vulnerabilities or AI violations to regulators, Congress, or internal supervisors. It directly affects workers in AI development, deployment, or use - such as software engineers or safety auditors - who identify risks like stolen AI technology or failures to address safety dangers. Key provisions include banning termination, demotion, or harassment for lawful reporting, requiring employers to reinstate affected workers with double back pay, and blocking contracts that force arbitration to resolve retaliation claims. The bill establishes a 180-day window to file complaints with the Labor Department or sue in court, with remedies covering legal fees and compensatory damages. It applies broadly to any employer in commerce, ensuring protections cannot be waived by employment agreements.

Maddy summaryHR 3459, the Empty Lots to Housing Act, allows local transportation agencies to transfer unused government-owned land (acquired with federal transportation funds) to develop affordable housing near transit. The bill requires that 40% of units built on this land must be affordable for households earning ≤60% of the area median income, with at least 20% reserved for those earning ≤30% of the median income. Transfers to third parties are permitted only if local entities can't take the land and the deal offers greater public benefit than government sale. This directly affects low- and moderate-income families by creating new affordable housing opportunities on previously underutilized public land.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for hospital units across the country, requiring hospitals to maintain specific staffing levels (such as 1:1 in trauma units, 2:1 in critical care units, and 3:1 in emergency rooms) to improve patient safety and quality of care. Hospitals must develop transparent staffing plans that account for patient acuity, involve direct care nurses in planning, and document actual staffing levels for each shift. The bill includes strong whistleblower protections for nurses who object to unsafe staffing levels and prohibits hospitals from retaliating against nurses who report violations. It requires hospitals to comply with these standards as a condition for receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments, with enforcement through audits and civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations. The bill also includes provisions to support nurse recruitment and retention through workforce initiatives and training programs.

Maddy summaryHR 3413, the Physician and Patient Safety Act, requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to create regulations ensuring physicians with hospital privileges receive a fair hearing and appeal process before any termination, restriction, or reduction of their professional activity or privileges at a hospital. The regulations must prevent hospitals from denying these hearings through third-party contracts, prohibit requiring physicians to waive their hearing rights as an employment condition, and keep hearings confidential unless there is an ongoing patient safety threat or data bank reporting is legally required. This directly affects physicians who hold hospital medical staff privileges and hospitals that grant or manage those privileges. The regulations must be finalized within 18 months of the bill's enactment. The bill focuses on procedural due process for physicians, not on altering clinical standards or patient care outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how married couples filing jointly can deduct student loan interest on their federal taxes. Currently, the deduction limit of $2,500 applies to the household as a whole. The bill would amend the tax code to apply the $2,500 limit separately to each spouse, meaning both partners could each deduct up to $2,500 in interest. This directly affects married couples with student loans who file jointly, providing them with a larger potential tax benefit. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 3277, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover medically necessary outpatient and inpatient treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects primarily affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. This includes reconstructive procedures, dental/orthodontic support during treatment, and follow-up care, but excludes purely cosmetic surgery not tied to a medical diagnosis. Cost-sharing (like copays) for these services must not be stricter than for other medical benefits. The law takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026, and mandates insurers to provide notice about this coverage to beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHR 3295, the Federal Animal Research Accountability Act of 2025, requires research institutions receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to submit detailed annual reports on animal use. These reports must categorize animals by species and specify: (1) animals used with no pain/distress, (2) animals with pain/distress using pain relief, (3) animals with pain/distress where pain relief would interfere with research, and (4) animals bred but not yet used. The NIH must make these reports publicly accessible online within three months of submission through a searchable database. The bill applies to all NIH-funded research entities and takes effect two years after enactment.