Rep. Erin Houchin

Maddy summaryThe Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2025 would prohibit states and local governments from imposing taxes on the sale of firearms, ammunition, or firearm parts during interstate or foreign commerce. This bill directly affects state tax policies and manufacturers or dealers selling these items across state lines. It explicitly states that the bill does not change the existing federal tax on firearms and ammunition that funds wildlife conservation programs. The key provision bans state-level taxes for these sales in interstate transactions while preserving current federal funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 2437, the EASE Act of 2025, requires hospitals to provide specific information about available care options to Medicare patients upon discharge. The bill amends the Social Security Act to mandate that hospitals inform patients likely to need home health services, post-hospital extended care, or hospice care about the availability of those services through participating providers in their area. This applies to Medicare discharges occurring on or after January 1, 2026. The law directly affects Medicare beneficiaries discharged from hospitals who may require these specific post-discharge care services.

Maddy summaryHR 2438, the Foster Care Tax Credit Act, creates a new $850 tax credit for foster parents who care for eligible children. The credit applies to taxpayers with a qualifying foster child (under 17, a U.S. citizen/resident) placed with them for at least one month during the tax year, who aren't already claiming the Child Tax Credit for that child. The credit phases out for higher-income households, with thresholds of $250,000 for joint filers and $150,000 for single filers. The bill also requires foster care placement agencies to report foster child placement information to the IRS and mandates a study on emergency foster care placements. The credit would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHR 2367, the College Employment Accountability Act, requires colleges and universities receiving federal student aid or institutional funds to comply with immigration laws or risk losing that funding. Specifically, it prohibits institutions from receiving federal aid if they hire individuals without legal work authorization (violating Section 274A of immigration law) and mandates participation in the E-Verify employment verification program. The Department of Homeland Security must monitor compliance every six months and notify the Education Secretary within 10 days if an institution violates immigration rules or fails to use E-Verify. This directly affects all higher education institutions seeking federal financial assistance under the Higher Education Act.

Maddy summaryHRES 236 is a non-binding congressional resolution expressing support for the concept of a "NICU Baby’s Bill of Rights," which aims to improve care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and their families. It urges hospitals to adopt family-centered practices, including involving parents in care decisions, providing clear information about treatment and nutrition options, and ensuring parents are fully informed for consent. The resolution also emphasizes the need for mental health support for families and collaborative discharge planning tailored to each family’s needs. It directly affects NICU families, healthcare providers, and hospitals, calling for systemic changes in how NICU care is delivered without creating new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Innovative FEED Act of 2025 establishes a new regulatory category for "zootechnical animal food substances" - additives in animal feed that affect digestive byproducts, reduce foodborne pathogens, or alter an animal's gut microbiome without providing nutrition. These substances would be regulated as food additives (not drugs) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requiring manufacturers to submit specific safety and efficacy data for approval. The bill mandates labeling stating "Not for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in animals" and allows optional claims about intended effects on animal body function. It explicitly excludes existing drugs, hormones, ionophores, and other substances from this category, ensuring no mandatory use of these additives.

Maddy summaryThe FOCA Act of 2025 prohibits federal agencies from requiring or banning contractors from using union agreements in construction project bids or contracts. It directly affects federal agencies, contractors, and subcontractors working on federally funded or assisted construction projects (like buildings or infrastructure). The law requires bid documents to not favor or penalize contractors based on whether they have union agreements, aiming to promote open competition and prevent discrimination. This changes how agencies structure bids but does not affect union agreements themselves. The bill applies to all new contracts and subcontracts after enactment, with limited exemptions only for public health/safety emergencies or national security.

Maddy summaryHR 2058 amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to formally define "evidence-based" for workforce programs. It specifies that an activity, service, or strategy must demonstrate statistical proof of effectiveness through rigorous studies (like controlled experiments or well-designed evaluations) or show a strong research rationale with ongoing evaluation efforts. This definition directly affects states and local workforce boards receiving WIOA funds, requiring them to describe how they prioritize evidence-based programs in their funding applications. The bill updates WIOA sections to include this definition and mandates states to detail their evidence-based program funding strategies in grant proposals.

Maddy summaryThe Students Bill of Rights Act of 2025 requires public colleges and universities receiving federal student aid funds to adopt clear, neutral policies protecting student organizations. It prohibits denying recognition based on lack of faculty advisors or national affiliations, mandates transparent standards for distributing student activity fees and setting security fees (without considering speech content), and requires accessible appeal processes for denied recognition or funding. Students harmed by violations can sue for damages, and institutions failing to comply risk losing federal funding after court rulings. The bill also demands public reporting of violations and compliance efforts to the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryThe Hidden Fee Disclosure Act of 2025 requires pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators providing services to employee benefit plans to disclose detailed information about their compensation structures. Covered service providers must annually report all fees, rebates, discounts, and other financial arrangements they receive, including how much is retained versus passed through to the plan. This includes specific details about spread pricing, rebate handling, and compensation from drug manufacturers. The bill applies to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, and aims to increase transparency for plan fiduciaries managing employee health benefits.