Rep. Daniel S. Goldman

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states to cover 12 annual telehealth mental health visits for Medicaid enrollees who were recently incarcerated in a public institution and are under court-ordered home confinement. It amends Medicaid law to mandate this coverage specifically for individuals released from prison and subject to home confinement, effective after the bill's enactment. The provision applies to all states operating under Medicaid plans or waivers, ensuring consistent access to mental health support during the reentry phase. It directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals transitioning from prison to home supervision, focusing on accessible mental health care through telehealth. The policy change is limited to Medicaid-covered telehealth visits during the period of home confinement, with no additional funding specified.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThe GRADUATE Act (HR 7536) amends tax law to expand the deduction for qualified education loan payments. It allows individuals to deduct up to $10,000 annually (plus $500 per dependent) for interest paid on such loans, increasing the previous limit. The deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income above $125,000 ($250,000 for joint filers), with the new thresholds applying to taxable years after 2025. This directly affects individual taxpayers with education debt who itemize deductions, reducing their taxable income but not forgiving loan balances. The bill modifies existing tax code sections without creating new government programs or altering loan repayment terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 12-member National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Council, appointed by the President with Senate approval, will include experts in African American history and culture who are not federal employees, with balanced representation (6 Democrats, 6 Republicans) and attention to diversity. Its duties include evaluating NEH programs related to African American history, preparing annual reports, and making recommendations to improve preservation and celebration efforts. The Council will operate for 10 years, with members serving five-year terms and receiving partial compensation for their service.

Maddy summaryHRES 1058 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing the federal government’s duty to develop a Transgender Bill of Rights. It calls for specific policy changes, including amending civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations; protecting access to gender-affirming medical care; and streamlining legal recognition of gender identity on federal documents like passports and voter registration. The resolution also proposes expanding protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals in healthcare, education, immigration, and correctional facilities, while emphasizing community-led policy development. As a resolution, it does not create new law but sets a framework for future legislative action.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations for various agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for  the Federal Protective Service, the Office of Inspector General, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The bill does not provide appropriations for some agencies and activities that have been funded in prior DHS appropriations acts, including ICE, CBP, and management and oversight activities of the Office of the Secretary.

Maddy summaryHR 7500, the Responsible Firearms Marketing Act, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study whether firearm advertising or marketing practices are unfair or deceptive, particularly those targeting minors, implying illegal use, or promoting semiautomatic assault weapons. After a two-year study, the FTC must report to Congress and then create enforceable regulations within 18 months to ban such practices. The law specifically prohibits manufacturers, dealers, and importers from using ads that appeal to people under 18, suggest illegal activity, or market assault weapons. Violations would be enforced under existing FTC authority, treating them as unfair or deceptive acts under current law. This bill directly affects firearm industry marketing practices but does not regulate gun sales or ownership.

Maddy summaryThe Firearm Safety Act of 2025 removes an existing exemption that prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from regulating firearms as consumer products. By amending the Consumer Product Safety Act, the bill allows the commission to apply its standard safety rules to guns, similar to how it regulates other household items. This change directly affects manufacturers and sellers of firearms by potentially subjecting them to federal safety standards and testing requirements. The legislation does not alter existing gun laws or create new bans, but rather changes the regulatory framework under which firearm safety is overseen.

Maddy summaryThe WORK to Save Lives Act requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue two types of guidance within 270 days of enactment. For private employers (excluding the U.S. Postal Service), OSHA must provide non-mandatory guidance on acquiring naloxone kits and offering annual employee training for opioid overdose emergencies. For all federal agencies (including the Veterans Health Administration), OSHA must issue mandatory regulations requiring agencies to maintain naloxone kits and provide annual employee training on their use. The bill directly affects private businesses and federal workplaces by establishing specific, time-bound requirements for opioid overdose response preparedness.

Maddy summaryThe Patient Debt Relief Act (HR 7478) requires Medicare-participating hospitals to implement new financial assistance and debt collection standards starting January 1, 2028. It prohibits hospitals from garnishing wages, placing home liens, or selling medical debt to collectors without offering income-based repayment plans (capping payments at 4% of monthly income) and providing clear eligibility information with bills. Hospitals failing to comply face civil penalties up to $1 million per violation, with annual audits and a public portal for patients to report noncompliance. The bill also creates a $100 million grant program to discharge medical debt for individuals meeting income thresholds (5% of income or household income ≤400% of poverty line). These changes directly affect hospitals and patients burdened by medical debt, aiming to standardize fair collection practices.