Rep. Scott DesJarlais

Maddy summaryHR 2735, the Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act, updates federal laws to better protect children from exploitation. It amends kidnapping statutes to include deception in abduction definitions and explicitly states that consent is not a defense for offenses involving victims under 16. The bill adds a new provision (2243(f)) making it illegal to intentionally touch a minor under 16 without clothing for sexual purposes in specific settings like prisons or federal facilities. These changes apply retroactively to conduct occurring before, on, or after the law’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 would reform the Low-Income Housing Credit program, which provides tax credits to developers of affordable housing. It would increase state allocations based on population with annual cost-of-living adjustments, modify tenant eligibility rules to allow higher income limits for some residents, and add protections for domestic violence victims in housing. The bill would simplify rules for rural and Native American housing projects, clarify credit eligibility requirements, and require greater transparency in program administration. These changes would directly affect developers, property owners, and low-income tenants in housing projects that receive LIHC tax credits.

Maddy summaryHR 2752, the Ensuring Safer Schools Act of 2025, amends federal grant programs to prioritize hiring veterans and retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers (SROs). The bill requires COPS grants to give preferential consideration for applications focused on recruiting these individuals, adds annual mental health screenings and training for SROs, and defines "veteran or retired law enforcement officer" for grant eligibility. It also mandates coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and schools to connect veterans with SRO roles. This directly affects schools receiving COPS grants, veterans seeking SRO positions, and local law enforcement agencies partnering with schools. The law changes how federal funds are administered for school safety roles, not school policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends immigration law to expand mandatory detention for non-citizen immigrants convicted of specific property crimes. It adds trespassing, vandalism, and arson to the list of offenses that trigger detention under Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, alongside burglary and serious bodily injury. Non-citizen immigrants convicted of these crimes would now face automatic detention without bond, rather than potentially being released pending removal proceedings. The key change modifies existing detention criteria to include these three property crimes as grounds for mandatory immigration detention.

Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a $50 million annual grant program (2027-2031) for local governments employing fewer than 175 law enforcement officers, including counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments. Grants fund de-escalation training, victim-centered domestic violence response training, evidence-based safety training for scenarios like mental health crises or active shooters, recruitment/retention bonuses (capped at 20% of salary), and mental health resources for officers. Recipients must report on program use, disclose bonus amounts publicly, and comply with audits to prevent misuse of funds. The bill aims to improve officer safety and community relations through targeted support for smaller law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 2102 (Major Richard Star Act), allows veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both full military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation simultaneously, without the previous offset that reduced retired pay. It directly affects veterans already eligible for both benefits due to combat-related injuries, removing the requirement that their retired pay be reduced by the disability compensation amount. The key provision amends Title 10 and Title 38 to eliminate the offset rule (sections 5304 and 5305 of Title 38) for these veterans. The change applies to payments starting after the bill’s enactment date, effective for all qualifying veterans. This is a policy change to increase financial support for affected veterans, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryHR 2654, the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act of 2025, removes restrictions on state and local police departments accessing federal equipment by making certain federal regulations unenforceable. It targets rules issued after May 15, 2015, that limited the transfer of excess Department of Defense equipment (under Executive Orders 13688 and 14074) unless Congress passes them into law. The bill requires the federal government to return or replace equipment recalled under those rules at no cost to agencies that meet eligibility criteria under existing law. It also prohibits using federal funds to enforce any unenacted regulations restricting equipment transfers.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act (HR 2395) redefines federal firearm definitions to exclude antique and collector firearms from being classified as firearms, and removes distinctions between short-barreled rifles and shotguns in federal regulations. It prevents state laws from imposing taxes or registration requirements on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, requiring state rules to align with federal compliance instead. The bill also mandates the federal government to destroy specific records related to these firearms within one year of enactment.

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.

TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.