Rep. Scott Fitzgerald

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits entities controlled by Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States, including both public land managed by federal agencies and private land. It also bars such entities from participating in most U.S. Department of Agriculture programs (with exceptions for food safety, health, and labor safety initiatives). The bill expands reporting requirements to include leases and security interests in foreign land ownership, mandates public online disclosure of foreign ownership data with specific details, and imposes penalties like liens on land for violations. Additionally, it requires annual reports to Congress on risks of foreign ownership, enforcement effectiveness, and foreign investment motives.

Maddy summaryHR 4641, the "Performance over Politics Act," revises Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules to limit how often companies can exclude shareholder proposals from voting materials. It requires the SEC to change its regulations so companies can exclude proposals that address the same topic as one previously voted on, if the proposal received low support (10% or less for one vote, 20% for two votes, or 40% for three or more votes) within the past 5 years. This directly affects public companies and shareholders who submit proposals, as it makes it easier for companies to omit repeated proposals with weak voter support. The bill changes the specific criteria for excluding such proposals but does not create new requirements for shareholder voting.

Maddy summaryHJRES 44 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a 2021 rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The rule classified firearms with stabilizing braces as "short-barreled rifles," which would have required additional licensing and regulation. This resolution uses a specific legal process (under Title 5, U.S. Code) to formally disapprove the ATF rule, meaning the rule would no longer be in effect. It directly affects firearm owners, manufacturers, and dealers who would have been subject to the rule’s requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 4237, the Ensuring Sound Guidance Act, requires investment advisors and retirement plan fiduciaries to prioritize financial factors (like investment returns and costs) when making decisions for clients or plan participants. It mandates that non-financial factors (such as environmental or social goals) can only be considered if the client provides written consent, and advisors must then disclose the expected and actual financial impact over a three-year period. The bill amends the Investment Advisers Act and ERISA to enforce this standard, with changes taking effect 12 months after enactment. Additional provisions direct studies on state pension plans, climate disclosures in municipal bonds, and rules preventing payments to officials for government business.

Maddy summaryHR 277 would require Congress to approve major federal regulations before they take effect. Major rules are defined as those with significant economic impact ($100 million+ annually), major cost increases for consumers or industries, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, or innovation. Agencies must submit detailed information about these rules to Congress, including cost-benefit analyses, before they can take effect. Congress would have 70 session days to approve the rule with a joint resolution; if they don't act within that timeframe, the rule would not take effect. This would increase congressional oversight of federal regulations and require more detailed information about proposed rules before they become law.

Maddy summaryHR 4212, the Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act of 2023, increases the income limit for deducting mortgage insurance premiums on federal income taxes. It raises the cap from $100,000 (or $50,000 for married filing separately) to $200,000 (or $100,000 for married filing separately), making this deduction permanent. This change directly benefits middle-income homeowners who itemize deductions and pay mortgage insurance premiums, allowing them to deduct more of these costs. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 288, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2023, amends federal law to change how courts review agency actions. It requires federal courts to decide de novo (anew) all legal questions - including interpretations of laws and the Constitution - when reviewing agency decisions, rather than deferring to agency interpretations. This applies to all judicial reviews of agency actions under existing law, unless a specific law explicitly exempts such cases. The bill directly affects federal courts, agencies, and parties involved in litigation over agency rules or enforcement. It aims to shift interpretive authority from agencies to courts in administrative law cases.

Maddy summaryHR 4070, the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2023, excludes certain payments received from state disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who get funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires (like installing fire-resistant roofing or seismic upgrades). The bill adds a new tax exclusion in the Internal Revenue Code, meaning these qualified mitigation payments won't be counted as gross income for tax purposes. This change applies to payments made after December 31, 2020, with options for retroactive tax filings.

Maddy summaryHR 4035, the Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023, requires the Treasury Secretary to coordinate the effective dates of all rules under the Corporate Transparency Act. It mandates that all final rules related to beneficial ownership reporting must take effect on the same date, delaying implementation until the Secretary certifies to Congress that all rules are issued and will align on a single effective date. This directly affects small businesses required to report beneficial ownership information under the Corporate Transparency Act. The bill’s key mechanism is creating a unified implementation timeline, preventing staggered rule deadlines that could complicate compliance for small entities. It does not change reporting requirements but ensures a synchronized rollout of the regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 3910, titled "Dillon’s Law," amends federal public health grants to prioritize states that permit trained individuals to carry and administer epinephrine during severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). States receiving these grants must certify they have civil liability protection laws shielding trained individuals who provide emergency aid. The bill defines "trained individual" as someone with approved medical training in epinephrine use and clarifies it does not alter existing liability protections under other laws. This policy change directly affects state governments seeking federal public health funding by linking grant eligibility to specific state-level regulations on emergency epinephrine access.