Rep. Harriet M. Hageman

Federal Lands and Waters Leasing Transparency Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to provide explanations to the highest bidders when it rejects their bids for certain offshore oil and gas leases. The bill also prohibits courts from invalidating or delaying certain onshore and offshore oil and gas leases. When Interior determines that the federal government will not receive the fair market value for offshore lease tracts on submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf from the highest bidder, then Interior must provide a report to the bidder that explains the basis for the determination. If the bid was subject to a resource and economic evaluation, the report must include information on how the bid compares to specified valuation metrics. These requirements apply to lease sales in which Interior received at least one bid and did not issue a lease to the highest bidder. Additionally, courts may not prevent Interior from issuing certain onshore oil and gas leases by a 60-day statutory deadline unless the lease would violate federal law. Further, the bill prohibits civil actions that challenge certain offshore oil and gas lease sales from (1) invalidating leases issued under such sales; and (2) delaying the consideration of plans, documents, or applications for a federal authorization or approval of activities for a lease. If a court finds that the sale was not carried out in compliance with federal law, the court must (1) remand the matter to Interior, and (2) direct Interior to correct the noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHR 1195, the Protect Medicaid Act, prohibits federal Medicaid funds from covering administrative costs related to health benefits provided to unauthorized immigrants who lack lawful immigration status and are ineligible for Medicaid. This directly affects states that currently provide such benefits, requiring them to separate these administrative costs from general Medicaid program expenses. The bill adds a new provision to the Social Security Act clarifying that federal funds cannot be used for these specific administrative costs, while allowing funds for systems designed to enforce this rule. It also mandates an Inspector General report detailing how states separate costs, ensure compliance, finance these programs (e.g., through provider taxes), and the impact on drug pricing for this population.

Maddy summaryHR 1206, the WEST Act of 2025, cancels a specific Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule titled "Conservation and Landscape Health" (published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2023). The bill directly affects the BLM and anyone subject to the rule, which governed land management practices on public lands. Its key mechanism is a straightforward provision declaring the rule "shall have no force or effect," effectively removing it from federal regulations without creating new policies. This is a procedural action targeting a specific existing regulation, not a broader policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 1207 transfers the administration of the Food for Peace Act's food aid programs from USAID to the Department of Agriculture. This means the Agriculture Secretary, not the USAID Administrator, will now handle all related functions, including managing assets, grants, and rules for distributing U.S. food aid overseas. The bill requires immediate implementation upon enactment, with references in law automatically updating to the Agriculture Secretary, and allows for swift interim rules to maintain program continuity. It also specifies that the Famine Early Warning Systems Network will continue under Agriculture, and the Department must consult with the State Department on certain aspects of the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would abolish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by ending all federal funding for its operations. Starting on the bill's enactment date, no funds may be used for USAID's functions under the Foreign Assistance Act or other laws, and any unused funds as of the day before enactment would be rescinded. All remaining USAID assets and liabilities would be transferred to the Secretary of State. The bill directly affects USAID's ability to carry out international development and humanitarian assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHR 1137, the "No Kill Switches in Cars Act," repeals Section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), which previously required vehicle manufacturers to implement advanced impaired driving technology. This bill directly affects car manufacturers by removing a mandate to integrate specific safety technology designed to detect driver impairment. The key provision is the repeal itself, eliminating the requirement without creating new obligations or altering existing vehicle safety standards.

Maddy summaryHR 1131 exempts certain family farms and small businesses from being counted as assets when calculating financial need for federal student aid under the Higher Education Act. Specifically, it amends the law to exclude the net value of a family farm where the family resides and small businesses (with ≤100 employees) owned by the family from need analysis calculations. This change directly affects students from qualifying family farm or small business households when applying for federal financial aid. The exemption applies to need analysis conducted for award years beginning after the bill's enactment date. The bill modifies Section 480(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to implement this policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.

Maddy summaryHR 1125, the LOCAL Act, mandates that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters relocate to Grand Junction, Colorado, and requires all existing BLM employees stationed there to remain in place. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to study relocating additional BLM positions to Grand Junction or other western states within one year, assessing impacts on Federal land management, community coordination, and activities like tourism and conservation. The study must be reported to Congress within 365 days of the bill's enactment. This legislation directly affects BLM operations and employee locations in western states, with no changes to substantive land management policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) to allow firearm manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations to move certain civil lawsuits from state courts to federal courts. It gives federal courts the authority to determine if a case falls under the PLCAA's protections and to dismiss it if it does. The key mechanism is automatic removal to federal court for qualified cases, followed by a federal court decision on dismissal. This directly affects gun industry defendants by shifting jurisdiction for specific liability claims away from state courts.