Sen. Jim Banks

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public colleges and universities receiving federal funding from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition solely because of their religious beliefs, practices, or standards. It directly affects public higher education institutions and religious student organizations seeking equal treatment alongside secular groups. The key mechanism requires institutions to provide religious groups with the same rights, benefits, and privileges - such as meeting space, event scheduling, and official status - as non-religious student organizations. This policy change ensures religious groups cannot be discriminated against in campus activities through the threat of withheld federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Conscience Protection Act of 2025, strengthens protections for healthcare providers and organizations that refuse to participate in certain medical procedures (including abortion, assisted suicide, and sterilization) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It creates a private right of action allowing affected entities to seek legal remedies when their conscience rights are violated, addressing a gap in current law where victims could not defend their rights in court. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit discrimination against such healthcare entities and establishes clearer enforcement mechanisms through the Department of Health and Human Services, including administrative investigations and civil actions. It directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, insurers, and other health-related organizations operating under federal funding. The bill aims to address inconsistent enforcement of existing conscience protections like the Weldon Amendment, which has been challenged in cases such as California's abortion coverage mandate.

Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends VA medical coverage to explicitly include adaptive prostheses and terminal devices designed for sports and recreational activities alongside standard artificial limbs. It directly affects eligible veterans using prosthetic devices who wish to participate in sports or recreational therapy. The key provision expands existing VA coverage under 38 U.S.C. §1701 to cover these specific adaptive devices without requiring separate authorization. This change ensures veterans can access equipment for recreational purposes through the VA's standard medical services. The bill does not create new benefits but clarifies and broadens existing coverage for a defined category of prosthetic devices.

Automotive Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation Act of 2025 or the ASSIST Act of 2025 This bill expands the definition of medical services for purposes of veterans’ benefits to include additional medically necessary automobile adaptations. Under the bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs may provide funding for the following medically necessary automobile adaptations for driver or passenger use: ramp and kneeling systems, lowered floors, occupied and unoccupied mobility lifts, ingress or egress accessibility modifications, and adapted seating.  The bill also extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2032.

Review Every Veteran's Claim Act of 2025 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying a claim for benefits on the sole basis that a veteran failed to appear for a medical examination provided by the VA in conjunction with the claim for benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a provision in the U.S. Code (38 U.S.C. § 2306(h)) to clarify that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide burial benefits when an urn or plaque is furnished instead of a traditional headstone or marker. It directly affects veterans' families who receive VA burial benefits, ensuring those benefits apply correctly when a plaque or urn is used for final resting places. The key change adjusts the language from "in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker" to "in the case of" and renumbers related sections for clarity. The amendment applies to veterans who die on or after January 5, 2021.

Maddy summaryThe Love Lives On Act of 2025 modifies veterans' and military survivors' benefit rules to prevent remarriage from automatically ending eligibility. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans or military members who remarried, ensuring they retain access to key benefits. Key provisions include: (1) preventing termination of veterans' dependency compensation (under 38 U.S.C. §1311/1562) due to remarriage; (2) stopping termination of military Survivor Benefit Plan annuities solely for remarriage, with specific rules for those who remarried before age 55; and (3) expanding TRICARE coverage to include remarried widows/widowers whose subsequent marriage ended (via death, divorce, or annulment). These changes restore or maintain benefits that were previously lost upon remarriage.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors the life and legacy of former college football coach Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz, recognizing his contributions to the sport and his impact on character development. The bill acknowledges his extensive coaching career at six different universities, where he transformed struggling programs into winning teams and established lasting traditions such as the "Play Like A Champion Today" sign at Notre Dame. It highlights his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and his work as a motivational speaker, author, and television analyst who promoted values like integrity, hard work, and caring for others. The Senate resolution serves as an official tribute to Holtz's achievements and expresses gratitude for his service to college football and his mentorship of hundreds of student-athletes.