Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summaryS 383 (the JOBS Act of 2025) expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in certain short-term job training programs at eligible institutions of higher education. The bill creates a "job training Federal Pell Grant" for programs meeting specific criteria: 150-600 clock hours over 8-15 weeks, aligned with high-demand industry sectors, and leading to recognized postsecondary credentials that meet employer hiring requirements or licensure prerequisites. It also lowers the minimum Pell Grant award from 10% to 5% of the full annual amount. This directly affects students seeking career-focused training and institutions offering qualifying programs that validate industry partnerships.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that the total regulatory costs for any small business concern from SBA rulemaking (including new rules, modifications, or repeals) are zero dollars annually starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects small business concerns by mandating that SBA rulemaking must not impose any net cost on them. The bill also requires the SBA Administrator to submit annual reports to Congress detailing all rules issued by other federal agencies in the previous year that impact small businesses, broken down by agency. This is a procedural bill with no new funding authorized, focusing solely on cost limits and reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryS 400 enhances the tax credit for employers that provide paid family and medical leave to their workers. Employers can now choose to calculate the credit based on either wages paid to employees on leave or premiums paid for an insurance policy covering the leave. The bill clarifies that state or local government-paid leave counts toward the leave provided but does not count toward the credit amount, and extends the credit to cover up to six months of leave. Additionally, it requires the Small Business Administration and IRS to conduct outreach to help employers understand and use the credit.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Access to Banking Act (S 401) prohibits large financial institutions ($10 billion+ in assets) and payment networks from denying services to lawful businesses based on political or reputational factors, such as the type of legal business they operate. It requires banks to justify denials using objective, risk-based standards instead of category-based decisions, and mandates written explanations for denials. The law enables lawsuits against violators with treble damages and civil penalties up to 10% of service value (capped at $10,000 per violation). It directly affects major banks, payment processors, and credit unions that serve large-scale customers, ensuring fair access for businesses operating within federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies by requiring the closure of DEI offices, rescinding related executive orders (including those on racial equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion), and prohibiting federal funds from being used for DEI-related activities. It defines "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as including training that asserts certain groups are inherently superior or inferior, or requiring employees to sign statements about such concepts. The bill affects all federal agencies, personnel, contractors, and grantees by banning DEI training, offices, and related activities while exempting Equal Employment Opportunity offices and disability-related programs. It also creates a private cause of action allowing individuals to sue for violations with penalties of $1,000 per violation per day.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the income threshold at which Social Security benefits become taxable for retirees. Starting in 2026, single filers with income below $34,000 (adjusted for inflation) and joint filers below $68,000 (adjusted for inflation) will pay tax on less of their Social Security benefits. It ensures Social Security trust funds won't lose revenue by redirecting some non-security discretionary spending to offset the tax change. The bill also requires annual reports on how funds are redirected.

Maddy summaryS 364, titled the "Hearing Protection Act" (though it regulates firearm silencers, not hearing protection), changes federal law to treat firearm silencers like firearms for tax and regulatory purposes. It imposes a 10% federal tax on silencers (similar to firearms), preempts state laws that tax or regulate silencers beyond federal rules, and requires the destruction of existing silencer registration records within one year. The bill clarifies definitions of "firearm silencer" in federal law and modifies licensing requirements for these devices. This directly affects silencer owners, manufacturers, and state governments that previously imposed additional restrictions or taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to prohibit federal disaster assistance programs from discriminating based on political affiliation. It directly affects individuals and communities applying for federal disaster aid by adding "political affiliation" to the list of protected categories, alongside existing protections for race, gender, and economic status. The key mechanism updates Section 308(a) of the Stafford Act to explicitly state that aid cannot be denied due to a recipient's political views or party membership. This change ensures federal agencies, like FEMA, distribute disaster relief without considering applicants' political beliefs. The bill does not alter other non-discrimination protections or the criteria for eligibility.

Maddy summaryS 333, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, repeals three specific sections of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that established energy efficiency programs for homeowners. These sections included a high-efficiency electric home rebate program and related funding mechanisms. The bill also rescinds unobligated funds from those repealed programs and makes a minor conforming change to another IRA section. This legislation directly affects homeowners who would have qualified for the repealed rebate programs, eliminating those specific federal energy efficiency incentives.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently prohibits U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used for abortions, involuntary sterilizations, or related biomedical research. It amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Peace Corps Act to block funding for organizations supporting coercive abortion or sterilization programs. The law directly affects all U.S. government programs distributing foreign aid, including international health and development initiatives. It ensures funds cannot cover abortion services as family planning, lobbying on abortion, or programs involving coercion.