Maddy summaryHR 4340, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2023, prohibits paid providers from offering conversion therapy - defined as any commercial service attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity - and bans advertising that claims such therapy is effective or harmless. It directly affects therapists, counselors, or organizations offering paid conversion therapy services, including those advertising such services. Key provisions make it unlawful to provide, advertise, or facilitate paid conversion therapy, with enforcement led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under consumer protection laws and allowing states to pursue civil actions. The bill explicitly excludes supportive care for gender transition or identity exploration from its definition of prohibited therapy.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities to annually certify that their president (or equivalent leader) and at least one board member reviewed all reported Title IX incidents involving covered employees from the previous year. The review must examine investigation findings, conclusions about policy violations, and any sanctions imposed, while protecting the identity of the person reporting the incident. It also mandates that these leaders confirm they did not interfere with any investigation or outcome. The law directly affects higher education institutions' leadership, not students or general staff, and applies to incidents involving full-time employees or contracted personnel acting on behalf of the institution.
Maddy summaryThe PRIDE Act of 2023 amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace gender-specific terms like "husband and wife" with gender-neutral language such as "married couple" or "spouses" across numerous tax code sections. This bill affects all legally married couples who file federal tax returns by updating language in over 30 sections of the tax code related to filing status, deductions, credits, and other tax matters. The bill is a language update that makes the tax code more inclusive without changing existing tax treatment for married couples. It does not alter tax rates, benefits, or policies, but ensures all provisions apply equally regardless of gender.
Maddy summaryHR 3519, the Hot Foods Act of 2023, amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used for hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption at participating retailers. This change directly affects SNAP recipients who purchase such hot foods and retailers that sell them. The key provision removes the previous exclusion of hot foods from SNAP eligibility, while adding a limit that no more than 50% of a retailer's total gross sales from SNAP can come from hot foods. The bill clarifies that hot foods can be purchased for home or immediate consumption, aligning SNAP rules with current retail practices for prepared foods.
Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 extends a 2018 law that prohibits slaughtering animals for human consumption to include horses, donkeys, and other equine animals, such as ponies. It amends Section 12515 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by updating the language to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in both the section title and the main prohibition. This change directly affects the livestock industry and slaughter facilities by banning the processing of equines for food. The bill modifies existing law without adding new enforcement mechanisms, closing a gap in animal protection.
Maddy summaryThe COVER Act of 2023 establishes the "Good Steward Cover Crop Program," which provides farmers with an additional $5 per acre in premium subsidies for planting qualifying cover crops (like grasses, legumes, or brassicas) on land where they also grow cash crops and maintain crop insurance. This directly affects farmers enrolled in federal crop insurance programs, particularly underserved producers, by reducing their insurance costs when adopting conservation practices. The program requires annual reporting of acreage and allocates $60 million for fiscal year 2024, increasing annually to $84 million by 2028, with a portion reserved for outreach and technical support. A separate soil health pilot program also allows farmers using innovative soil practices to access additional premium subsidies through reinsurance arrangements.
Maddy summaryHR 3419 reauthorizes and increases mandatory funding for U.S. animal disease prevention programs through fiscal year 2028. It allocates $233 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation for three key areas: $10 million for disease prevention, $70 million for surveillance, and $153 million for rapid response. The bill also raises annual funding for the National Animal Health Laboratory from $30 million to $45 million. These provisions directly affect USDA programs that protect livestock and agricultural industries from foreign animal disease outbreaks. The funding increases extend existing programs through 2028, with reduced annual amounts starting in 2029.
Maddy summaryHR 3425 creates federal grants to community colleges and college consortia with agriculture programs, helping them expand workforce training, education, and research in farming and related fields. The bill prioritizes colleges partnering with local farms for hands-on student training and allows grant funds to cover equipment, faculty development, and apprenticeships. It authorizes $20 million annually from 2024-2029 for these programs and requires a 3-year evaluation report to Congress. The law directly affects community colleges offering agriculture-focused education, aiming to strengthen their capacity to serve students and the agricultural industry.
Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (HR 15) would amend federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, housing, employment, credit, and jury service. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under existing sex discrimination provisions. The bill would require businesses, housing providers, employers, and government entities to provide equal access and services without regard to a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It includes specific definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation to clarify protections across all covered areas. The law would apply to all entities covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including those receiving federal funding.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands benefits for National Guard members injured during state duty. It allows members to qualify for military retirement pay based on disabilities incurred while performing "State active duty" (e.g., responding to natural disasters under state governor authority), not just federal deployments. It also creates a new VA health care program covering treatment for disabilities from state duty, with limits: VA care is only provided after exhausting other insurance claims and subject to annual funding. These changes directly affect National Guard members injured during state missions, ensuring they can access retirement pay and VA medical care without duplicating existing federal or state disability benefits.