Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Maddy summaryS 1895, the Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act, creates a federal program to expand school-based mental health services by subsidizing graduate education costs for future school psychologists, counselors, and social workers. It authorizes $20-50 million annually (2026-2030) to cover up to 50% of tuition for students in accredited school-based mental health programs, requiring participating universities to match these funds. The program prioritizes students who received Federal Pell Grants or attended designated institutions under the Higher Education Act. Participating schools must report annually on student demographics, program coverage, and outcomes, with independent evaluations required after four years to assess effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a federal grant program to help communities address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as exposure to trauma or violence, affecting children. It provides $10 million annually (2026-2029) for grants to states, local governments, tribes, and community organizations to establish "Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Teams." These teams would develop protocols for trauma-informed care, build partnerships with mental health providers, integrate law enforcement with crisis services, and train first responders - focusing on preventing harm and improving access to support for affected children. The program directly supports communities working to mitigate trauma impacts through coordinated, cross-system collaboration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish rules allowing financial firms (like investment companies, brokers, and advisers) to deliver regulatory documents electronically to investors. Covered entities must provide initial paper copies to investors not using electronic delivery, offer a 180-day transition period, and send annual paper reminders for two years about the option to opt out of electronic delivery. Investors can always choose paper versions, and firms must ensure electronic documents are secure, readable, and reliably delivered. The SEC must finalize these rules within one year of the bill's enactment, with firms permitted to use electronic delivery immediately if the SEC misses the deadline. This changes how investors receive financial disclosures but does not alter the content or timing of required documents.

Maddy summaryS 1918, the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025, creates a new federal tax credit for expenses related to access technology for blind individuals. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per 3-year period for qualified hardware, software, or IT tools that convert visual information into accessible formats for themselves, their spouse, or a blind dependent. The credit amount adjusts annually for inflation starting in 2026 and expires after 2030. This policy directly affects taxpayers who pay for such technology for blind family members, reducing their tax liability for these qualifying expenses.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 240) affirms that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are core U.S. values and emphasizes the need to address ongoing discrimination across multiple sectors. It directly affects workplaces, K-12 and higher education systems, healthcare, housing, government programs, and the military by citing data on persistent inequities - such as racial disparities in housing discrimination, wage gaps, and underrepresentation in leadership. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages federal, state, and local entities to adopt inclusive policies and remove barriers to opportunity. It references evidence from agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to support its focus on systemic discrimination. The Senate calls for promoting environments where all individuals can achieve their full potential.

Maddy summaryThe SMART Prices Act (S 1836) changes how Medicare negotiates drug prices. It increases the number of drugs eligible for negotiation from 15 to 50 per year starting in 2028, shortens the time drugs must be the sole source for eligibility from 7 to 3 years, and adjusts price ceiling percentages for negotiated drugs (e.g., raising the maximum fair price from 75% to 76% for some drugs). These changes directly affect Medicare Part D beneficiaries and pharmaceutical companies by altering the negotiation process and pricing caps. The bill modifies existing Medicare drug pricing rules without creating new programs, applying to initial price negotiations beginning in 2028.

Maddy summaryS 1593, the Small Business Liberation Act, exempts small business concerns from import duties imposed under Executive Order 14257 (related to national emergencies). This applies to goods imported by or for small businesses defined by the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). The bill directly affects small businesses importing goods during declared national emergencies by removing a specific tariff burden. It provides a concrete policy change by excluding qualifying small businesses from duties that would otherwise apply to their imports under the emergency order. The exemption is limited to duties from this specific executive order, not broader tariff policies.

Maddy summaryThe DRIVE Act of 2025 updates how the Department of Veterans Affairs reimburses veterans for using personal vehicles for VA-related travel. It requires the VA to set mileage reimbursement rates equal to or higher than the federal government’s standard rate for employee travel (currently 41.5 cents per mile), replacing the fixed rate in current law. The bill also mandates that veterans receive these reimbursements within 90 days of submitting a valid claim. This directly affects veterans who travel for VA appointments or services using their personal vehicles.

Maddy summaryS 305, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands eligibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that support core operations like payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. The bill directly affects small businesses seeking SBA loans by allowing these funds to finance technology tools they previously could not use for such purposes. It explicitly excludes research and development from eligible uses and clarifies that existing working capital definitions remain unchanged. This policy change modifies the SBA’s existing loan program without creating new funding or altering prior loan approvals for qualifying technology.

Maddy summarySRES 237 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr., Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, and Pfc. Dante Taitano, who died during a vehicle recovery mission in Lithuania while supporting a NATO training exercise. The resolution expresses the Senate’s gratitude for their service, acknowledges the multinational recovery effort involving U.S., Lithuanian, Polish, and Estonian personnel, and reaffirms commitment to NATO deterrence in the Baltic region. It has no policy impact - it solely commemorates the soldiers’ sacrifice and their role in a U.S.-led NATO mission.