Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan

Maddy summarySRES 89 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization’s role in developing student leadership through agricultural education and celebrates two milestones: the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America (a historically Black agricultural youth group) and the 75th anniversary of the Federal charter for Future Farmers of America (signed by President Truman in 1950). The resolution does not create new laws or obligations but formally expresses congressional support for these observances. It affects no specific group or policy, serving solely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThe Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act establishes minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety employees, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. It requires states to substantially provide specific rights such as forming labor organizations, negotiating terms of employment, and using binding interest arbitration to resolve disputes. The Federal Labor Relations Authority would determine if states meet these standards, and states that don't would be subject to federal regulations for public safety bargaining. The law also prohibits strikes and lockouts in public safety sectors while respecting existing state laws that provide stronger protections for these workers.

Maddy summaryS 639, the Clergy Act, allows ordained ministers, members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners who currently have a Social Security exemption to revoke it. The bill lets them file an application to pay Social Security taxes, effective for their first or second taxable year after December 31, 2027, with the revocation being permanent. If filed late, they must pay back taxes for the year in question. The IRS must also create an education plan within 90 days to inform clergy about this option. This changes their tax status by making Social Security coverage mandatory once revoked.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows parents or guardians to place free credit freezes on their minor children's credit reports. It requires credit bureaus to act within 3 business days when receiving verified requests from a child's representative, including proof of identity and authority. The law mandates that bureaus notify other credit bureaus about the freeze request to ensure full coverage. The provisions take effect 18 months after the bill becomes law. This directly affects minors and their representatives seeking to prevent identity theft or fraudulent credit accounts in a child's name.

Maddy summaryThe EAGLES Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the U.S. Secret Service to prevent targeted violence, particularly in schools. It mandates the Center to provide training, research, and consultation on behavioral threat assessment to schools, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community organizations, with a specific focus on school violence prevention. The bill requires hiring additional staff with expertise in child psychology and school threat assessment, authorizes $10 million annually for 2026-2030, and demands annual reports to Congress on training reach and effectiveness. This directly affects schools, local agencies, and community stakeholders by offering evidence-based tools to identify and address concerning behaviors before violence occurs.

Maddy summaryS 569, the POSTAL Act, prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from closing, consolidating, downgrading, or taking similar actions on a processing and distribution center in any state if the action would eliminate all such facilities in that state. It directly affects states that would lose their sole postal processing center. The key provision requires the Postal Service to maintain at least one processing center per state, defined as facilities handling mail distribution, dispatch, and mailer instructions for a designated area. This law aims to preserve local postal infrastructure without altering funding or creating new services.

Credit Union Board Modernization Act This bill revises the required frequency of meetings held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, new credit unions and credit unions with a low soundness rating must meet monthly. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for employers hiring from targeted groups. It raises the credit rate to 50% for the first $6,000 in wages for most workers, and adds a 50% credit for wages between $6,000 and $12,000 for workers with at least 400 hours of service. For veterans, the wage limits for the credit are doubled (to $12,000 and $24,000), and the bill removes the previous age limit for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. These changes apply to workers hired after December 31, 2024.

This resolution supports the designation of Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.

Maddy summaryS 450 prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using federal funds to procure batteries produced by specific Chinese companies starting October 1, 2027. It directly affects DHS procurement for agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration. The bill bans batteries from entities including CATL, BYD, and others listed under forced labor or military ownership rules, with limited waivers allowed for national security assessments or research. DHS must report on cost and mission impacts within 180 days of enactment.