Sen. Ted Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits requiring U.S. persons to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (including for minors without consent) and mandates that vaccine providers disclose risks before administration. It protects privacy by making it unlawful to publicly share vaccination status without explicit written consent, except in limited circumstances like medical care. Violations could result in criminal penalties (up to 1 year in prison) or civil fines ($25,000 per disclosure). The law applies to all individuals, employers, healthcare providers, and entities handling vaccination data, with a 5-year sunset provision.

Maddy summaryS 164, "Doss's Act," prohibits discrimination in organ donation and transplant eligibility based on an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status or geographic COVID-19 rates. It directly affects organ transplant patients, donors, and healthcare providers who serve them, banning any denial of services or priority changes due to vaccination status (except for certain long-term care facilities). The bill requires that providers denying services based on vaccination status lose Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement eligibility, and amends organ network rules to explicitly exclude vaccination status from eligibility criteria. This ensures all organ transplants in the U.S., including those managed by Veterans Affairs and Defense, follow these anti-discrimination rules.

Maddy summaryThe No Vaccine Passports Act (S 181) prohibits federal agencies from creating or supporting vaccine passport systems, requires destruction of federal vaccination data within 30 days of enactment, and protects individuals' privacy regarding their vaccination status. The bill prevents discrimination based on vaccination status in employment, public accommodations, and access to federal services, requiring reasonable accommodations for unvaccinated individuals. It prohibits employers and businesses from requiring vaccine passports or denying services based on vaccination status without a valid business necessity. The law applies to all federal agencies, employers with 15+ employees, and public accommodations, with exceptions for medical necessity and national security. The bill does not prevent businesses from requiring masks or physical distancing for health reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all U.S. employers to use E-Verify, an electronic employment verification system, to check the work authorization of all new hires and existing employees. It mandates verification before hiring, with all employers required to comply within one year of enactment, and expands verification requirements to existing employees. The bill increases penalties for non-compliance, including higher civil fines (up to $25,000 per violation) and potential debarment from federal contracts for repeat violations. It also establishes a new Employer Compliance Inspection Center to standardize enforcement and improve accountability for employers who fail to verify employment eligibility.

Maddy summaryS 160, titled "Sarah's Law," amends immigration law to require mandatory detention for non-citizens charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. It specifically applies to individuals who entered without inspection, held revoked visas, or fall under certain immigration categories. The bill also mandates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notify crime victims or their families about the alien's identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. This policy change directly affects non-citizens facing such charges and ensures victims receive ongoing case information.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act revises federal firearm regulations to eliminate separate restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. It redefines shotguns used for sporting purposes to avoid being classified as destructive devices and removes language that previously treated these weapons differently from other firearms. The bill also requires states to recognize federal compliance as meeting state registration requirements for these weapons and preempts state taxes or registration rules on them in interstate commerce. Finally, it mandates the federal government to destroy related ownership records within 365 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently prohibits U.S. federal funds from being used for abortions or involuntary sterilizations in foreign aid programs and the Peace Corps. It amends the Foreign Assistance Act to ban funding for abortions as family planning, involuntary sterilizations, related biomedical research, abortion lobbying, or organizations supporting coercive programs. The Peace Corps Act is similarly amended to prevent using Peace Corps funds for abortions. These changes apply to all programs funded under these laws, directly affecting U.S. international aid recipients and Peace Corps operations. The policy change makes existing restrictions permanent, removing the need for annual congressional action to maintain them.

Maddy summaryS 165, the "Let Them Learn Act," prohibits the use of federal or local funds in Washington, D.C., to require students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for school enrollment or participation in school activities. It directly affects D.C. public elementary and secondary schools (covered schools) and their students by blocking vaccine mandate enforcement through public funding. The bill also repeals a prior D.C. law that had established such vaccine requirements for school students and early childhood workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the Chief Diversity Officer position within the Department of Defense (DoD) by repealing Section 147 of Title 10, U.S. Code, and removes a related Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion role established in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. It directly affects the DoD by prohibiting the creation of any new position that mirrors these roles using federal funds. The key mechanism is a funding ban preventing the DoD from establishing or funding similar diversity-focused leadership positions. This policy change removes specific diversity-related roles from DoD leadership structure.

Maddy summaryS.140 updates federal theft laws to specifically address organized retail crime by raising the monetary threshold for prosecution to $5,000 in stolen goods over 12 months and expanding definitions to include coordinated theft operations. It creates a new Homeland Security Coordination Center within 90 days to unify federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts with retailers. The center will share threat intelligence, track crime trends, and produce annual public reports on organized retail crime patterns. These changes directly affect retailers facing financial losses, law enforcement agencies, and criminal organizations profiting from theft.