Maddy summaryThe Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act requires vehicle manufacturers to obtain explicit, written consent from owners before accessing or sharing their vehicle data, and prohibits selling personal information to specific foreign governments like China, Russia, or Iran. It ensures vehicle owners can freely access, control, and delete their data - including user-generated information - without fees, proprietary devices, or restrictions. Manufacturers must provide this access via a secure, technology-neutral system that works with any device, and the Federal Trade Commission will enforce these rules while creating standards within a year. The law applies to most motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, and farming/construction vehicles, superseding conflicting state or federal regulations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill would restrict access to numerous federal benefits for non-citizens with specific immigration statuses, including those granted parole, temporary protected status, deferred action (including DACA), asylum, or withholding of removal. Key provisions require citizenship verification for Head Start, WIC, and school meals programs, limit Medicaid and Medicare coverage for these individuals, and restrict access to housing assistance and tax credits. It also includes provisions that would reduce education funding for jurisdictions deemed "sanctuary jurisdictions" that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. These changes would directly affect millions of non-citizens and require federal agencies to implement new eligibility verification processes.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 122) seeks to block an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that established procedures for calculating emissions charges on petroleum and natural gas operations, including how companies can net emissions or claim exemptions. It directly affects oil and gas companies that would have been subject to the EPA's new compliance framework. If passed, the resolution would nullify the EPA rule under a specific legal process (chapter 8 of title 5, U.S. Code), preventing it from taking effect. The rule, published November 18, 2024, aimed to streamline how the industry reports and manages emissions-related charges. The resolution does not change the underlying emissions requirements but stops this specific procedural rule from being implemented.
Maddy summaryThe Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 establishes a pilot program allowing qualified individuals or organizations (defined as "Good Samaritans") to remediate historic mine residue at abandoned hardrock mine sites without facing liability for their actions. The Environmental Protection Agency would grant up to 15 permits for projects that address pollution from abandoned mines, with applicants required to demonstrate they meet specific eligibility criteria (not being responsible owners/operators, having no role in creating the residue, and possessing adequate resources). The program includes liability protection for permitted activities, requires detailed remediation plans with baseline condition assessments, public notice, and environmental reviews, and establishes a fund for long-term operations and maintenance. This 7-year pilot program would directly affect communities near abandoned mine sites and qualified remediation groups seeking to address environmental contamination.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 5533) would repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, a federal law that restricts the President's ability to withhold or delay spending approved by Congress. If enacted, it would directly affect the executive branch by removing legal limits on the President's authority to delay or cancel the use of funds that Congress has already appropriated. The key mechanism is a straightforward repeal of the specific law (2 U.S.C. 681 et seq.), eliminating its provisions that required presidential justification for withholding funds. This change would alter the balance of power between Congress and the executive on federal budget execution.
Maddy summaryThe Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act (S 5505) limits annual federal highway program spending to the most recent Treasury estimate of highway tax receipts, directly affecting states receiving federal highway funds. It requires the Transportation Secretary to distribute funds using specific formulas, prioritizing states with unused balances and redistributing unobligated funds after August 1 each year. The bill also creates a separate spending limit for mass transit programs within the Highway Trust Fund, tied to estimated mass transit tax receipts. These changes take effect October 1, 2025, ensuring highway and safety construction funding aligns with projected revenue.
Maddy summaryThe FAIR Act of 2024 (S 5512) fundamentally changes civil forfeiture by requiring all property seizures to go through judicial process rather than allowing government agencies to seize property without court involvement. It raises the government's burden of proof from "preponderance of the evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence" to establish a property connection to criminal activity. The bill establishes new timelines for notifying property owners and requires courts to consider factors like hardship to property owners when making forfeiture decisions. These changes directly affect individuals whose property is seized by federal agencies in connection with alleged criminal activity.
Maddy summarySRES 925 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Fred R. Harris of Oklahoma, who died on November 23, 2024, at age 94. The resolution expresses the Senate’s sorrow at his passing, requests that his family be notified, and directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is a formal expression of respect for a former senator’s legacy.
Maddy summaryS 5440 (Forest Service Accountability Act) is a procedural bill that changes the appointment process for the Chief of the Forest Service. It requires the President to nominate a candidate with substantial forest management experience, subject to Senate confirmation, and mandates that nominations be referred jointly to the Senate Agriculture and Energy/Natural Resources committees. The bill also requires the President to submit a new nomination for the position within 30 days of the bill's enactment. This affects the President, the Senate, and future Forest Service leaders by altering the confirmation pathway.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 902) honoring the late Senator Timothy Peter Johnson of South Dakota, who died after a long career in public service. The resolution expresses the Senate's "profound sorrow" over his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to share the resolution with the House and send a copy to his family, and calls for the Senate to adjourn in his memory. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely a formal expression of respect for a former senator. The resolution commemorates his decades of service, including his time as Chairman of the Banking Committee and his return to work after a serious health setback.