Sen. James C. Justice

Maddy summaryThis bill requires states to cover medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder under Medicaid without prior authorization or dosage limits for at least one formulation of each approved drug. It directly affects Medicaid patients with opioid use disorder and their healthcare providers, removing administrative barriers that previously required extra approvals or restricted dosing. The bill amends Medicaid law to mandate this coverage, while also requiring a federal report analyzing how current state policies (like dosing limits or counseling requirements) impact access to MAT. The changes apply starting one year after enactment, with states needing time to adjust if new state laws are required.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state veterans homes certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to be automatically deemed compliant with Medicare’s nursing home standards, eliminating redundant inspections. It requires the VA to provide documentation of inspections, undergo biennial joint reviews with Medicare officials to confirm alignment, and maintain the same care and safety standards as Medicare requires. The bill also mandates that VA inspection data for these homes be publicly reported on the Nursing Home Care Compare website. This applies to all state veterans homes meeting the defined standards, effective 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain non-lethal projectile devices (like pepper ball guns or rubber bullets) from federal firearms and ammunition taxes. It directly affects manufacturers, producers, and importers of these devices by removing tax obligations under IRS Code sections 4181 and 5845. Key provisions define "less-than-lethal" devices as those not expelling standard firearm ammunition, operating below 500 feet per second, and not convertible to lethal weapons. The Secretary of the Treasury must annually update a public list of qualifying devices and report to Congress on non-qualifying devices that exceed the velocity limit.

Maddy summarySRES 545 designates December 6, 2025, as "National Miners Day" to honor miners' contributions to U.S. economic strength and safety efforts, while commemorating the 1907 Monongah mining disaster (the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history). The resolution encourages public participation in local and national activities celebrating miners' sacrifices. It has no binding effect and serves as symbolic recognition, not a policy change. The bill directly affects miners and the public through this annual observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the government to study how quickly small business loans are approved and paid out in specific regions, with special focus on areas in the Appalachian region compared to other parts of covered regions. The study will measure processing times, approval rates, loan amounts, and transparency for businesses in these areas from 2021-2024. It mandates an interim report to Congress within one year and a final report with recommendations within two years. The report must propose ways to speed up loan processing, improve application status updates, and reduce government inefficiencies. This is a study bill - no new policies are created, only data will be gathered to potentially improve future loan access.

Maddy summarySRES 537 is a Senate resolution honoring Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, both West Virginia National Guard members, who were shot during a targeted attack on service members in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2025. Specialist Beckstrom died from her injuries on November 27, 2025, while Staff Sergeant Wolfe remains hospitalized. The resolution expresses the Senate’s condolences to their families, condemns the attack, and recognizes their service and sacrifice, with no policy changes or funding impacts. It is a symbolic gesture honoring their military service and the broader National Guard community.

Maddy summaryThe AGRITOURISM Act (S 3392) creates a new Agritourism Advisor position within the USDA to support rural businesses. This role will directly assist farms and ranches offering agritourism activities - like farm stays, winery tours, u-pick operations, and farm-to-table dining - by connecting them to federal resources. The Advisor will coordinate USDA programs, provide technical assistance, share best practices, and help update farm enterprise development tools. The bill aims to strengthen rural economies by making it easier for small agricultural businesses to diversify through tourism. It applies to all states, tribal lands, and USDA programs nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill specifies the location for a World War II Women's Memorial already authorized by law. It directs that the memorial, honoring over 18 million women who worked on the home front during WWII, be placed on federal land in Washington, D.C. Specifically, it allows the memorial to be situated either in "Area I" on the National Mall (as defined by a 2003 map) or within the National Mall's "Reserve" area. The bill does not create new policy or change memorial requirements - it only clarifies the physical location on federal land.

Maddy summarySRES 536 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating December 2, 2025, as "World Nuclear Energy Day." It commemorates nuclear energy's role in clean power generation, highlighting historical milestones like the first nuclear chain reaction (1942) and the first commercial nuclear plant (1957). The resolution celebrates nuclear energy's contributions to U.S. electricity (18% of generation, 43% carbon-free), job creation (over 70,000 direct jobs), and national security, without creating new laws or affecting any group. It serves as a symbolic recognition of the industry's achievements.

Maddy summaryThe Back the Blue Act of 2025 creates new federal criminal offenses for killing or assaulting law enforcement officers, judges, and certain public safety personnel (including firefighters and first responders) while they are on duty or because of their official status. It increases penalties for these crimes, including minimum 10-year prison terms for killing officers and longer sentences for assaults causing serious injury, with the death penalty possible for killings. The bill also adds a "flight to avoid prosecution" provision for those fleeing to evade charges for killing officers, expands law enforcement officers' rights to carry firearms in certain circumstances, and limits federal habeas corpus relief for individuals convicted of killing law enforcement officers. This legislation directly affects law enforcement officers, judges, and public safety personnel, as well as individuals who commit violence against them.