Maddy summaryThe FAIR Act of 2025 would reform civil forfeiture laws by requiring all property forfeitures to proceed through judicial process rather than administrative decisions, eliminating nonjudicial forfeitures entirely. The bill would change the burden of proof required for forfeiture from "preponderance of evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence" in most cases, and would reduce the government's timeframe to identify property owners from 60 to 7 days after seizure. It would also require courts to consider factors like the seriousness of the offense, the property's connection to the crime, and hardship to the owner when determining forfeiture. This legislation would apply to all pending and future civil forfeiture cases starting from its enactment date.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySJRES 6 is a joint resolution requiring the removal of U.S. military forces from Syria within 30 days, unless Congress authorizes continued operations. It directly affects the approximately 2,000 U.S. troops currently deployed in Syria, targeting military operations not specifically authorized by Congress since the 2001 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) do not cover actions in Syria. The bill cites repeated U.S. airstrikes against Syrian forces, Iranian-backed militias, and other groups since 2014 as falling under the War Powers Resolution's definition of "hostilities" without proper authorization. The resolution directs the President to withdraw forces by the 30-day deadline, with no new military authorization required for the withdrawal itself.
Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 5) directs the President to remove U.S. military forces from hostilities in Ukraine within 30 days unless Congress passes a new authorization or declaration of war. It specifically targets U.S. involvement in Ukraine that lacks congressional approval, including intelligence sharing, special forces operations, and support for Ukrainian strikes using U.S.-provided weapons like ATACMS missiles. The resolution cites the War Powers Resolution, arguing that current U.S. military activities in Ukraine - including coordination of strikes on Russian targets - constitute "hostilities" requiring authorization. It does not authorize new military action but mandates the withdrawal of forces currently engaged without explicit congressional consent. The resolution affects all U.S. military personnel and contractors deployed in Ukraine for combat-related support.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates. It directly affects Planned Parenthood by banning all federal money from being allocated to them under any circumstances. The key provision is a clear, explicit ban on using federal funds for these organizations, overriding any other existing laws that might allow such funding. This is a straightforward policy change that would immediately halt federal financial support to Planned Parenthood.
Maddy summaryS 188, the Free Speech Protection Act, prohibits U.S. government employees from pressuring social media platforms or media organizations to censor constitutionally protected speech. The bill directly affects federal employees and covered platforms (including social media companies and media organizations), banning actions like directing platforms to remove content, label speech as "misinformation," or restrict user access. Key mechanisms include requiring detailed reports on government-platform communications, terminating the DHS Disinformation Governance Board, and banning federal grants related to misinformation/disinformation. The bill aims to prevent government influence over content moderation while preserving First Amendment protections.
Maddy summaryS 6, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, requires healthcare providers at facilities performing abortions to provide the same medical care to infants born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any newborn, including immediate hospital admission. The bill mandates that any provider or facility employee who witnesses a failure to provide this care must report it to law enforcement, with violations punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. It also allows women who undergo abortions to pursue civil lawsuits for damages if providers fail to comply, including three times the abortion cost plus punitive damages. The bill defines "abortion" as procedures intended to kill the unborn child or terminate pregnancy without preserving the child's life after viability.
Maddy summarySRES 29 is a non-binding Senate resolution stating that the President has legal authority under existing immigration laws to secure the southwest border. It specifically cites sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act allowing the President to return individuals to Mexico, end the "catch-and-release" policy, and deny asylum to those who entered without first seeking protection in a transit country. The resolution urges the President and the Department of Homeland Security to immediately reinstate policies like "Remain in Mexico," eliminate taxpayer-funded benefits for undocumented immigrants, and use expedited removal. As a resolution expressing the Senate's position, it does not create new law but aims to guide executive action under current statutes.
Maddy summaryS 153, the Repeal the TikTok Ban Act, would eliminate the federal ban on TikTok and similar apps previously prohibited under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill specifically repeals that law and invalidates all prior designations of TikTok or other apps as "foreign adversary controlled," removing the legal restrictions on these platforms. This directly affects TikTok and comparable applications that were subject to the ban, allowing them to operate without federal restrictions. The key mechanism is the complete repeal of the existing law and retroactive nullification of its enforcement provisions. (3 sentences)
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to destroy all existing firearm transaction records from discontinued firearms businesses within 90 days of the law taking effect. It also amends federal law to prevent the government from collecting such records from these businesses in the future. The ATF must report to Congress on the number of records destroyed. The bill directly affects how the federal government handles firearm transaction data for businesses that have ceased operations.
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship. Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship. Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources. Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters. The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.