Rep. Sara Jacobs

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most employers to provide workers with earned paid sick leave. Employees would earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours per year, which can be used for their own illness, medical care, caring for family members (including children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, or other family-like relationships), or addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and requires employers to inform employees about their rights. It ensures that workers who leave and return to the same employer within a year can reinstate their unused sick leave. This law would not override more generous state or local paid leave policies.

Maddy summaryThe GRADUATE Act (HR 7536) amends tax law to expand the deduction for qualified education loan payments. It allows individuals to deduct up to $10,000 annually (plus $500 per dependent) for interest paid on such loans, increasing the previous limit. The deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income above $125,000 ($250,000 for joint filers), with the new thresholds applying to taxable years after 2025. This directly affects individual taxpayers with education debt who itemize deductions, reducing their taxable income but not forgiving loan balances. The bill modifies existing tax code sections without creating new government programs or altering loan repayment terms.

Maddy summaryHRES 1058 is a non-binding House resolution recognizing the federal government’s duty to develop a Transgender Bill of Rights. It calls for specific policy changes, including amending civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations; protecting access to gender-affirming medical care; and streamlining legal recognition of gender identity on federal documents like passports and voter registration. The resolution also proposes expanding protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals in healthcare, education, immigration, and correctional facilities, while emphasizing community-led policy development. As a resolution, it does not create new law but sets a framework for future legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the military to approve leave for abortion and fertility care without commanders needing to know the specific procedure. It mandates reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, and transportation costs when care isn't available nearby, and prohibits punishment for using this leave. It directly affects active-duty service members and their dependents who face barriers to reproductive care due to military restrictions or location. The policy change removes command discretion in approving leave for time-sensitive reproductive health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a hiring freeze on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prohibiting the use of federal funds to hire new employees or transfer existing federal workers to ICE. The freeze begins upon the bill's enactment and automatically ends when Congress passes a specific law overriding it. It directly affects ICE's staffing capabilities by halting new appointments and transfers using federal funding. The measure is procedural, focusing solely on restricting hiring authority without altering immigration enforcement policies.

Maddy summaryHR 7347, the *Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act of 2026*, requires all facilities detaining noncitizens under U.S. immigration law - including contracted facilities - to implement real-time health reporting systems for medical, dental, and mental health conditions. It mandates anonymous, multilingual complaint systems for detainees with anti-retaliation protections, annual DHS audits of health conditions (including gender-specific care), and full-time health liaisons at each facility. The bill triggers contract reviews for facilities with three verified health complaints and requires quarterly public reports on conditions and complaints to Congress. These provisions directly affect ICE detention facilities, detainees, and DHS oversight processes, focusing on transparency and accountability in health care.

Maddy summaryHR 7345 directs the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to study the long-term economic effects of immigration policies implemented beginning January 20, 2025. The CBO must assess impacts across specific sectors (like healthcare, agriculture, STEM fields), public safety concerns, demographic shifts, small business effects, and tax revenue at federal, state, and local levels. Federal agencies - including Homeland Security, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the IRS - must provide requested data to support this study. The report must be completed within 180 days of the bill’s enactment or by the end of the current congressional session, whichever comes first. This is a procedural study bill, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThe Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026 authorizes $20 billion annually from 2027 to 2031 to improve public school facilities nationwide. The bill provides grants to states to fund school construction, renovation, and modernization projects that focus on safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility, with priority given to schools serving high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Funds cannot be used for routine maintenance, athletic facilities, or vehicles, and must meet specific environmental, safety, and energy efficiency standards. The bill also includes specific provisions for repairing school foundations affected by pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes concrete deterioration, and requires use of American-made materials for construction projects.

Maddy summaryHR 7346, the Drain ICE Act of 2026, repeals specific funding provisions (sections 90003 and 100052) from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and cancels all unspent funds allocated under those sections. This bill directly affects ICE’s detention budget by removing existing financial authority for detention operations. It does not change immigration enforcement practices or directly impact individuals; it solely modifies budgetary allocations. The bill focuses on eliminating funding mechanisms, not on policy changes for migrants or enforcement. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as specified.)

Maddy summaryHR 7335 establishes comprehensive humanitarian standards for individuals held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. The bill requires facilities to provide immediate health screenings within 12 hours (6 hours for high-risk individuals like children, pregnant people, or those with medical conditions), ensure access to adequate water, sanitation, food (with 2,000+ calories daily for adults), and age-appropriate shelter. It mandates specific facility standards including separate housing for males and females, accessible accommodations for people with disabilities, daily outdoor access for those detained over 48 hours, and proper medical equipment and personnel on-site. The bill also requires regular inspections, staff training on humanitarian protocols, and public reporting of sexual abuse complaints. These standards directly affect all individuals detained by ICE or CBP, with special protections for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant people, and those with medical needs.