Maddy summaryS 1847, the Association Health Plans Act, redefines how certain employer groups can form health insurance plans. It allows associations of employers (even across industries) or groups of self-employed individuals to create group health plans, provided they meet specific requirements: at least 51 total employees after aggregation, 2 years of existence, no health-based discrimination, and 75% employer control of the governing board. Self-employed individuals meeting work-hour and business criteria (e.g., 10+ hours/week) can join as both employers and plan participants. The bill requires plans to use community-based pricing (with limited employer-specific adjustments) and prohibits denying coverage or charging more due to health status or pre-existing conditions. This primarily affects small businesses, industry associations, and self-employed workers seeking affordable group health coverage.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 305, the Small Business Technological Act of 2025, expands eligibility for Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans to cover business software, cloud computing services, and AI-powered tools that support core operations like payroll, HR, sales, billing, accounting, and inventory management. The bill directly affects small businesses seeking SBA loans by allowing these funds to finance technology tools they previously could not use for such purposes. It explicitly excludes research and development from eligible uses and clarifies that existing working capital definitions remain unchanged. This policy change modifies the SBA’s existing loan program without creating new funding or altering prior loan approvals for qualifying technology.
Maddy summarySRES 238 is a non-binding Senate resolution congratulating charter school students, parents, teachers, and leaders for their contributions to education during the 26th Annual National Charter Schools Week (May 11-17, 2025). It formally recognizes charter schools as public schools that provide diverse educational options, citing their role in improving student achievement and closing achievement gaps, particularly for disadvantaged students. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses support through symbolic recognition and encourages public observance during the designated week. It directly affects the charter school community nationwide, as acknowledged in the resolution’s text.
Maddy summarySRES 236 is a non-binding Senate resolution condemning Russia’s abduction and forced transfer of Ukrainian children, citing over 19,500 confirmed cases as of April 2025. It urges that all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia be returned before any peace agreement is finalized, emphasizing this as a prerequisite for a just resolution to the war. The resolution references Russia’s changed adoption laws, violations of international treaties, and documented human rights abuses against children in occupied territories. It does not create new law but formally expresses the Senate’s position on this issue.
Maddy summaryThe TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.
Maddy summaryThe COUNTER Act (S 1793) amends U.S. military law to clarify and expand authorities for responding to drone threats. It allows the Secretary of Defense to delegate drone mitigation actions to combatant commanders and exempts related technology and protocols from public disclosure under federal and state laws. The bill specifies that certain federal laws (like those covering cybercrime and aviation) do not apply to military drone mitigation efforts conducted outside the United States. It also updates reporting deadlines and adds new definitions for military commands involved in drone threat response, with key provisions extending until 2030. This bill directly affects Department of Defense and Coast Guard operations related to unmanned aircraft system threats.
Maddy summaryThe Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2025 makes permanent a 7-year recovery period for motorsports entertainment complexes, which was previously temporary. This change directly affects businesses that own or operate motorsports facilities, such as race tracks and related entertainment venues. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code by removing a temporary provision (subparagraph (D) of Section 168(i)(15)), ensuring these businesses can use the 7-year recovery period indefinitely. This provides long-term tax certainty for the motorsports industry without altering other tax rules.
Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill would repeal numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements in federal STEM programs established under the CHIPS and Science Act. It targets provisions requiring outreach to underrepresented communities, diversity considerations in research programs, data collection on faculty demographics, and DEI-focused funding programs. The bill also repeals the NSF Chief Diversity Officer position and modifies programs to focus on STEM achievements for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs) without race-based activities. The bill would affect federal agencies like the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and National Institute of Standards and Technology that administer STEM programs.
Maddy summaryS 1717, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2025, requires Medicare to cover FDA-designated "breakthrough" medical devices during a 4-year transitional period starting when the device is approved. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (Part A/B enrollees) and device manufacturers, ensuring coverage for these innovative products while FDA reviews their safety. The bill mandates that Medicare’s coverage decisions for these devices must be finalized within 9-12 months before the 4-year period ends, and allows coverage denial only if clinical data shows the device poses undue risk. It also allocates $10 million annually (2026-2031) to fund Medicare’s implementation of these coverage rules.