Sen. Ben Ray Luján

Maddy summaryThe Outage Refund Protection Act requires large cable, satellite, internet, and telephone providers to automatically credit customers' bills when service outages last four hours or longer. These credits are calculated as one-thirtieth of the monthly rate for each day of unavailability, and any excess amount must be refunded within 30 days if the customer cancels their service. The bill also mandates that providers improve customer service by extending accessibility requirements, recording support calls, and eliminating fees for reaching a representative, while prohibiting refunds for pre-planned maintenance that customers were notified about in advance.

Maddy summaryThe Informed Foster Youth Act of 2026 requires states to provide foster youth aged 14 and older with free access to their health and education records, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and credit reports at the time of each placement or at least once every 12 months. The bill also mandates that these young people receive personalized transition plans covering housing, healthcare, education, and employment, along with information on how to enroll in medical assistance and designate a healthcare decision-maker. Additionally, the law requires caseworkers to inform youth about available services during meetings and hearings, and it establishes a formal list of rights for foster youth that must be explained to them annually with a signed acknowledgment. These changes aim to ensure that older foster children have the necessary documents and information to navigate their lives independently as they age out of the system.

Maddy summaryThe GAME Act of 2026 prohibits large digital advertising platforms from showing targeted ads for sports gambling to anyone under 18 years old. This ban takes effect one year after the law is passed and applies to major social media sites, search engines, and ad networks that have over 100 million monthly users. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing the rule, with repeated violations potentially leading to criminal fines of up to $100,000 per ad instance. The legislation defines specific types of data used for targeting, such as precise location tracking and unique device identifiers, while excluding simple context-based ads or those requested directly by users.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026, raises the minimum salary required for employees to be exempt from federal overtime pay rules, directly affecting workers classified as executive, administrative, or professional staff. It establishes a specific salary schedule that starts at $45,000 per week and increases annually to $75,000 by 2029, after which the threshold will automatically adjust to match the 55th percentile of national earnings for full-time salaried workers. Additionally, the legislation modifies the criteria for determining job duties, requiring that at least 20 percent of an employee's time be spent on executive or administrative tasks rather than the previous 40 percent standard. The law also mandates that the Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly publish earnings data and requires the Department of Labor to provide public notice before implementing any updated salary thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates May 2026 as National Foster Care Month to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the approximately 331,747 children currently in the U.S. foster care system. The bill highlights key issues such as high rates of placement instability, educational disruptions, and the specific needs of youth aging out of care without permanent family connections. While the measure does not create new laws or funding, it formally encourages Congress to implement policies that support family reunification, prevent unnecessary entries into the system, and improve outcomes for foster youth. Additionally, the resolution establishes May 31, 2026, as National Foster Parent Appreciation Day to honor the caregivers and social workers who support these children.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses the non-binding opinion that federal laws regarding medication abortion should rely on scientific evidence rather than political influence. It specifically calls for the FDA to maintain its approval of mifepristone, a drug proven safe and effective over 25 years, and to allow patients to access it through telemedicine or mail-order pharmacies. The measure highlights that current restrictions disproportionately harm marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and those in rural areas. By stating these points, the resolution aims to encourage policymakers to ensure equitable and transparent access to abortion care based on medical consensus.

Maddy summaryThe Scientific Integrity Act requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee research to create and enforce policies ensuring that scientific work remains free from political influence and misconduct. These policies must explicitly prohibit actions such as suppressing data, altering findings, or retaliating against individuals who share research results, while also guaranteeing employees the right to publish their work and participate in professional organizations. To oversee these rules, each agency must appoint a career Scientific Integrity Officer, provide regular ethics training to staff, and publicly report on complaints and policy changes. Additionally, the law mandates that personnel decisions and scientific conclusions be based on expertise and established scientific processes rather than ideology, with periodic reviews to ensure compliance.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to raise awareness about preventing child maltreatment. The bill does not create new laws or funding but instead formally acknowledges the importance of stopping child abuse and neglect through education and community efforts. It highlights statistics on the prevalence of abuse and the long-term health consequences of adverse childhood experiences to underscore the need for prevention. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic statement recognizing the collective responsibility to protect children and support survivors.

Maddy summaryThe Respect Tribal IDs Act of 2026 requires the Department of Homeland Security to create and enforce mandatory training for immigration officers on how to properly interact with Native Americans and recognize tribal documents as proof of citizenship. This training must include specific information about tribal documents, scenario-based exercises, and annual retraining for all officers in their assigned regions. The bill also mandates that officers complete this training before performing immigration enforcement duties and requires the Department to submit regular reports to Congress on its implementation.

Maddy summaryThe Advancing Water Reuse Act creates a new federal tax credit to encourage investment in water recycling infrastructure. This 30 percent credit applies to businesses and utilities that install, replace, or modify onsite water recycling systems in industrial, manufacturing, data center, or food processing facilities. Eligible projects also include those that replace freshwater with recycled municipal water or build new municipal water recycling systems. To qualify, the construction of the project must begin within ten years of the bill's enactment, and the credit is calculated based on the cost of tangible property placed in service during the taxable year.