Maddy summaryThe Government Surveillance Transparency Act of 2026 requires federal, state, and tribal courts to publicly disclose criminal surveillance orders, applications, and inventories after a maximum 180-day sealing period, with strict requirements for extensions. The bill mandates courts to publish detailed public reports about surveillance requests, including the nature of investigations and the agencies involved, and requires electronic filing of all surveillance documents. It creates a unique case numbering system for surveillance orders and requires automatic unsealing of documents after the sealing period expires. The law applies to all courts conducting surveillance, with implementation phased to allow time for system upgrades, and aims to increase transparency around government surveillance activities while balancing legitimate law enforcement needs.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Security and Freedom Enhancement Act of 2026, amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to reform how intelligence agencies collect and use information about Americans. It directly affects the FBI, intelligence agencies, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court by requiring stricter rules on searching communications of U.S. persons and limiting access to data about Americans located in the United States. Key provisions include mandatory audits of FBI queries, new approval requirements for searching sensitive individuals like elected officials, expanded reporting to Congress, and restrictions on purchasing personal data from data brokers. The bill also strengthens oversight by requiring the Inspector General to conduct periodic audits and mandates greater transparency through public reporting of surveillance activities.
Maddy summaryThis bill terminates a specific tax rate (the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate) used to fund hazardous waste cleanup efforts after December 31, 2025, with the change taking effect January 1, 2026. It also modifies how the government repays advances from the Superfund, requiring quarterly payments from unobligated funds until fully repaid, effective upon the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects the federal government's funding mechanisms for the Superfund program, not consumers or businesses. It makes concrete changes to tax code provisions and repayment procedures without altering the program's core purpose or directly impacting gasoline prices (despite the misleading bill title).
Maddy summaryS 3868, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, requires the Attorney General and specific federal agencies to compile detailed reports on federal criminal offenses. The bill mandates that agencies submit lists of all criminal statutory offenses (under federal law) and criminal regulatory offenses (enforceable via regulations), including their penalties, annual prosecution numbers over 15 years, and mental state requirements. These reports will be made publicly accessible via online indexes on government websites within two years. The bill directly affects agencies like the DOJ, EPA, FTC, and others listed, aiming to increase transparency about the scope of federal criminal law without changing existing penalties or enforcement.
Maddy summaryThe One Nation, One Visa Policy Act (S 3857) requires all nationals of the People's Republic of China - including those from Hong Kong and Macau - to hold a valid U.S. visa for entry, eliminating visa-free access. It prohibits using Department of Homeland Security funds to allow Chinese nationals to participate in programs like the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program. The bill enforces existing visa requirements by banning federal funding for visa-free admission under current agreements. This directly affects Chinese citizens seeking to travel to the U.S. without a visa through existing waiver programs.
Maddy summaryThe Payment Integrity Act (S 3862) requires state agencies managing child care funds to pay providers based on verified child attendance - not just enrollment - using attendance records or similar methods. It directly affects child care providers and state lead agencies administering federal child care grants. The bill adds a new requirement that payments must be tied to actual service delivery, prohibiting pre-payment before care is provided. These changes aim to ensure taxpayer funds are only used for verified child care services. The legislation amends existing child care funding rules without altering eligibility or funding levels.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to update travel plans for public lands, ensuring areas meet a new standard: at least 2.5 miles of accessible road per square mile for people with disabilities using motorized or off-road vehicles. It directly affects public land users, particularly those with mobility disabilities who rely on accessible routes for recreation. Key provisions include preventing road closures that would drop accessibility below the 2.5-mile threshold (unless for emergencies or safety), mandating public notice and hearings before closures, and requiring new roads to replace closed ones within a year. The law prioritizes maintaining access to activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing while balancing safety and environmental needs.
Maddy summaryThe Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025 grants a 10-year special use permit to maintain a U.S. flag at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in Utah's Uinta National Forest. It prioritizes Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah, or a qualified Utah County resident/nonprofit with flagpole maintenance experience for the permit, which exempts the holder from land use fees. The permit may be renewed for additional 10-year terms if the holder complies with maintenance conditions, and the bill exempts the permit from standard environmental review requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Clean Air Act to address air quality challenges caused by emissions originating outside U.S. borders. It prevents states from being penalized (e.g., with sanctions or fees) for failing to meet air quality standards if the deficiency is due to emissions from outside the U.S. (regardless of whether those emissions are human-caused), or from exceptional events like wildfires. States must demonstrate this cause to avoid penalties and renew the demonstration every five years. The bill does not change air quality standards themselves but modifies how states are held accountable for meeting them. It directly affects states struggling with cross-border pollution, particularly for ozone and particulate matter.
Maddy summaryThe End the Vaccine Carveout Act would amend the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to allow individuals to directly file civil lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers or administrators for vaccine-related injuries or deaths, removing the previous requirement to first pursue compensation through the federal program. It repeals provisions that forced people to choose between the compensation program and a lawsuit, and specifically excludes COVID-19 vaccines from the definition of "covered countermeasure" under emergency use authorities. This change would directly affect vaccine manufacturers and individuals harmed by vaccines, as it eliminates a legal barrier to holding manufacturers accountable in court. The bill does not alter the compensation program's operation for non-COVID-19 vaccines but ends the special liability protection for COVID-19 vaccines under emergency use designations.