Rep. Brad Finstad

Maddy summaryHR 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, aims to boost U.S. production of hardrock minerals (like rare earths, base metals, and gemstones) to strengthen domestic supply chains and national security. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a 90-day report analyzing the economic impact of mineral import reliance, prioritize expedited permitting for mining projects on federal land, and review regulations to remove barriers to mineral development. The bill also mandates annual reports identifying federal lands with mineral potential and accelerates geologic mapping to locate new deposits. These provisions directly affect mining companies, federal land managers, and supply chain security efforts, focusing on concrete policy actions rather than outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.

Maddy summaryThe Diesel Engine Flexibility Act establishes a ten-year regulatory stability period for diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, non-road equipment, and heavy-duty trucks. During this time, the Environmental Protection Agency is prohibited from issuing new or stricter emission standards beyond the 2007 and 2010 rules for on-road vehicles, or the Tier 4 rules for non-road engines, unless specific exceptions for repairs or fraud enforcement apply. After the decade concludes, any new regulations must include a five-year delay before taking effect and must consider the financial and operational impacts on vehicle owners and manufacturers. The bill also provides legal protection for manufacturers using specific guidance documents to manage engine performance and monitor fluid quality without facing penalties.

Maddy summaryThe FRAUD Act requires state governors and officials who manage federal funds to report specific fraud warnings to the FBI within 180 days. To receive federal funding in the future, state leaders must certify that their officials have complied with this reporting requirement. Officials who knowingly fail to report these warnings or obstruct fraud investigations face criminal penalties, including fines and up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, agencies overseeing federal funds can ban convicted officials from managing those funds, though the law explicitly states it does not allow for the removal of elected state officials.

Maddy summaryThe Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program by transferring administrative authority to the Department of Homeland Security and introducing a unified online platform to streamline applications for employers and workers. Key provisions include establishing new housing standards with mandatory inspections, creating a system for staggered worker entry and exit, and allowing workers to transfer between employers without losing their status. The bill also defines specific job classifications for wage calculations, expands the scope of covered agricultural activities, and provides legal protections for employers who document the employment of workers seeking visa status. Additionally, it requires agencies to develop a heat illness prevention plan and allows for contract termination due to natural disasters.

Maddy summaryHR 4398, the Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act, requires Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians or nurse practitioners to certify the death of a veteran who dies of natural causes within 48 hours of learning of the death. This directly affects veterans' families, who previously faced delays of up to eight weeks in burial and access to survivor benefits due to slow death certifications. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress on VA compliance with the 48-hour rule, including statistics on delays and their causes. The key change is establishing a strict timeline for death certification to prevent unnecessary delays in honoring veterans' final arrangements.

Maddy summaryHR 2332, the SHARE Act of 2025, standardizes how states share criminal history background check information for professional licensing across state lines. It requires the FBI to provide this information to state licensing authorities through agreements with law enforcement, specifically for verifying applicants seeking licenses or practice privileges in multiple states. The bill strictly prohibits states from sharing detailed criminal history records with other states or the public, allowing only a simple "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" result to be shared. This directly affects licensed professionals (like nurses or contractors) seeking to practice in multiple states and the state agencies that issue their licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill redesignates the existing National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund as the America's Legacy Restoration Fund to address deferred maintenance on federal lands. It directs revenue from recreation fees and a portion of energy development income into the fund, which must be used primarily for repairing critical infrastructure like roads, trails, and buildings managed by agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The legislation establishes strict rules requiring that most funds go toward non-transportation projects, mandates transparency through public dashboards tracking project status, and sets aside a small percentage for matching private donations. Additionally, the bill increases entrance fees for foreign visitors to ensure they contribute to the fund, while prohibiting the use of these specific funds for land acquisition or employee bonuses.

Maddy summaryThe SBA Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act of 2026 requires the Small Business Administration to submit annual reports detailing its use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. These reports must cover the benefits and risks of this technology, including how it impacts operations, and outline strategies to maintain human oversight in important decisions. Additionally, the bill mandates that the SBA Administrator provide a briefing to congressional committees within 30 days of submitting each report. This legislation directly affects the SBA by establishing a formal process for evaluating and managing the adoption of AI tools within the agency.