Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds

National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. [ sic ] This bill temporarily directs the Department of the Interior to award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026, requires federal courts to issue permanent restraining orders against defendants convicted of certain serious crimes, prohibiting them from contacting their victims for the rest of their lives. The law applies specifically to individuals convicted of violent felonies or felony offenses involving sexual acts, including crimes like child exploitation and human trafficking. Courts must include these orders in sentencing, and violations are treated as contempt of court, while the only way to lift the order is if the conviction is overturned or pardoned. The bill also ensures that victims cannot be charged any fees for obtaining these protective orders and clarifies that the restrictions apply regardless of state laws.

Maddy summaryThe Marianas Tourism Advancement Act of 2026 amends immigration law to permanently add India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mongolia to the visa waiver program for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. This change allows citizens from these six countries to travel to the territories without obtaining a visa in advance. The bill also imposes strict new procedures for suspending this visa-free access, requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct economic impact assessments and consult with local governors before halting entry. Additionally, it mandates that any suspension be reviewed every 180 days to ensure the original safety or security concerns still justify the restriction.

Maddy summaryThe Badge-to-Business Act amends the Small Business Act to waive guarantee fees for express loans made to qualified career law enforcement officers starting January 1, 2027. To qualify, an officer must have completed at least ten years of service and not be facing a pending criminal investigation or administrative proceeding for misconduct related to their official duties. This fee waiver applies to both currently employed officers and those who have separated from service, provided they meet the conduct requirements at the time of application. The provision includes an exception allowing the Administrator to collect fees if the cost of guaranteeing these loans results in a net loss for the Administration in a given fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThe Pacific Minerals Economic Security Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to regulate mineral leasing activities in waters adjacent to Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The bill prohibits the government from reducing or waiving royalty payments for these leases and requires lessees to provide initial and supplemental financial bonds to cover potential environmental cleanup and decommissioning costs. Starting in fiscal year 2027, fifty percent of all leasing revenues will be distributed to the affected territories based on their proximity to the leased areas, with funds restricted for use in coastal restoration, infrastructure development, environmental mitigation, or debt reduction. Additionally, the Secretary of the Interior must conduct a study on environmental impact mitigation methods and provide immediate notice to territorial governors when new mining plans are submitted.

Maddy summaryHR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution reaffirms the partnership between the United States and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to support stability and prosperity in the region. It encourages the scheduling of a high-level summit between U.S. and Pacific Island leaders to discuss shared priorities like maritime security and economic development. The bill also urges continued U.S. engagement with regional institutions while respecting the sovereignty and specific goals outlined in the PIF's 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes and expands the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, extending the program's funding through 2043 and allowing new claims to be filed until 2042. It increases compensation amounts for downwinders and Manhattan Project waste claimants from $100,000 or $50,000 to $150,000, respectively, and introduces a provision for reimbursing documented out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance. The legislation broadens eligibility by adding new geographic areas in states such as Colorado, Montana, Washington, Illinois, and Ohio, as well as the territory of Guam, while also permitting the use of third-party affidavits to verify employment history or physical presence in affected zones. Additionally, it establishes a discretionary process for the President to designate new groups of radiation-exposed individuals for compensation and mandates several health studies regarding the long-term effects of nuclear testing on specific populations.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15642 Sand Canyon Avenue in Irvine, California, as the "Mary Kageyama Nomura Post Office Building".

Maddy summaryThe Affordable Power for the Northern Marianas Act directs that $15 million annually be allocated from existing federal capital improvement funds to support the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands starting in fiscal year 2027. Up to $3 million of this total is reserved for addressing immigration, labor, or law enforcement issues, while the remainder must be used for capital infrastructure projects that improve the affordability, reliability, and efficiency of the local electric energy system. The Secretary of the Interior is required to prioritize these power projects if they are expected to lower electricity rates or reduce fuel costs, and they must benefit the public utility serving the Commonwealth without requiring any local matching funds. This specific funding arrangement will remain in effect until a new multi-year funding agreement between the United States and the Northern Mariana Islands takes legal force.