Rep. Josh Gottheimer

Maddy summaryHR 3063, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2023, modifies securities laws to clarify exemptions for certain retirement plans. It expands the definition of exempt retirement plans under the Investment Company Act, Securities Act of 1933, and Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to include 403(b) plans used by charities and educational institutions. These plans must meet specific conditions, such as being subject to ERISA or having employers act as fiduciaries for investment choices. The bill directly affects eligible organizations by reducing regulatory barriers for offering retirement benefits to their employees. This change simplifies compliance without altering the core structure of retirement plans.

Maddy summaryHR 1553 (HALOS Act of 2023) updates securities rules to allow early-stage companies to present funding opportunities at specific events without triggering "general solicitation" restrictions under federal law. It specifically exempts presentations at events sponsored by universities, angel investor groups, nonprofits, or venture associations, provided no specific offering details (like pricing or terms) are shared and sponsors don’t provide investment advice or charge fees. This directly affects startups seeking seed funding and angel investor groups organizing such events. The bill requires the SEC to revise Regulation D within 6 months to implement these changes, removing a barrier for startups to connect with investors at organized gatherings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a nonrefundable tax credit for eligible elementary and secondary school supply expenses paid by taxpayers with dependent children enrolled in public, private, or religious K-12 schools. It allows a credit of up to $200 per year for expenses like books, supplies, and equipment, but reduces the credit for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $150,000. The credit cannot be claimed for expenses already used for Coverdell Education Savings Account withdrawals. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryThe Hunger Clearinghouse Enhancement Act of 2023 updates the National School Lunch Act to improve a USDA resource hub for schools and community organizations. It requires the clearinghouse to include information on trained volunteers and practical ways to prevent hunger, beyond just food assistance details. The bill also increases annual funding for the clearinghouse from $250,000 to $750,000, effective through fiscal year 2031, to support expanded resources. This directly affects the USDA's operations and the schools, nonprofits, and communities relying on the clearinghouse for hunger-related information.

Maddy summaryHR 6600, "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases, along with the costs, benefits, risks, and patient privacy impacts. The study must be completed within one year of the bill’s enactment, followed by guidance issued within six months on whether fentanyl testing should become routine. This guidance will address how hospitals can inform clinicians about testing protocols and how fentanyl testing might affect future overdose risks and patient health outcomes. The bill directly affects hospitals and emergency departments treating overdose patients, focusing on improving data-driven practices for fentanyl detection.

Maddy summaryHR 6688, the Cold Case Modernization Act, allows states and local governments to use federal grants for identifying unidentified human remains without first determining if the death was a homicide. It amends existing laws (specifically the Child Abuse Prevention Act and Department of Justice grants) to remove the requirement that a death must be classified as a homicide to qualify for funding. This change directly affects states and local agencies receiving DOJ forensic grants, enabling them to apply these funds toward unidentified remains cases regardless of the cause of death determination. The bill focuses on expanding access to forensic DNA analysis for identification purposes, streamlining efforts to resolve cold cases involving unidentified remains.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Growth Act (HR 6623) creates a new type of securities exchange called a "venture exchange" to facilitate trading of stocks from early-stage companies. It allows companies that haven't had an initial public offering (IPO) and have a small public float (under $2 billion) to list their shares on these specialized exchanges, where they can trade under modified rules. The bill requires specific disclosures about the unique risks of these "venture securities" and prohibits trading them on regular exchanges while they're listed on a venture exchange. This primarily affects early-stage startups seeking capital and investors buying their shares, with the goal of improving access to capital markets for smaller businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill corrects a technical error affecting certain 9/11 victims' families who settled claims through the 2014 court case *In re 650 Fifth Avenue*. It ensures these families - designated as "Havlish Settling Judgment Creditors" - receive withheld funds from the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund and can participate in future payments like other eligible claimants. The bill amends existing law to exempt these families from specific distribution rules and requires released funds to be paid directly to them. It does not create new payments but fixes a bureaucratic oversight preventing these families from accessing funds they were previously owed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to require lenders to collect and report data on loans to LGBTQI-owned businesses. It specifically adds "LGBTQI-owned" to existing categories for data collection, includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status as protected characteristics in lending data, and defines an "LGBTQI-owned business" as one where over 50% of ownership/control and net profit/loss accrues to self-identifying LGBTQI individuals. The policy change directly affects financial institutions that report lending data to the government, mandating they track and disclose these new categories. This provides concrete data on lending practices for LGBTQI business owners, who face documented barriers in accessing credit.

Maddy summaryThe PLAN for School Safety Act of 2023 creates a federal program to fund State and regional centers that help schools develop and improve individualized safety plans. These centers, established by eligible entities like state education agencies or Tribal organizations, provide tailored consulting on school safety, mental health, and violence prevention using research-backed methods. The program requires centers to cover 5% of activity costs and prioritizes support for schools in rural, Tribal, or low-resourced communities. Annual reports to Congress will track implementation progress, effectiveness, and how centers assist schools in accessing funding for safety initiatives.