Saving Our Mainstreet American Locations for Leisure and Shopping Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, income attributable to certain discharges of commercial or retail indebtedness secured by real property.
Fairness in Vineyard Data Act This bill requires the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to conduct a survey, within one year of the bill's enactment, on grape production in each state and publish the data on the NASS website. In the following four years, NASS must make publicly available on the website data from the five states with the highest grape production in the preceding year.
Maddy summaryHR 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, amends the Clean Air Act to restrict states from implementing vehicle emissions rules that limit the sale or use of new gasoline-powered cars. It directly affects states with stricter emissions standards (like California) by adding a new definition that blocks state rules "directly or indirectly" limiting internal combustion engine vehicles as defined in federal regulations as of January 1, 2023. The bill requires the EPA to revoke existing state emissions waivers granted between January 2022 and the bill’s enactment if they don’t comply with this new definition. This creates a concrete federal standard preventing states from advancing policies that could reduce demand for conventional vehicles.
Maddy summaryThe Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 bans cosmetic animal testing in the United States, prohibiting companies from conducting or contracting such testing after its enactment (effective 1 year later). It also bans selling or transporting cosmetics developed using animal testing conducted after that date within U.S. interstate commerce. The law directly affects cosmetic manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers operating in the U.S. market, requiring them to use non-animal testing methods for safety evaluations. Exceptions exist for foreign regulatory requirements or when no alternative testing methods are available for specific ingredients.
Maddy summaryHR 3152, the "Fight CRIME Act," aims to maintain international restrictions on Iran's missile-related activities by requiring diplomatic efforts to extend these restrictions before they expire in October 2023. The bill mandates annual reports detailing U.S. diplomatic strategies, potential impacts of expiration, and measures to deter missile technology transfers to Iran. It establishes sanctions against foreign individuals or entities that knowingly support Iran's missile or drone programs, including asset freezes and visa restrictions. These sanctions apply regardless of whether UN restrictions remain in effect after their expiration, directly affecting foreign entities involved in these activities.
Maddy summaryThe SEVER Act would require U.S. visa officials to deny entry to United Nations representatives who are subject to sanctions under Executive Order 13876 (which targets Iran-related activities). This bill amends existing law to explicitly include individuals sanctioned under this order as grounds for visa denial. It directly affects UN delegates or officials specifically sanctioned for Iran-related actions as of September 15, 2022. The change would apply automatically to all such representatives without requiring additional case-by-case review.
Oversight for Members And Relatives Act or the OMAR Act This bill prohibits the use of campaign funds to compensate the spouse of a candidate or an individual holding federal office. It also requires disclosure of payments made to spouses or immediate family members. Specifically, the bill prohibits an authorized committee of a candidate or any other political committee that is established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding federal office from directly or indirectly compensating the spouse of the candidate or individual for services provided to or on behalf of the committee. The prohibition does not apply to a political committee of a political party. Next, the bill requires a political committee to report on disbursements to the spouse or an immediate family member of the candidate or the individual holding federal office. Finally, the bill requires any penalty for a violation of the bill to be imposed on the candidate or the individual holding federal office if the candidate or individual involved knew of the violation. Further, it prohibits the committee involved from reimbursing the candidate or individual for the penalty.
Maddy summaryHRES 670 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House of Representatives' sense that all 50 states should include the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in elementary and secondary school curricula. It aims to ensure students learn about this historical event to honor the 2,977 victims and remember its significance, though it does not require states to change education standards. The resolution highlights the attacks as a pivotal moment that shaped U.S. national security and calls for continued remembrance through education. As a procedural resolution, it carries no legal force but seeks to encourage state-level curriculum decisions.
Maddy summaryHR 5318, the "Remembering Our Local Heroes Act," creates a federal grant program to fund construction, restoration, or maintenance of memorials honoring specific community contributors. The program provides up to $100,000 per project to local governments or nonprofits for memorials commemorating veterans (since 1917), fallen military personnel, law enforcement officers, or firefighters. Applicants must provide at least 50% non-Federal matching funds (including in-kind contributions) and demonstrate community support, with priority given to projects memorializing individuals with exemplary service or acts of bravery. The program is funded at $2 million annually from 2024 through 2028, excluding interior structures or memorials not meeting the defined criteria.
This bill increases from 20% to 25% the value of the total assets represented by securities of one or more taxable Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) subsidiaries (thus restoring the REIT subsidiary asset test).
