Rep. Bill Johnson

Maddy summaryHR 1141, the Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act, repeals a specific provision (Section 136) of the Clean Air Act that established an incentive program for reducing methane emissions and waste in natural gas systems. This bill directly affects natural gas producers and operators who previously participated in or were subject to the methane emissions reduction program. The key mechanism is the removal of this incentive program, eliminating federal requirements and financial incentives related to methane waste reduction for the natural gas industry. The bill also rescinds unobligated funds allocated for this program. This is a policy change removing a regulatory incentive, not a tax repeal.

Maddy summaryThe Dental and Optometric Care Access Act of 2023 (DOC Access Act) requires health insurance plans covering dental and vision care to allow providers (like dentists and optometrists) to charge patients the usual and customary rate for uncovered services, with a specific rule limiting dental cleanings to the network fee even if it exceeds annual coverage limits. It prohibits plans from restricting providers' choices of laboratories or suppliers for patient care. This law directly affects dental and vision care providers and the health insurance plans that offer these services. The bill establishes concrete billing and coverage standards to improve access to necessary dental and vision care.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new definition for "currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions" under the Controlled Substances Act, specifically for certain investigational drugs. It applies to drugs designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA or authorized for expanded patient access under specific emergency protocols for serious diseases with no other treatment options. The definition excludes drugs that are already fully approved under standard FDA pathways or that lose their expanded access status. If a drug no longer meets these strict criteria, the Attorney General must reclassify it into the highest restriction category (Schedule I) within 90 days of notification from the Health Secretary. This changes how certain experimental treatments are classified under federal drug laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the use of 529 college savings accounts to cover career training and credentialing costs. It allows funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, and testing expenses related to recognized postsecondary credential programs (like vocational certifications) that meet specific standards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The change directly affects workers seeking industry-recognized credentials - such as nursing certifications or IT certifications - instead of traditional degrees. It treats these expenses the same as traditional college costs for 529 account withdrawals, making it easier to save for career-focused training. The provision applies to expenses paid after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires student loan lenders to provide clear, plain-language disclosures to borrowers before loan disbursement and monthly throughout the loan term. Before disbursing a loan, lenders must give a written statement showing the loan's principal, interest rate, estimated repayment timeline, total projected cost (including fees), and how existing loans affect the borrower's total debt. Monthly statements must detail current balances, interest rates, payments made, interest accrued, and projections of future payments, including explanations of how interest capitalization increases long-term costs. These disclosures directly affect all borrowers of federal student loans and the lenders/servicers managing those loans, aiming to improve transparency about loan terms and costs.

This bill treats Hurricane Ian (occurring on and after September 22, 2022) as a qualified disaster area for purposes of the disaster-related personal casualty loss tax deduction.

Maddy summaryHR 1322 expands federal retirement benefits to include specific non-traditional law enforcement roles. It adds IRS employees focused on tax collection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service staff, Department of Veterans Affairs police officers, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized property specialists to the definition of "law enforcement officer" under federal retirement systems. Current employees in these newly covered positions must elect to pay deposits for past service to receive full retirement credit, while their agencies must contribute additional funds for that past service. The bill also temporarily prevents mandatory separation for current law enforcement officers for three years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Military Spouse Hiring Act expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include military spouses. Employers who hire a spouse of an active-duty military member - certified by a local agency as meeting eligibility requirements on the hiring date - can claim this tax credit. The credit reduces the employer's federal tax liability for hiring such individuals. This provision applies to new hires after the bill's enactment date.

This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, compensation received by individuals and businesses for losses resulting from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment on February 3, 2023. This includes lost business income paid by a federal, state, or local government agency, Norfolk Southern Railway, or any subsidiary, insurer, or agent of the railway, or any related person.

No Retaining Every Gun In a System That Restricts Your Rights Act This bill modifies the retention requirements for firearm transaction records of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that go out of business. Current law generally requires FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This bill removes the requirement for FFLs that go out of business to deliver their firearm transaction records to the ATF. Further, the bill requires the ATF to destroy all out-of-business records it has collected from FFLs.