Rep. Val T. Hoyle

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the Forest Service from initiating or implementing layoffs until after full-year funding for fiscal year 2026 is secured. It specifically stops reductions in force and involuntary separations for most Forest Service employees (including competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive roles), except for misconduct, poor performance, or delinquency. The moratorium applies to all personnel actions under the Secretary of Agriculture’s authority until FY2026 appropriations are enacted. This directly affects Forest Service workers and ensures their job stability during the budget process.

Maddy summaryHR 4796, the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, repeals a provision that blocked Medicaid payments to certain healthcare providers during a specific period. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who received care from these providers between the enactment of the prior law (Public Law 119-21) and this bill's enactment. The key provision retroactively restores Medicaid payments for services already provided during that blocked period, treating the payment restriction as if it never existed. This change ensures eligible individuals and providers receive reimbursement for covered care delivered during the prohibited timeframe.

Maddy summaryHR 4763, the PTO Act, requires most employers to provide employees with at least 1 hour of paid annual leave for every 25 hours worked, with a maximum of 80 hours per year. It applies to private-sector workers and certain government employees, protecting their right to use paid leave for any purpose without disclosing the reason. The bill mandates employers to maintain health benefits during leave, allow carryover of up to 40 hours of unused leave, and pay out unused leave upon separation. It also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees for using paid leave or requiring them to find replacements while on leave. The law includes enforcement mechanisms, allowing employees to file complaints with the Department of Labor or pursue private lawsuits.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the TRICARE Young Adult Program to make healthcare coverage more accessible for military dependents. It directly affects young adults (ages 21-26) who are children of active-duty service members, by eliminating a separate premium they previously paid for coverage. Key changes include removing an extra cost for young adults and adjusting eligibility rules to simplify enrollment. These amendments aim to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and streamline access to health insurance under the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the funding period for Columbia River Basin restoration projects under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. It amends Section 123(d)(6) by changing the timeframe from "2020 and 2021" to "2026 through 2030," allowing agencies to use allocated funds over this new seven-year period. The change directly affects federal and state environmental agencies managing river cleanup efforts, such as the EPA and Pacific Northwest states. It modifies the existing legal timeline for project implementation without altering funding amounts or new requirements. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the period for utilizing current restoration funds.

Maddy summaryHR 4667, the VISIBLE Act, requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other authorized immigration officers to visibly display their agency name and either their last name or unique badge number during all public immigration enforcement activities (such as stops, arrests, raids, or checkpoints). This identification must be clearly legible from 25 feet away on outer clothing, not obscured by gear, and officers cannot wear face coverings that hide their face during public interactions unless for covert operations or hazardous conditions. The bill mandates DHS to discipline non-compliant officers and submit annual reports to Congress detailing enforcement activities, violations, and disciplinary actions. It also directs DHS’s Civil Rights Office to investigate public complaints about noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits companies from using automated systems to set prices or wages based on surveillance data about consumers or workers. It bans "surveillance-based price setting" (personalized pricing based on consumer tracking) and "surveillance-based wage setting" (using personal data to determine worker pay), with limited exceptions for standard discounts like student or senior citizen rates when properly disclosed. Companies must publish clear procedures about how their automated systems work, including how data is used and how consumers/workers can challenge inaccuracies. The Federal Trade Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will enforce the law, and individuals can file lawsuits to challenge violations. The bill also prohibits pre-dispute arbitration agreements that would prevent class action lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHR 4734, the "Hands Off Our Social Security Act," prohibits federal actions that would alter Social Security benefits, data handling, workforce levels, office locations, or communication systems without explicit congressional approval. It directly protects Social Security beneficiaries and the Social Security Administration (SSA) by banning unauthorized changes to benefits, data mining, privatization, staff cuts, office closures, or reduced phone/in-person services. Key provisions require Congress to approve any modifications to benefits, workforce reductions, or office closures, and mandate the SSA to maintain existing communication channels. The bill also mandates annual GAO audits to ensure compliance with these restrictions. This legislation focuses on preserving current Social Security operations and access, not creating new benefits or altering eligibility.

Maddy summaryH.J. Res. 108 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove legal immunity for federal officials, including the President, from criminal prosecution for actions taken while performing official duties. It would prohibit the President from granting pardons to themselves and eliminate the defense that "official authority" excuses violations of federal or state law (with limited exceptions for certain congressional actions). If ratified, this amendment would require Congress to pass implementing laws to enforce these changes. The proposal is currently in the House Judiciary Committee and requires approval by three-fourths of state legislatures to become part of the Constitution.

Maddy summaryThe Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act of 2025 would allow small cannabis growers (with acreage limits: 1 acre outdoor, 22,000 sq ft greenhouse, or 5,000 sq ft indoor) and small manufacturers (under $5 million annual revenue) in states where cannabis is legal to ship products directly to consumers via mail or private carriers, provided the recipient lives in a state where cannabis possession is legal. It requires age verification (21+) for deliveries using ID checks or online services and overrides state laws that restrict such shipping in states where cannabis is legal (but doesn’t affect states that ban cannabis entirely). The bill amends federal law to permit the U.S. Postal Service to handle these shipments and would take effect only after cannabis is removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act.