Rep. Val T. Hoyle

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the tax treatment of certain alcoholic beverages by merging the classification for mead and low-alcohol wine under a single tax category. It defines "low alcohol by volume wine" as still wine containing less than 8.5% alcohol by volume and no more than 0.64 grams of carbon dioxide per 100 milliliters. This change directly affects winemakers and honey-based beverage producers who previously faced different tax rules for these products. The updated definition takes effect for wine produced after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 1522, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, changes federal retirement rules to include temporary employees' service after January 1, 1988, in retirement benefit calculations. It directly affects temporary federal employees (including U.S. Postal Service workers) and Members of Congress who served after that date. The bill removes a previous cutoff date in retirement law, allowing their temporary service to count toward retirement eligibility. This means eligible temporary workers can now have their full service period considered when calculating retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryThe Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a federal grant program to fund career training in forestry operations and products industries. It provides competitive grants (ranging from $500,000 to $2 million over up to 4 years) to eligible entities like nonprofits, states, tribes, or community colleges in targeted rural areas. These areas must be nonmetropolitan low-income communities, have broadband access, or have populations under 50,000. Grants require applicants to demonstrate regional need, plan for program sustainability, partner with schools, and address aging workforces or youth migration. The program is funded at $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts federal law enforcement officers and military personnel (including National Guard) from conducting crowd control, arrests, or detentions during protests, demonstrations, or riots outside federal property unless specific exceptions apply. It requires officers to visibly display their agency and name/identifier during such operations and prohibits using unmarked vehicles or obscuring identification. Federal agencies must also publish public notices within 24 hours after deployments, detailing the date, personnel numbers, mission purpose, and detainee locations. These provisions apply to all federal law enforcement actions involving civil disobedience or public demonstrations, with exceptions only for state/local written requests or emergency federal action under the Insurrection Act.

Maddy summaryHCONRES 44 is a symbolic resolution recognizing a health and safety emergency for children linked to the Trump administration's climate policies. It claims these policies - unleashing fossil fuel production, blocking renewable energy, and suppressing climate science - disproportionately harm children through increased air pollution, extreme weather, and denied access to climate data. The resolution calls for reversing these policies, restoring the EPA's mission, and ensuring climate action aligns with protecting children's rights. It does not enact new laws or change policy, but serves as a formal congressional statement of concern.

Maddy summaryHR 4453 would amend federal law to add Parkinson's disease to the list of illnesses automatically considered work-related for firefighters. Specifically, it inserts "Parkinson's disease" into Section 8143b(b) of Title 5, U.S. Code, which determines which conditions qualify for disability benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. This change directly affects firefighters who develop Parkinson's disease during their fire protection duties, making it easier for them to qualify for federal disability compensation without needing to prove direct causation. The bill modifies existing code language to include this condition among other work-related illnesses already covered for firefighter benefits.

Maddy summaryHR 4440, the *Protecting Federal Employee Rights to Personnel Files Act of 2025*, requires federal agencies to provide current and former employees with copies of their official personnel files. Current employees must receive copies within seven days of requesting them, while employees who separated after the law's enactment get copies within seven days of separation. Former employees who separated before the law's enactment must receive copies within 21 days of requesting them from the Office of Personnel Management. The bill mandates these copies be provided in both electronic and physical formats, directly affecting all federal workers seeking access to their personnel records.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow states to create their own universal health care systems by applying for waivers that replace federal health programs with state-based coverage. States would need to demonstrate they can cover at least 95% of residents within 5 years, maintain comparable benefits and affordability, and provide comprehensive coverage including reproductive health services. The federal government would redirect funds that would have gone to federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare to the states, with states required to submit regular reports on coverage progress and costs. The bill includes specific protections for Indian health care providers and ensures coverage for vulnerable populations without imposing new costs on them. This framework would apply to states that choose to implement their own universal health care system rather than relying on existing federal programs.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House resolution (HRES 577) demands that the current administration immediately release all unclassified federal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including flight logs, correspondence, and evidence. It specifically requires the release of materials involving Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and known associates, with redactions only to protect minor victims' identities and ongoing prosecutions. The resolution also calls for the Department of Justice and FBI to submit a report on any delays or evidence suppression related to the case. As a resolution, it does not create new law but serves as a formal congressional demand for transparency regarding Epstein-related investigations.

Maddy summaryHR 4382 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics/Paralympics and 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics/Paralympics. It specifies gold, silver, and half-dollar coin designs with defined mintage limits (e.g., up to 100,000 $5 gold coins for each event), all bearing inscriptions like "2028" or "2034" and standard coin features. A surcharge ($5-$50 per coin) is added to sales, with all funds directed to the respective Olympic committees to support event hosting and legacy programs like youth sports. The bill ensures no net cost to the government by requiring surcharge revenues to cover all design, production, and marketing expenses before funds are disbursed.