Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

Maddy summaryHR 1138, the Payment Choice Act of 2025, requires most retail businesses to accept cash for in-person purchases up to $500 per transaction and prohibits charging higher prices for cash payments compared to other methods. Businesses may temporarily refuse cash only due to system failures, insufficient change, or if they offer a prepaid card conversion device meeting strict conditions (no fees, no minimum deposit, no expiration). The bill allows businesses a 5-year period to phase in accepting $50 bills or larger, after which the Treasury Secretary must mandate acceptance of $1-$20 bills. Consumers can send a 45-day notice to businesses for violations before pursuing legal action, with potential damages of at least $250 per violation. The law does not override stricter state cash acceptance protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands 529 college savings account flexibility by allowing funds to cover costs for industry-recognized postsecondary credentials, not just traditional degrees. It defines "qualified expenses" to include tuition/fees for recognized credential programs (like certifications or apprenticeships), required testing fees, and continuing education needed to maintain credentials. To qualify, programs must meet specific criteria, such as appearing on state lists under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or being listed in VA or Defense directories. The change applies to 529 distributions made after the law's enactment, giving families more options to use these accounts for job-focused training.

Protecting Sensitive Locations Act This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances, such as the imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Sensitive locations include  health care facilities; schools and school bus stops; places that provide assistance for people such as children, pregnant women, and abuse victims; child care facilities; places that provide disaster or emergency services; places of worship; courthouses and lawyers’ offices; facilities used as polling places; certain labor union facilities; and public assistance offices. The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. If an enforcement action is carried out in violation of this prohibition (1) no information resulting from the action may be entered into the record in a resulting removal proceeding, and (2) the affected individual may move to immediately terminate such a proceeding. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall annually report to Congress about enforcement actions taken at sensitive locations in the preceding year.

Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The bill requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.

Maddy summaryThe Scientific Integrity Act requires federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research to adopt policies preventing political interference in scientific work. These policies must prohibit suppressing, altering, or delaying the communication of scientific findings and ensure hiring and decisions are based on expertise - not politics. Agencies must appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer to enforce the policies, handle complaints, and submit annual reports to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The bill directly affects scientists and staff in covered agencies by safeguarding their ability to share research freely and maintain ethical standards in scientific communication.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), a federal tax incentive that encourages private investment in low-income communities. It directly affects community development entities (CDEs) that channel capital into underserved neighborhoods for projects like housing, healthcare, and businesses. Key provisions include permanently extending the credit beyond 2025, adding annual inflation adjustments to the credit amount starting in 2026, and ensuring the credit isn't reduced by the alternative minimum tax for investments made after December 2024. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 2024, providing long-term stability for community development financing.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right to access contraception, protecting individuals' ability to obtain contraceptives and health care providers' ability to offer them without government interference. It prohibits states from banning or restricting contraceptive services, products, or information, including laws that force providers to deny care based on personal beliefs or limit access to specific methods. The law immediately overrides conflicting state regulations and ensures that contraception remains available regardless of factors like race, income, disability, or location. It applies to all individuals and providers, building on existing federal protections like the Affordable Care Act's coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 942, the "Banning SPR Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act," prohibits the export of petroleum products drawn from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and any entity owned or controlled by these countries or the Chinese Communist Party. The Secretary of Energy may grant a waiver for such exports if certified as serving U.S. national security interests, but must issue implementing rules within 60 days of enactment. This policy directly affects U.S. energy exports and entities seeking to purchase SPR oil from the listed adversaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, extending mental health support programs for healthcare professionals through 2030 (previously ending in 2024). It requires funded programs to specifically address reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers while continuing to promote access to mental health and substance use disorder services. The legislation directly affects healthcare providers across the U.S. who may access these federally supported resources. Key provisions include extending funding periods and mandating that grant recipients focus on easing workplace administrative tasks, alongside maintaining existing awareness initiatives. The bill does not create new programs but continues and refines existing mental health support for the healthcare workforce.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act creates a new category of "fentanyl-related substances" that would automatically be controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act based on specific chemical modifications to fentanyl. This affects anyone involved in the production, distribution, or use of substances meeting this broad definition. The bill establishes a process for removing or rescheduling these substances if they're determined to have less potential for abuse than Schedule I substances, and allows courts to review past convictions involving substances that have since been removed from this category. It also creates new research procedures for Schedule I substances and requires a GAO report analyzing the law's implementation and impact within four years.