Rep. David Kustoff

Maddy summaryHR 2767 (Small Business Investment Act of 2023) modifies tax rules for small business stock by reducing the required holding period for full capital gains tax exclusion from 5 years to 3 years, with a phased approach: 50% exclusion after 3 years, 75% after 4 years, and 100% after 5 years. It also allows stock acquired through convertible debt to count toward the holding period and clarifies rules for S corporations regarding ownership and tax treatment. These changes directly affect small business owners who sell qualifying stock, making tax exclusion more accessible for earlier sales. The bill updates existing Internal Revenue Code provisions without creating new government programs or funding.

Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act This bill revises the requirements for the verification of prescriptions related to the purchase of contact lenses. Specifically, online sellers of prescription contact lenses must provide consumers with a method to transmit a digital copy of their prescriptions to such sellers. Online sellers also must encrypt protected health information they send by email. Additionally, the bill prohibits any seller of prescription contact lenses from using telephone calls with an artificial or prerecorded voice (i.e., robocalls) to verify a consumer's prescription.

American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 This bill eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred.

Maddy summaryHJRES 27 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a federal rule that redefined which waterways fall under the Clean Water Act's protections. It targets a rule submitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 18, 2023, which aimed to revise the "Waters of the United States" definition. The resolution would formally disapprove this rule under a specific federal procedure (Chapter 8 of Title 5), preventing it from taking effect. This would directly affect how federal agencies regulate pollution and development near water bodies, including wetlands and smaller streams.

Maddy summaryHR 2681, the Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2023, makes several key changes to improve protections for small business taxpayers dealing with the IRS. It expands eligibility for small businesses to seek cost awards in tax cases by removing net worth limitations, increases civil damages for IRS misconduct, and creates a right to independent conferences with IRS Appeals. The bill also limits IRS enforcement actions against principal residences, adds alternative dispute resolution options, and requires review of IRS audit selection criteria to prevent discrimination. Additionally, it creates a new deduction for expenses related to certain audits and repeals the partial payment requirement for offers-in-compromise.

Maddy summaryHR 2680, the Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2023, creates a federal legal pathway for victims or their heirs to recover proceeds from Holocaust-era insurance policies issued between 1933 and 1945 in Nazi-occupied areas or by Swiss insurers. It directly affects beneficiaries (including heirs and legal representatives) who hold claims under these policies, allowing them to sue insurers in federal court to recover funds. The bill overrides a 2003 Supreme Court ruling (Garamendi) that previously blocked state laws on this issue, establishes a 10-year deadline for claims, and bars defenses based on prior settlements assuming preemption. It also mandates 3x damages for insurers acting in bad faith and ensures state disclosure laws remain enforceable.

Maddy summaryHR 2630, the Safe Step Act, requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to establish a clear, transparent process for patients or their doctors to request exceptions to medication step therapy protocols. These protocols typically force patients to try cheaper drugs first before covering more expensive alternatives. The bill mandates that plans must approve exceptions when prior treatments failed, delay would cause serious harm, a treatment is unsafe, or a patient is stable on a previously approved drug, with strict 72-hour (or 24-hour in emergencies) decision timelines. It also requires plans to publish the exception process online and limit documentation requests to only necessary medical information. This law directly affects health insurers, employers offering health plans, and patients using step therapy for prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryHR 2620, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes targeting firearms licensees. It amends Section 924 of Title 18 to impose mandatory minimum sentences of 3 years for burglaries or 5 years for robberies committed at the business premises of licensed firearms dealers, manufacturers, or importers. The bill specifically targets violations of Section 922(u), which prohibits unauthorized access to these premises, and adds "attempts to do so" to the penalties. This directly affects licensed firearms businesses by strengthening legal protections against theft or violence at their locations. The law creates clearer, harsher consequences for crimes committed during burglaries or robberies at these specific business sites.

Maddy summaryHR 2380, the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2023, allows state and federal correctional facilities (like prisons and jails) to operate cellphone jamming systems to block wireless signals from contraband devices or communications involving individuals held in the facility. The bill restricts the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from blocking such jamming systems, but requires facilities to limit jamming only to housing areas, have state facilities cover all costs, and consult with local law enforcement before implementation. It defines "jamming systems" broadly to include all necessary equipment and installation details. This bill directly affects correctional facilities seeking to prevent cell phone use by inmates, particularly for security purposes related to contraband. The law does not create new restrictions on cellphone use but changes how facilities can deploy jamming technology.

Maddy summaryHR 2539 permanently extends the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, which incentivizes private investment in low-income communities. The bill directly affects community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors who fund projects in designated low-income areas by ensuring the credit remains available beyond 2025. Key provisions include automatically adjusting the credit amount annually for inflation starting in 2024 and clarifying that the credit can be used to offset alternative minimum tax liability. This maintains the program’s effectiveness in channeling capital to underserved neighborhoods without changing eligibility or funding levels.