Rep. Chris Stewart

Maddy summaryThe Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act (HR 4094) amends the Central Utah Project Completion Act to allow the Secretary to use existing federal funds for water conservation projects in the Great Salt Lake basin. It directly affects water management in the basin, which spans parts of Utah, by authorizing conservation measures like efficiency improvements without requiring new appropriations. The key provision permits using unexpended budget authority from previous allocations to conduct these measures, while ensuring they comply with the existing Definite Plan Report. This focuses on practical water-saving actions to support the lake's ecosystem, using current resources rather than creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHR 2367, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, creates a federal grant program to address commercial truck parking shortages on highways. It provides competitive grants (totaling $175M-$320M over three years) for projects like building new rest areas, expanding parking at ports or truck stops, or improving safety at existing facilities. The program requires all funded parking to be free, publicly accessible to all truck drivers, and maintained without user fees. This directly affects commercial truck drivers, motor carriers, and highway safety by aiming to improve parking access, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance safety on federal-aid highways.

Maddy summaryHR 3396, the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023, requires the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to establish standard procedures for federal fire suppression cost share agreements within one year. It mandates reviewing existing agreements to align them with local cooperative fire protection agreements and conducting second-level reviews after wildfires, involving state and local fire organizations. The bill directly affects fire departments and agencies participating in these cost-sharing arrangements under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act. Key changes include standardized procedures for agreement management and post-wildfire reviews to ensure cost-sharing compliance.

Maddy summaryHR 3049 ratifies a land exchange agreement between Utah's School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, the state of Utah, and the federal government (via the Secretary of the Interior). The bill authorizes swapping specific federal lands for equivalent state lands managed by the Administration, requiring the exchange to be completed within 45 days of enactment. Key provisions include equalizing land values through a federal appraisal process (based on 2023 values) and resolving discrepancies within 90 days, while excluding certain parcels in Sunnyside, Utah, from the exchange as specified in the agreement. This directly affects Utah's school trust lands system and federal land management in the state.

Maddy summaryHR 1586, the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023, exempts certain fire suppression activities from requiring permits under the Clean Water Act. It directly affects federal agencies like the Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, as well as state, local, and tribal governments conducting wildfire response. The bill's key provision removes the need for a Section 402 permit under the Clean Water Act when these covered entities discharge fire retardants, chemicals, or water for fire control or prevention. This change streamlines firefighting operations by eliminating a specific permitting step during active wildfire events.

Maddy summaryThe Mining Schools Act of 2024 establishes a federal grant program to strengthen domestic mining education by funding eligible schools. It defines eligible "mining schools" as accredited mining/engineering programs at higher education institutions or specific geology/engineering departments at 4-year public universities in states with significant mining-related economic activity. The Department of Energy will award up to 10 competitive annual grants for recruiting students and enhancing programs focused on critical minerals, environmental reclamation, sustainable extraction, and domestic mineral production. An advisory board of industry and academic experts will help select grantees and ensure funds are used as intended. The program is authorized to receive $10 million yearly from 2024 through 2031.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates a pre-American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) tax reporting rule for gig economy platforms. It requires third-party payment platforms (like Uber or DoorDash) to report transactions to the IRS only if a gig worker earns over $20,000 in total or completes more than 200 transactions in a year. This directly affects gig workers whose income falls below these thresholds, exempting them from the reporting requirement. The provision effectively reverses a change made by the ARP, reducing administrative burden for both platforms and lower-earning gig workers. The bill amends IRS Code Section 6050W to restore these specific de minimis payment thresholds.

Maddy summaryThe Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act (HR 807) directs the U.S. Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins honoring working dogs' service: $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins with specific weight and composition requirements. Each coin will carry a surcharge ($35 for $5 coins, $10 for $1 coins, $5 for half-dollars) that will be paid directly to America's VetDogs to support their programs providing service dogs for veterans, the disabled, and others. The coins will be issued in 2027 with designs reflecting working dogs' roles in military, detection, therapy, and assistance work. The legislation specifies that all surcharge revenue must fund America's VetDogs' operations without creating new government programs. This is a commemorative measure focused on honoring working dogs' contributions through coin sales, with all surcharge funds going to a specific nonprofit organization.

Maddy summaryHR 192 prohibits noncitizens from voting in all District of Columbia elections, including for public office and ballot initiatives. It directly affects noncitizen residents of Washington D.C. who currently have voting rights under the repealed Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022. The bill's key mechanism is repealing that 2022 amendment, restoring the requirement that only U.S. citizens may vote in DC elections. This changes the voting eligibility rules for noncitizens living in the District. The law would take effect upon enactment, removing noncitizens from the voter rolls for all local elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans consumer products containing 10% or more sodium nitrite by weight, classifying them as hazardous under existing safety laws. It directly affects manufacturers and retailers selling such products, including some food items and industrial chemicals. The law requires these products to be removed from the market within 90 days of enactment. The key provision sets a clear 10% concentration threshold for the ban, targeting a specific chemical risk without altering broader safety regulations.