Rep. Becca Balint

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords from charging application fees, tenant screening fees, and excessive late fees on "covered" rental properties - those with federally backed mortgages (like FHA, VA, or USDA loans) or HUD assistance. It caps late fees at 3% of monthly rent after a 15-day grace period and requires landlords to disclose total monthly costs, past tenant litigation, maintenance issues, and rent history for the past decade before signing leases. The law directs regulators like HUD to define "junk fees" and ban reporting unpaid fees to credit agencies. It directly affects renters in federally supported housing by limiting unexpected costs and increasing transparency.

Maddy summaryHRES 963 is a non-binding House resolution condemning antisemitism amplified by AI platforms and urging tech companies to implement safeguards. It directly affects AI developers and social media companies by requiring them to adopt transparent safety measures, prevent algorithmic amplification of antisemitic content, and publicly report on antisemitic content prevalence and removal efforts. Key provisions include promoting "safety-by-design" standards, enabling researcher access to study antisemitic content dynamics, and supporting digital literacy programs to counter AI-generated hate. The resolution emphasizes aligning these efforts with constitutional protections while recognizing stakeholders working to combat antisemitism online.

Maddy summaryThe Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act of 2025 aims to combat rising antisemitism through evidence-based policies rather than political weaponization. It requires universities to designate Title VI coordinators to handle civil rights complaints, establishes a National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism within the Department of Justice, and creates a Hate Crime Reporting Center at the FBI to improve data collection on hate crimes. The bill prohibits using antisemitism accusations to restrict diversity programs, political advocacy, or immigration policies, and ensures nonprofit security grants for Jewish community centers cannot be tied to unrelated political conditions. The legislation authorizes $280 million annually for the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights and $50 million for the Hate Crime Reporting Center from 2027-2032.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025 amends the Clayton Act to allow legal claims for violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act or for violations of the bill's own section (section 2). This technical change would directly affect small businesses and other entities involved in antitrust litigation by expanding the grounds for lawsuits under the Clayton Act. The key mechanism is a modification to the Clayton Act that references the bill's provisions, creating a new basis for claims. The bill does not specify additional substantive rules beyond this amendment.

Essential Caregivers Act of 2025   This bill prohibits certain health care facilities from limiting the access of essential caregivers to residents of those facilities, including during designated emergency periods.   Specifically, the bill generally prohibits Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, Medicaid intermediate care facilities, and associated inpatient rehabilitation facilities from restricting the access of essential caregivers to residents of the facilities, including during emergency periods in which visitation rights are otherwise restricted. During emergency periods, facilities may restrict access for an initial period of up to seven days and for one additional maximum seven-day period (if the additional period is approved by the state health department). Facilities may restrict access for a total of 7 days (or 14 days with the approval of the state health department) during an emergency period. Essential caregivers must agree to comply with any safety protocols set by the facility, which may be no more stringent for caregivers compared to those for staff. Caregivers who fail to comply with these requirements may be denied access, subject to an appeals process.

Maddy summaryHR 6731, the "Restore Trust in Government Act," requires Members of Congress, the President/Vice President, and their spouses or dependent children to divest certain financial investments during federal service. It defines "covered investments" broadly (including stocks, commodities, and derivatives) but excludes Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, family farm interests, and some Alaska Native Settlement stock. Covered individuals must sell holdings within 90-180 days of taking office or enacting the law, with limited exceptions for qualified blind trusts or spouses’ occupational trading. Violations incur a 10% fee on the investment value and require returning profits, paid to the Treasury. Ethics offices enforce these rules, publish penalty details, and issue divestiture certificates.

Maddy summaryThe Protect America's Workforce Act cancels an executive order issued on March 27, 2025, that excluded certain groups from federal labor-management relations programs, making it legally unenforceable. It also ensures that all collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor unions, which were active as of March 26, 2025, remain fully effective until their agreed terms expire. This directly affects federal agencies, labor unions, and the employees covered by these agreements. The bill prevents federal funds from being used to implement the canceled executive order while preserving existing labor agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for nuclear plant decommissioning by requiring licensees to consult with affected states and local governments before submitting major decommissioning plans to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It creates two new grant programs to support community advisory boards, one short-term for communities affected by decommissioning within 3 years and a long-term program funded by fees on decommissioning activities. The bill also provides financial assistance to communities with stranded nuclear waste (stored spent fuel) at decommissioned plants, and establishes economic development accounts to help host communities transition economically after plant closure. These provisions directly affect nuclear plant licensees, affected states, local communities, and Tribal governments within 50 miles of decommissioning facilities.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HRES 945) expressing congressional congratulations to the Vermont Green Football Club (Vermont Green FC) for winning the 2025 United Soccer League Two National Championship. The resolution formally recognizes the team's undefeated season, championship victory over Seattle's Ballard FC, and their role in promoting soccer in Vermont. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to the team's head coach, sporting director, and founders. This resolution has no policy impact - it solely serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThe Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits the use of unlawful seclusion and restraint in schools receiving federal funding, including physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow, chemical restraint not prescribed for medical treatment, and mechanical restraint. The bill requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, mandates that staff using physical restraint be trained and certified through State-approved programs, and requires immediate parent notification after any restraint incident. States must develop plans to monitor compliance, collect and report data on restraint incidents (disaggregated by race, disability status, and school type), and implement positive behavioral interventions. The bill provides $40 million annually for five years to support states in implementing these requirements and improving school climate through evidence-based approaches.