Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals legal protections that previously shielded gun manufacturers from civil lawsuits related to gun violence. It allows gun violence victims to use firearm trace data from the ATF's database as evidence in civil court cases (including state, federal, and administrative proceedings). The key change makes gun trace information admissible and subject to discovery, meaning victims' legal teams can subpoena this data to prove how guns were obtained. This directly affects victims pursuing civil claims against gun manufacturers or dealers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group health plans (like employer-sponsored insurance) to provide equal cost-sharing (such as copays and deductibles) for oral anticancer medications as for intravenous or injected versions, provided a doctor deems the oral drug medically necessary. It prohibits plans from changing coverage to increase out-of-pocket costs for oral drugs or impose stricter limits on them compared to IV drugs. The requirement applies to FDA-approved anticancer drugs used to treat cancer, with plans still allowed to use prior authorization. The law takes effect for 2024 plan years.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE Act of 2023 amends a federal law to prohibit the slaughter of horses and other equines (such as donkeys) for human consumption. It extends an existing ban on slaughtering dogs and cats for food to include equines, closing a gap in current law. The key change modifies Section 12515 of the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act to replace "dog or cat" with "dog, cat, or equine" in the prohibition language. This directly affects meat processors and businesses that might have engaged in slaughtering equines for human consumption, making such activity illegal under federal law.

Maddy summaryThe Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2023 expands tax benefits for low-to-moderate income workers and families with children. It lowers the minimum age for the Earned Income Credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removes the age 65 maximum, and increases credit amounts and income thresholds. The bill also establishes a permanent system for monthly advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, with higher payments ($300 monthly) for children under age 6 compared to $250 for older children. It includes inflation adjustments to maintain the value of these credits over time and creates mechanisms for determining eligibility and recapturing payments in certain circumstances. The provisions apply to all states and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies that use private or state/local facilities to house federal prisoners to treat records about those facilities as government records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It directly affects federal agencies (like the Department of Justice), private prison operators, and state/local facilities under contract with the federal government. Key provisions mandate that these entities maintain records in searchable formats, allow public access to information (unless specific legal exemptions apply), and include disclosure requirements in all relevant contracts. The law aims to increase transparency around conditions and operations in non-federal correctional facilities used by the federal government.

Maddy summaryThe Right to Contraception Act (S 1999) establishes a federal statutory right for individuals to access contraceptives and related information without government interference, directly affecting all people seeking reproductive care and health care providers who offer these services. Key provisions prohibit state or federal laws that restrict contraceptive access, single out contraceptive services, or allow provider refusals based on personal beliefs, while requiring any restrictions to be narrowly tailored to advance access. The bill preempts conflicting state laws, allows enforcement through lawsuits by affected individuals or the Attorney General, and explicitly protects access for historically marginalized groups facing barriers. It does not alter existing insurance coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act but ensures contraceptive access remains protected from restrictive state policies.

Maddy summaryS 305 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins (gold, silver, and half-dollar denominations) to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($5 to $35 per coin) that will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with proceeds paid directly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The coins will be sold from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and the surcharge structure ensures no net cost to taxpayers by covering production expenses through sales. This bill directly affects the U.S. Mint (in coin production), the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (as recipient of funds), and the public (as potential buyers).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exclude certain payments received by property owners from state-run disaster mitigation programs from taxable income. It directly affects homeowners who receive funds from state or state-regulated programs to make property improvements (like reinforcing roofs or fire-resistant landscaping) specifically designed to reduce damage from windstorms, earthquakes, or wildfires. The key provision creates a new tax exclusion for "qualified catastrophe mitigation payments" made for these sole purposes, meaning such payments won't be counted as income. The change applies to taxable years beginning after 2020, with an option for retroactive tax filings to claim the exclusion.

Maddy summaryS 1940, titled "Canyon’s Law," bans the use of M-44 devices (cyanide-laced "predator control" tools) on public lands. It directly affects federal, state, and county agencies that deploy these devices to kill wildlife like wolves and coyotes. The bill prohibits preparing, placing, or using M-44 devices on public lands and requires all existing devices to be removed within 30 days of enactment. These devices, which use highly toxic sodium cyanide, have caused injuries to people (including children), killed non-target animals like eagles and bears, and harmed endangered species.

Maddy summaryThe SECURE Act would allow certain foreign nationals to adjust their immigration status to lawful permanent residence. It specifically targets individuals who are nationals of countries designated under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or who were in TPS, and who have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least three years. The bill includes provisions for work authorization while applications are pending, fee exemptions for vulnerable applicants (such as minors, low-income individuals, and those in foster care), and a "stay of removal" for those with pending applications. It also contains confidentiality protections for application information and requires detailed reporting when countries lose TPS status. The bill aims to streamline the process for eligible TPS holders to obtain permanent residency without having to file motions to reopen prior removal orders.