Sen. Laphonza R. Butler

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the provision and advertising of conversion therapy for compensation, targeting therapists, clinics, and anyone offering paid services claiming to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It prohibits advertising that falsely claims such therapy is harmless, effective, or without risk, and makes it unlawful to profit from these practices. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general through civil actions. The law directly affects providers of paid conversion therapy while protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from potentially harmful and ineffective treatments.

Maddy summaryThe Supporting Mental Health for Military Children Act establishes a 4-year pilot program to provide routine mental health screenings in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, which serve military-connected children aged 3-17. Starting one year after enactment, the program requires twice-yearly screenings using common tools to identify conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and substance use, beginning with a virtual check for all students followed by in-person assessments for those needing further evaluation. Screenings include parental notice and consent requirements, streamlined referrals to community mental health clinics, and school-based support services, with the pilot expanding from 10 initial schools (including at least 2 overseas) to 10 more annually. The program mandates regular evaluations and a final report to Congress, aiming to address mental health needs early while prioritizing student privacy and community collaboration.

Maddy summaryThe Equality Act (S 5) amends federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, employment, housing, credit, and jury service. It expands existing protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by clarifying that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity constitutes sex discrimination, as established by the Supreme Court's Bostock decision. The bill directly affects businesses, employers, housing providers, financial institutions, and government services that receive federal funding, requiring them to provide equal access and treatment regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It includes specific provisions addressing discrimination in foster care and adoption, where LGBTQ individuals often face barriers, and clarifies definitions of terms like "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" for consistent application. The law creates a uniform national standard for nondiscrimination where many states lack such protections, aiming to eliminate barriers to full participation in society for LGBTQ individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2023 prohibits states from restricting or penalizing individuals for traveling to another state to access legal reproductive health care, including abortion services. It also bans discrimination against those who assist with such travel or provide the care, and overrides conflicting state laws that interfere with these rights. The bill allows individuals, healthcare providers, and the federal government to sue to enforce these protections in court, with remedies including injunctions and attorney fees. It directly affects patients seeking care across state lines, healthcare providers, and organizations facilitating such travel.

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 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 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 summaryThis bill requires every U.S. military installation with privatized housing to have a dedicated military tenant advocate employed by the military department. It directly affects service members and their families living in privatized military housing by establishing standardized support. Key provisions include mandating uniform training for advocates on tenant rights, dispute resolution, and housing laws, plus public outreach to inform residents about advocate roles. The bill also prohibits preferential hiring for advocates from housing providers or management offices to ensure impartiality.

Maddy summaryThe TEST Act addresses the backlog in evaluating fentanyl-related substances under the Controlled Substances Act. It requires the Attorney General to complete scheduling evaluations for identified fentanyl substances within 1 year for those identified before enactment and 3 years for newly identified substances. The bill creates a temporary 3-year scheduling mechanism for new fentanyl substances while establishing procedures to potentially remove substances from Schedule I if they're determined to have less abuse potential. It also streamlines research registration processes for scientists studying fentanyl-related substances to accelerate development of life-saving treatments. The legislation authorizes $50 million for these evaluations in fiscal years 2023-2024 and mandates public posting of evaluation results.

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.