Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 with updated requirements. It mandates a National Strategy for child exploitation prevention to be reviewed every four years (instead of every two), requiring detailed analyses of trends, resource needs, and ICAC task force performance. The bill modifies ICAC task force operations to include prioritizing victim identification, expands coordination with tribal/military agencies, and adds limited liability protections for task forces regarding investigative decisions. It increases annual funding for the program from $70 million (2026) to $90 million (2028), directly affecting federal agencies (DOJ, FBI, ICE), state/local law enforcement, and ICAC task forces nationwide.

Maddy summaryThe TAKE IT DOWN Act requires major social media platforms and websites hosting user-generated content to establish a 48-hour removal process for nonconsensual intimate visual depictions (including deepfakes) upon verified request. It defines "nonconsensual intimate visual depictions" as images or videos of identifiable people shared without consent, with criminal penalties for sharing such content with intent to cause harm. The law exempts law enforcement activities, medical purposes, and content shared for legitimate educational reasons. Platforms must remove these materials quickly but are protected from liability if they act in good faith. This law directly affects social media companies and individuals whose intimate images are shared without consent.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Beneficiary Co-Pay Fairness Act (S 1776) limits out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries receiving certain surgical procedures at ambulatory surgical centers. It ensures that coinsurance payments for these services cannot exceed the annual inpatient hospital deductible amount for the same year. If the standard coinsurance would surpass that deductible, the bill requires the Medicare Secretary to cap the beneficiary's payment at the deductible level and reimburse the surgical center for the difference. This change applies to services provided on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries undergoing qualifying surgeries.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new pre-charter planning subgrants (up to $100,000 each) for charter school developers led by educators with at least 54 months of school-based experience and proven leadership. It directly affects educator-led groups seeking to open new charter schools, requiring them to have completed a community needs plan. Key provisions include reserving 5% of grant funds for these educator-led subgrants and adjusting funding percentages for other charter school support activities. The bill modifies existing grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to prioritize educator involvement in charter school development.

Maddy summarySRES 220 designates the week of May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" to honor law enforcement officers across the United States. The resolution recognizes officers who have been killed, disabled, or injured in the line of duty, including 234 officers honored for 2024 fatalities and 18 officers killed in 2025. It expresses the Senate’s support for law enforcement, acknowledges the need for adequate resources for officer safety, and encourages public observance to celebrate their service and sacrifices. This is a ceremonial resolution with no new policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThe Justice for Angel Families Act (S 1734) expands federal compensation under the Victims of Crime Act to include "angel families" - immediate family members of homicide victims killed by certain aliens (unlawfully present in the U.S. or members of international drug trafficking organizations). It provides these families with financial support for medical expenses, lost wages due to emotional distress, and funeral costs. The bill also creates a new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office within Homeland Security to offer victims and families a dedicated hotline for support, referrals to services, and information about the criminal alien’s immigration status. The Office must conduct an annual case study and submit reports to Congress detailing crime demographics, locations, and whether offenders committed multiple offenses.

Maddy summaryThe Employee Ownership Fairness Act of 2025 would adjust federal retirement rules to help employees in Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) better manage their retirement savings. Currently, ESOP contributions tied to company growth can cause employees to exceed annual limits for other retirement plans (like 401(k)s), forcing employers to deny matching contributions they’d otherwise provide. The bill changes how contribution limits are calculated by excluding employer stock contributions and loan repayments used to buy company shares from the limits, and requires ESOPs to be treated separately from other retirement plans. This would allow ESOP participants to diversify their savings without losing access to employer matching contributions they’d otherwise miss.

Maddy summaryS 1723, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, provides federal funding to help states create or improve programs that support charter schools' access to facilities. It authorizes $100 million annually (2026-2030) for competitive grants to state education agencies, prioritizing states that expand charter school access to public buildings, provide tax-exempt financing, or grant charter schools first rights to purchase surplus public property. States using these funds must focus on reducing facility funding gaps between charter schools and traditional public schools, particularly in low-income and rural communities, while supplementing (not replacing) existing state funding. The bill also includes provisions for technical assistance and grants to help charter schools meet building codes and secure facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax rules to treat direct primary care service arrangements as deductible medical expenses. It defines such arrangements as fixed monthly fees paid directly to primary care doctors (excluding surgeries, anesthesia, or certain lab tests), with deductible amounts capped at $150 per month (adjusted annually for inflation). The law affects individuals using this care model and employers offering it, allowing them to count these fees toward medical expense deductions. It also clarifies that these arrangements are not considered health insurance for tax purposes and requires reporting fees on W-2 forms for employment-linked plans. The changes apply to months beginning after December 2025.

Maddy summaryThe Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act (S 1707) lowers the minimum age for joining employer retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, from 21 to 18. Young workers aged 18 or older can now participate if they work at least 500 hours in two consecutive 12-month periods. The bill amends federal retirement laws (ERISA) and tax code provisions to implement this change, directly affecting new workers entering the workforce. These provisions will apply to retirement plan years starting one year after the bill becomes law.