Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Maddy summaryThis bill expands federal protections for domestic violence and stalking survivors by broadening key definitions. It adds current and former dating partners to the definition of "intimate partner" and includes their children under domestic violence protections. The bill also creates a new federal definition for "misdemeanor crime of stalking" that explicitly includes causing fear for a victim's pet, service animal, or emotional support animal, and prohibits firearm possession for those convicted of such stalking offenses. These changes directly affect survivors of dating violence and stalking, as well as individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking under federal, state, or tribal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Higher Education Act to allow Head Start and Early Head Start programs to hire college students through federal work-study programs. It directly affects Head Start/EHS agencies and college students participating in work-study. Key provisions require agencies to ensure student employees comply with program standards, prohibit students from being left alone with children (requiring regular staff supervision), and clarify that student workers do not count toward staff-to-child ratios. The changes integrate student employment into existing early childhood programs without altering funding or eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to distribute online digital instructions (like 3D printer files) that can automatically program a 3D printer to create a firearm or complete a firearm receiver. It directly affects individuals who share such files online, including those creating or distributing "ghost gun" schematics. The key mechanism prohibits the internet distribution of these specific digital files under federal law, aiming to prevent untraceable firearms. This addresses the concern that 3D-printed guns lack serial numbers, making them difficult for law enforcement to trace after crimes.

Maddy summaryThe Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 (S 2150) prohibits state laws that impose unnecessary restrictions on abortion access before fetal viability. It directly affects patients seeking abortion care and health care providers (including clinics, hospitals, and medical professionals), banning requirements like mandatory in-person visits, location-based travel barriers, or restrictions on telemedicine that don’t apply to comparable medical procedures. The bill overrides conflicting state laws, requires courts to consider factors like cost and travel burden when evaluating restrictions, and establishes federal enforcement through lawsuits to stop violations. It focuses on ensuring access to abortion services without burdens that hinder care, while allowing post-viability abortions only when necessary to protect a patient’s life or health.

Maddy summaryThe Keeping Gun Dealers Honest Act of 2025 requires gun dealers to undergo three federal inspections annually (up from one) and increases penalties for violations, raising the maximum prison sentence from one to five years. It mandates secure firearm storage at dealerships and imposes civil fines of up to $10,000 per violation for noncompliance, including for transferring armor-piercing ammunition. The law allows the federal government to suspend a dealer's license or require a physical inventory of firearms if they unlawfully transfer a gun or 10+ crime guns are traced to them. Additionally, it mandates hiring 80 new ATF staff and requires biennial congressional reports on implementation.

Maddy summarySRES 292 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating June 19, 2025, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day" to raise public awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD) globally and in the U.S. It specifically aims to highlight the need for increased empirical research, early detection screenings, novel treatments, and preventative care programs for SCD and related complications. The resolution expresses support for this awareness day but does not create new programs or allocate funding. It calls on the public and federal agencies to promote awareness and equitable access to SCD care, without mandating specific policy changes.

Maddy summarySRES 287 is a non-binding Senate resolution reaffirming U.S. commitment to protecting refugees and displaced persons globally. It highlights the record 123 million forcibly displaced people worldwide (as of 2024) and specifically addresses the current suspension of U.S. refugee admissions, which has left over 100,000 refugees stranded in conditional approval status. The resolution calls for restoring the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and urges federal agencies to uphold international refugee protections, including due process and resettlement for vulnerable groups like women, children, and refugees from conflict zones like Sudan and Gaza. It emphasizes that refugee resettlement supports U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests, citing data showing refugees contributed $581 billion in government revenue between 2005-2019.

Maddy summaryS 2128, the MONARCH Act of 2025, establishes a $12.5 million annual fund to support conservation efforts for the western monarch butterfly, which has declined by over 99% in 30 years and faces imminent extinction. The bill creates a grant program providing funding for projects led by local governments, tribal entities, or nonprofits - focusing on restoring milkweed, nectar plants, and habitat across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Grants require project proposals demonstrating clear potential to aid monarch recovery, with mandatory reporting to the public and state legislatures on progress. The law also mandates annual reports to Congress on project outcomes and the implementation of a conservation plan developed by wildlife agencies.

Maddy summaryThe SECURE Act creates a new pathway for certain foreign nationals to adjust to lawful permanent resident status without leaving the United States. It primarily affects individuals who have been continuously present in the U.S. for at least three years and qualify under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), including those who previously had TPS or were granted deferred enforced departure. The bill allows eligible applicants to apply for permanent residency, provides work authorization while applications are pending, and protects the confidentiality of application information. It also includes provisions for spouses and children of qualifying applicants to adjust their status, and requires new reporting for countries whose TPS designation is terminated. The law includes specific eligibility requirements related to criminal background checks and continuous physical presence.

Maddy summaryThe Wall Street Tax Act of 2025 imposes a new transaction tax on securities trading in the U.S. It applies to purchases on U.S. exchanges or involving U.S. persons, and to derivative contracts meeting specific criteria. The tax rate starts at 0.02% for transactions in 2026-2027, gradually rising to 0.1% after 2029, based on the fair market value of the security or derivative payment. Excluded are initial security issuances and short-term debt (under 100 days). The tax is paid by exchanges, brokers, or directly by U.S. traders depending on the transaction type, effective after December 31, 2025.