Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to improve the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program for farmers. It directly affects producers who use this insurance, expanding eligible marketing methods to include direct-to-consumer sales, local/regionally sold products, and identity-preserved crops. Key changes include requiring crop rotation (replacing "may" with "shall"), allowing IRS Schedule F tax forms as sufficient revenue proof (with limited exceptions), reducing paperwork for farms with $1 million+ gross revenue, and expanding discounts to cover at least 10 commodities. The bill also sets a $500,000 limit on revenue growth adjustments and includes provisions to better account for disaster payments in revenue calculations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe DETOUR Act (S 2708) prohibits large online platforms (those with over 100 million users) from designing interfaces to secretly manipulate user choices or collect data without clear, active consent. It requires platforms to obtain "affirmative express consent" for data use - meaning users must actively agree, not just click through pre-checked boxes - and bans features that cause compulsive usage, especially for children and teens. Platforms must also establish independent review boards to approve research involving users, disclose research purposes publicly every 90 days, and delete data if consent wasn’t properly obtained. The law targets deceptive design tactics like auto-playing videos without consent or segmenting users for hidden experiments, aiming to protect user autonomy and privacy.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that equipment used to test for fentanyl or xylazine in substances is not subject to restrictions under the Controlled Substances Act. It directly affects people who use drugs and harm reduction organizations providing testing supplies. The key provision amends Section 422 of the Act to explicitly state that testing equipment for these substances is exempt from legal restrictions on possession, sale, or transportation. This allows safer access to testing tools without legal penalties. The bill does not create new programs or funding, only adjusting existing legal language.
Maddy summaryThis bill defines "ghost guns" as firearms (including frames and receivers) without a unique serial number from a licensed manufacturer or importer. It requires all new firearms to have a serial number engraved by a licensed maker and prohibits unlicensed individuals from manufacturing, selling, transferring, or possessing ghost guns after a one-year transition period (starting one year after enactment). The bill also bans unlicensed engraving of serial numbers on firearms and updates rules to ban undetectable firearms, with penalties including fines and up to 5 years in prison for repeat violations. These changes directly affect unlicensed gun builders, sellers, and possessors of ghost guns, while allowing licensed dealers a grace period for compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines how conservation practice standards are updated under USDA conservation programs. It requires the Secretary to review and revise standards at least once every five years (instead of annually), rather than annually, and mandates public input for each standard under review. Key mechanisms include creating a public online process for submitting new conservation practices, requiring USDA to publish comments and decisions, and prioritizing updates for underused standards and those reducing synthetic chemical use. The bill directly affects farmers and landowners participating in USDA conservation programs, as well as state technical committees and USDA in developing and implementing these standards.
Maddy summaryThe Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023 requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adjust emission calculations for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that run on E85 ethanol fuel. Specifically, within 120 days of enactment, the EPA must revise regulations to allow manufacturers to use a 31% lower CO2 emission value for FFVs compared to standard gasoline vehicles, based on the Argonne National Laboratory's GREET model findings. This change directly affects vehicle manufacturers by providing a reduced emissions credit for FFVs when meeting federal fleet average CO2 standards. The bill also permits future adjustments to this percentage if updated GREET model data supports a larger reduction. The policy change aims to align regulatory calculations with the demonstrated emissions benefits of E85 fuel.
Maddy summaryThe AG RESEARCH Act (S 2589) provides funding to modernize agricultural research facilities at schools of agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). It creates a competitive grant program to cover up to 100% of costs for construction, renovation, or equipment at schools of agriculture, requiring equitable distribution across geographic regions, institution types, and facility sizes while limiting any single state to 20% of funds. Additionally, it allocates $200 million annually (2023-2027) for direct payments to address deferred maintenance at ARS facilities, prioritizing the most critical structures based on a 2012 strategy. The bill is funded by mandatory annual transfers of $1 billion for schools of agriculture and $200 million for ARS, with no new appropriations required.
Maddy summaryS 2559, the *Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act*, imposes a 1-cent fee per milligram on opioid pain relievers sold by manufacturers, producers, or importers, while excluding medications used for addiction treatment and non-opioid ingredients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish rebates or discounts for cancer patients, hospice patients, and others with specific pain needs to prevent them from bearing the fee cost. Revenue from the fee (after rebates) must be directed to states for opioid addiction treatment programs, including building facilities, expanding residential care, supporting mental health providers in underserved areas, and housing for families affected by addiction. The bill mandates a congressional report within two years assessing the fee’s impact on opioid costs, patient access, and how funds improve treatment services.
Maddy summaryThe SEASONAL Act allows U.S. states to request supplemental H-2B visas for seasonal labor shortages. Governors can petition for extra visas if a state has low unemployment (≤3.5%), unmet labor needs in specific job categories or economic zones, and certifies the visas won’t displace domestic workers or lower wages. The bill sets a 4-year expiration and requires states to comply with federal rules for visa allocation, including random assignment if demand exceeds requests. It mandates annual reports to Congress tracking visa usage, labor market impacts, and economic effects by state.
Maddy summaryS 2676, the Safe at Home Act, requires federal agencies and courts to accept a "designated address" provided by state address confidentiality programs instead of a participant's actual home address. This directly affects individuals enrolled in these state programs, such as victims of domestic violence or stalking, who use the program's fake address and mail forwarding service for privacy. The bill mandates federal agencies to update their rules within one year to comply, prohibits penalties for using the designated address, and restricts disclosure of the real address to only specific cases (like criminal investigations or federal agency needs) with strict confidentiality rules. Federal courts or agencies seeking real addresses must follow state program procedures, and any disclosed real address must remain confidential under the Freedom of Information Act.