Sen. Jon Tester

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program to improve how the government guarantees bonds issued by community development financial institutions (CDFIs). It sets a minimum guarantee of $25 million per transaction while capping total annual guarantees at $1 billion, and extends the program's deadline to four years after enactment. The bill also requires the Treasury Secretary to report to Congress on the program's effectiveness within one and three years of enactment. These changes aim to provide CDFIs with more predictable long-term capital to fund projects in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes certain wildfire relief payments from taxable income for individuals affected by federally declared wildfires. It applies to payments covering uninsured losses like property damage, additional living expenses, or emotional distress resulting from qualified wildfires (declared after 2014). The exclusion prevents double tax benefits by disallowing deductions for expenses already covered by these payments. The policy change applies only to payments received between 2020 and 2025.

Maddy summaryThe School Lunch Integrity Act of 2024 prohibits the use of cell-cultivated meat (often called lab-grown meat) in federally funded school lunch and breakfast programs. It directly affects all public and private schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program under federal law. The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to add explicit language banning cell-cultivated meat in meals served through these programs. This is a straightforward policy change requiring schools to exclude such meat from meals provided to students under federal nutrition programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) to strengthen reporting requirements for foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. It requires foreign individuals or entities holding at least 1% interest (directly or through multiple ownership layers) to report holdings, and directs the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC-BC) to validate data and ensure compliance. The bill also mandates coordination with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), updates the Farm Service Agency handbook using GAO recommendations, and analyzes streamlining electronic reporting. These changes aim to improve transparency and national security oversight of foreign agricultural land investments.

Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 3627, the Distribution Transformer Efficiency and Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024, prevents federal rules from requiring distribution transformers to meet efficiency levels stricter than "trial standard level 2" for liquid-immersed and dry-type transformers. It directly affects manufacturers of these transformers by limiting future efficiency standards. The key provision delays any finalized rule for "trial standard level 1 or 2" efficiency from taking effect for 10 years after finalization. This bill aims to provide stability for the supply chain by slowing the implementation of stricter efficiency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal right for patients to access fertility treatments without unreasonable restrictions, protects health care providers who offer these services, and requires insurance coverage for such treatments. It guarantees patients the right to continue ongoing treatments under written agreements and retain control over reproductive materials. States cannot impose requirements that are more burdensome than those for comparable medical procedures or that don’t significantly advance safety. Violations can be challenged in federal court by the government, patients, or providers, while states may still enforce health/safety regulations that are necessary and least restrictive.

Maddy summaryThe Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act designates approximately 79,000 acres of land in Montana's Lolo National Forest as new wilderness areas (adding to Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains, and Scapegoat Wilderness), while creating two recreation management areas (Otatsy and Spread Mountain) covering about 5,800 acres. It prohibits timber harvest, permanent roads, and most motorized vehicle use in these recreation areas (with limited snowmobile access seasonally), and requires the Forest Service to develop a 10-year forest restoration plan for the District. The bill also withdraws designated lands from mining, mineral leasing, and other public land uses, while explicitly protecting tribal treaty rights. These changes directly affect federal land management, recreational access, and conservation practices in western Montana.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue detailed reports after major disasters when its Disaster Information Reporting System activates for at least 7 days. The reports must document outages in broadband, mobile services, and 911 systems, include public hearings with affected communities and providers, and recommend improvements to network resilience. It also directs the Office of Management and Budget to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as "protective service occupations" in federal job statistics. Additionally, the FCC must report on compliance with Kari’s Law, which mandates direct 911 access in multi-line phone systems. These provisions aim to improve disaster communications transparency and response coordination without creating new funding or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryS 229, the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023, directs the SelectUSA program (part of the Department of Commerce) to boost foreign investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, specifically targeting vulnerable supply chain segments like chip fabrication and advanced packaging. It requires SelectUSA to coordinate with state economic development organizations within 180 days to identify investment barriers, opportunities, and recommendations, and to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing progress and strategies. The bill uses existing program funds without authorizing new appropriations. It directly affects semiconductor manufacturers, state economic development groups, and foreign investors seeking U.S. opportunities, aiming to strengthen supply chain security through private investment rather than new government spending.