Sen. Steve Daines

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would authorize Congress to pass laws prohibiting physical desecration of the U.S. flag, such as burning, mutilating, or trampling it. If ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years of congressional submission, it would enable federal laws to criminalize such acts. The amendment requires states to approve it within a seven-year window after the Senate introduces the resolution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges to provide student borrowers with clearer financial information before they accept federal loans. It mandates that students manually enter their desired loan amount each year (instead of automatically accepting full eligibility) and receive specific disclosures, including sample repayment costs based on median debt and earnings data from the College Scorecard. Institutions must also explain that borrowers aren't required to take the full loan amount offered and provide details on completion rates, repayment statistics, and the loan's annual percentage rate. These changes apply to all undergraduate and graduate students receiving Federal Direct Loans, as well as parent borrowers for PLUS Loans.

Maddy summaryS 305 authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins (gold, silver, and half-dollar denominations) to mark the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary in 2025. Each coin sale includes a surcharge ($5 to $35 per coin) that will fund the Marine Corps Heritage Center's educational programs, with proceeds paid directly to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. The coins will be sold from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and the surcharge structure ensures no net cost to taxpayers by covering production expenses through sales. This bill directly affects the U.S. Mint (in coin production), the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (as recipient of funds), and the public (as potential buyers).

This resolution designates June 2023 as Great Outdoors Month. The resolution encourages all individuals in the United States to responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great outdoors.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain grants provided to transportation service providers from federal taxation under the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act. It specifically states that grant amounts received by eligible providers won't count as taxable income, and it prevents related tax deductions or basis adjustments from being denied. The provision also clarifies tax treatment for partnerships and S corporations receiving these grants, treating the excluded grant amounts as tax-exempt income for partnership tax calculations. The bill directly affects transportation businesses that receive federal relief grants under the referenced act.

Maddy summaryS 1923 prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing its proposed rule (88 Fed. Reg. 33240, May 23, 2023) that would establish greenhouse gas emission standards for fossil fuel power plants. The bill argues this rule exceeds EPA authority under the Clean Air Act, as the required carbon capture and clean hydrogen technologies are not yet commercially proven or cost-effective. This directly prevents the implementation of the specific proposed rule without creating new regulatory requirements. The bill does not alter existing laws but blocks this particular EPA action.

Maddy summaryS 1907, the Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023, increases penalties for crimes committed against licensed firearm businesses. It amends federal law to impose a maximum 20-year prison term for knowingly violating firearm licensing rules or attempting to do so. If a burglary or robbery occurs on a licensed dealer’s, manufacturer’s, or importer’s business premises, the law mandates minimum sentences of 3 years for burglary and 5 years for robbery. This bill directly affects federal firearms licensees by strengthening criminal penalties for attacks on their business locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exempt certain income from mutual ditch irrigation companies and similar water organizations from taxable income. It specifically excludes revenue from selling, leasing, or exchanging water rights, water delivery contracts, or company stock from taxation. The change aims to support water conservation by allowing these organizations to retain income from water transactions without tax liability, provided the funds are used for eligible expenses like new water conveyance systems. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1906, the Promising Pathway Act, creates a faster FDA approval pathway for new drugs treating serious or life-threatening conditions, allowing provisional approval within 90 days of application. It requires drug sponsors to establish patient registries tracking usage and outcomes (with 90% participation minimum), mandates insurers to cover these drugs identically to fully approved drugs, and sets 2-year provisional approval periods renewable up to three times (max 8 years total). The bill includes safety monitoring, with withdrawal if serious side effects outweigh benefits or if full approval isn’t sought within 180 days. This directly affects drug manufacturers, patients with serious conditions, and health insurers by altering approval timelines, coverage rules, and post-approval monitoring.

Maddy summaryS 1878, the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act, reorganizes federal judicial circuits by splitting the current Ninth Circuit into two new circuits: the "new Ninth Circuit" (covering California, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and the "Twelfth Circuit" (covering Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington). It adds 2 new circuit judges for the new Ninth Circuit, establishes 13 permanent circuit judges for the Twelfth Circuit, and authorizes numerous additional district judgeships across multiple states (e.g., 37 for Central California, 23 for Southern Texas). The bill also transfers existing cases and assigns judges based on geographic location as of the effective date, with temporary judge assignments allowed between the circuits to manage caseloads. These changes take effect one year after enactment, with the old Ninth Circuit ceasing administrative operations two years post-enactment.