Sen. Steve Daines

Maddy summaryS 160, titled "Sarah's Law," amends immigration law to require mandatory detention for non-citizens charged with crimes causing death or serious bodily injury. It specifically applies to individuals who entered without inspection, held revoked visas, or fall under certain immigration categories. The bill also mandates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notify crime victims or their families about the alien's identity, immigration status, custody details, and removal efforts. This policy change directly affects non-citizens facing such charges and ensures victims receive ongoing case information.

Maddy summaryThe JOBS Act of 2023 expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term job training programs that provide 150-600 clock hours (8-15 weeks) of instruction aligned with in-demand local industries. It directly affects students enrolled in eligible career-focused programs at institutions of higher education, requiring programs to offer industry-recognized credentials and meet validation standards from employers or sector partnerships. Key provisions include mandatory industry validation of program quality, institutional credit articulation for noncredit programs, and lowering the minimum Pell Grant percentage from 10% to 5% for qualifying students. The bill ensures these programs count toward students’ total Pell Grant eligibility period while maintaining standard Pell Grant terms and conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill denies tax deductions for employers covering specific medical expenses: travel for employees seeking abortions, or gender transition care for minor children (under 18). It defines "gender transition procedure" broadly to include surgeries, puberty-blocking drugs, and cross-sex hormones, with limited exceptions for medically necessary treatments. Employers can no longer deduct costs related to these services on their federal tax returns. The law applies to taxable years after its enactment and does not affect deductions for other medical expenses or for gender transition care for adults.

Maddy summaryThe SHORT Act revises federal firearm regulations to eliminate separate restrictions on short-barreled rifles and shotguns. It redefines shotguns used for sporting purposes to avoid being classified as destructive devices and removes language that previously treated these weapons differently from other firearms. The bill also requires states to recognize federal compliance as meeting state registration requirements for these weapons and preempts state taxes or registration rules on them in interstate commerce. Finally, it mandates the federal government to destroy related ownership records within 365 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryS 194, the "Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens from Voting Act of 2023," would withhold federal funds from any state or local government that permits non-citizens to vote in federal, state, or local elections. States and localities applying for federal funds must certify they do not allow non-citizen voting as a condition of receiving support. This restriction applies only to new funding agreements entered into after the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects jurisdictions currently permitting non-citizen voting by threatening their access to future federal financial assistance.

Maddy summaryThe Wildfire Emergency Act of 2023 creates multiple programs to address wildfire risks across western U.S. landscapes. It establishes a pilot program using conservation finance agreements to leverage private investment for landscape-scale forest restoration on National Forest System lands, with funding limits of $250 million over 10 years and a maximum of $50 million per agreement. The bill also creates a program to improve energy resilience of critical facilities through microgrids and renewable energy ($100 million authorized), provides funding for fire-resilient building retrofits, and establishes Western prescribed fire centers for training. Additionally, it creates a $50 million grant program (2023-2027) to support community capacity building in disadvantaged communities for land stewardship activities on National Forest System lands. The legislation requires reports evaluating these programs within 4 years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the President from declaring federal emergencies under three key laws (the National Emergencies Act, Public Health Service Act, and Stafford Act) for purposes related to abortion. Specifically, it blocks emergency declarations meant to promote, support, or expand abortion access, or to take legal action against states that restrict abortion. The bill defines "abortion" as intentionally terminating a pregnancy (with limited exceptions for live birth or health) using instruments, medicine, or devices. It directly affects federal emergency powers, preventing their use to advance abortion policy or challenge state abortion laws. The law does not change existing abortion regulations but restricts how emergency declarations can be utilized.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent government shutdowns by automatically continuing funding for most federal programs at the previous fiscal year's level if Congress fails to pass a full budget by the start of the new fiscal year. The automatic funding would continue in 14-day increments until a budget is enacted, with the government returning to normal funding levels once a budget is passed. During these automatic funding periods, government employees (including congressional staff) would face restrictions on travel, with limited exceptions for returning to Washington, D.C. or responding to national security events. The bill also establishes specific procedures for Congress to prioritize budget negotiations during these periods. This would affect the entire federal government and its operations during budget stalemates.

Maddy summaryS.140 updates federal theft laws to specifically address organized retail crime by raising the monetary threshold for prosecution to $5,000 in stolen goods over 12 months and expanding definitions to include coordinated theft operations. It creates a new Homeland Security Coordination Center within 90 days to unify federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts with retailers. The center will share threat intelligence, track crime trends, and produce annual public reports on organized retail crime patterns. These changes directly affect retailers facing financial losses, law enforcement agencies, and criminal organizations profiting from theft.

Maddy summaryThe Educational Choice for Children Act creates tax credits for individuals and corporations that contribute to scholarship organizations providing educational scholarships. Individuals can claim a credit up to 10% of their adjusted gross income or $5,000, while corporations can claim up to 5% of taxable income. Scholarships are available to students in households earning no more than 300% of the area median income and can be used for public or private school expenses, including religious schools. The bill establishes a $10 billion annual cap on total contributions with funds allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and requires scholarship organizations to verify student income and distribute scholarships to multiple students. It also prohibits government control over scholarship organizations and schools, ensuring maximum freedom for these organizations.