Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryThe Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024 makes permanent 10 temporary federal district court judgeships in specific judicial districts, including Hawaii, Kansas, and multiple districts across Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. It achieves this by amending federal law to treat these positions as permanent, so current judges in those roles will now hold their positions under permanent authority rather than temporary appointments. The bill also updates the official U.S. Code table listing authorized judgeships to reflect these new permanent numbers for each district. This directly affects the federal courts in the specified districts by ending the temporary status of these judgeships and providing long-term stability to their staffing.

Maddy summaryThe Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act (S. 1351) directs the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study child abuse in youth residential programs. The study, to be completed within three years and updated every two years for a decade, will examine the prevalence of abuse, funding sources, regulations, and barriers to community-based alternatives for youth. It will identify risk assessment tools, recommend improved oversight and training for staff, and provide best practices for care including reducing the use of seclusion and restraints. The bill directly affects youth in residential programs, child welfare systems, and the agencies that oversee them, with recommendations aimed at improving safety and care. The study will involve consultation with child advocates, health professionals, individuals with lived experience, and government agencies to ensure comprehensive recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a tax credit for manufacturers by redefining "advanced manufacturing facility" to specifically include facilities producing semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, or essential materials for those products. It directly affects semiconductor manufacturers and related suppliers by making them eligible for the expanded investment tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code. The key provision amends existing tax code language to clarify this scope, aligning with the CHIPS Act of 2022. The changes take effect as if they were part of the CHIPS Act.

Maddy summaryThe Disaster Survivors Fairness Act of 2024 amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act to improve assistance for individuals and households affected by major disasters. It introduces new hazard mitigation assistance to help reduce future damage, expands direct repair assistance for those unable to access financial aid, and creates a state-managed housing pilot program with transparency requirements. The bill requires FEMA to publish an interactive dashboard showing application status and approval rates, and mandates reports on assistance disparities between homeowners and renters. It also includes provisions to improve rental assistance by considering local post-disaster rent increases and requires studies on damage assessment practices and challenges faced by rural and impoverished communities. These changes aim to make disaster assistance more accessible, transparent, and equitable for all survivors, particularly those with lower incomes and renters.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends existing federal tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers and users through 2025, replacing the previous 2024 expiration date. It directly affects biodiesel producers, refiners, and businesses using these fuels by maintaining their eligibility for tax credits on qualifying fuel sales or use. Key provisions include extending the biodiesel credit (Section 40A) and the biodiesel mixture credit (Section 6426), while adding a rule preventing double claims for fuel covered under another credit (Section 45Z(a)). The changes apply to fuel sold or used after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThe Countering Violence in the Western Hemisphere Act requires U.S. agencies to address gender-based violence (GBV) across the Western Hemisphere through concrete policy changes. It directs USAID to fund women-led organizations working to prevent and respond to GBV, expand economic empowerment programs for women, and train local law enforcement on GBV investigations and reporting. The bill also mandates that the U.S. include detailed GBV descriptions in annual human rights reports, contribute $2 million yearly to a UN fund ending violence against women, and produce a report on GBV’s role in migration. These provisions apply to U.S. agencies (like USAID and the State Department) and their partners in the Western Hemisphere, focusing on actionable programs rather than speculative outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (S 3502) limits how consumer credit reports can be shared during mortgage applications. It prevents credit reporting agencies from sending these reports to third parties solely based on a mortgage-related request, unless the third party has the homebuyer's explicit authorization or is directly involved in the loan (like the mortgage lender, loan servicer, or their bank holding the homebuyer's account). This directly affects homebuyers applying for residential mortgages by restricting unauthorized sharing of their credit data. The bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to add these privacy protections without creating new government programs or altering existing mortgage processes.

Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Justice grant program to support local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 200 officers, including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments. It provides funding for de-escalation training, mental health resources, and recruitment/retention bonuses (like signing bonuses up to $10,000 or retention bonuses up to 20% of salary for officers with 5+ years of service). Grants may cover specific training on domestic violence, active shooter scenarios, and interactions with vulnerable populations (e.g., individuals with mental health needs or veterans), as well as mental health services for officers. The program includes accountability measures like mandatory audits, public disclosure of bonuses, and restrictions on duplicate funding, with $50 million allocated annually from existing DOJ funds for fiscal years 2024-2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to protect U.S. citizens unlawfully detained or held hostage abroad. It requires credit bureaus to remove negative credit information reported during the period of detention or captivity if they verify official documentation. Covered consumers must provide authentication from the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs or the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to trigger this protection. The law directly affects Americans wrongfully detained overseas by ensuring their credit reports reflect the time they were held, not the financial consequences of their captivity. This creates a concrete policy change in credit reporting practices for victims of international hostage situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends U.S. patent and trademark law to create a "good faith exception" for fines related to false statements. Specifically, it adds language to two sections of Title 35, U.S. Code: requiring that entities not face fines for false assertions (in Section 41(j)) or false certifications (in Section 123(f)) if they demonstrate the statement was made in good faith. It directly affects businesses and individuals filing patents or trademarks who might otherwise be penalized for unintentional errors. The change reduces penalties for honest mistakes in legal filings, focusing on intent rather than outcome.