Sen. Thom Tillis

Maddy summaryS 2173, the Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2023, clarifies that trademark licensing relationships between franchisors (or trademark owners) and related companies do not create employment relationships under labor laws. It specifically states that franchisors or trademark owners cannot be deemed employers simply because they license a mark or exercise limited control over its use to maintain quality, reputation, or uniformity. The bill explicitly excludes personnel-related policies (like hiring, pay, or work schedules) from being considered "control over the mark" under this provision. This protects franchisors and trademark owners from unintended labor law obligations tied to standard licensing practices.

Maddy summaryS 2115, the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act, establishes a framework for the U.S. to negotiate agreements with "trusted trade partners" to strengthen medical supply chains. It requires the President to partner only with countries meeting specific criteria, such as maintaining open trade during health emergencies, protecting intellectual property, and reducing trade barriers for medical goods like drugs and devices. The bill mandates congressional oversight, including 30-day review periods for agreements and regular reports on negotiations. These agreements aim to diversify suppliers, ensure reliable access to critical medical products during crises, and streamline cross-border movement of medical goods. The law directly affects U.S. healthcare supply security and international trade relationships with designated medical goods suppliers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires entities selling whole human bodies or body parts for non-transplant education, research, or medical training in interstate commerce to register with the federal government. It mandates detailed record-keeping (including donor consent documentation), strict labeling (listing donor name, cause of death, and "not for transplantation" statements), and secure packaging to prevent contamination. Medical schools, research institutions, funeral professionals, and organ networks are exempt from registration. The law aims to ensure transparency and ethical handling of donated remains while prohibiting misuse of donor information.

Maddy summaryS 2084, the Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act of 2023, requires the Secretary of Defense (with VA consultation) to create a new risk assessment for toxic exposure near burn pits and an outreach program for affected servicemembers within 180 days. This bill directly affects military personnel assigned near burn pits, informing them about health risks and available benefits, including eligibility details and timelines. Key provisions mandate outreach via email, text, and social media, plus a public website listing resources for servicemembers, veterans, dependents, and survivors impacted by toxic exposure. The law aims to improve awareness of health risks and support programs without altering benefit eligibility or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2082) amends existing U.S. law to clarify legal pathways for victims of terrorism to seek compensation from foreign states. It updates references in federal statutes (28 U.S.C. § 1605B and 18 U.S.C. § 2331) to explicitly include entities organized under U.S. law when defining "national of the United States" for terrorism lawsuits. The changes ensure victims can pursue claims under Section 2333 against foreign states that sponsor terrorism, while also clarifying how judgments against such states can be executed. These technical amendments apply to all pending or future cases filed after the bill's enactment, directly affecting terrorism victims seeking legal recourse in U.S. courts.

Maddy summaryS 2083, the Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, requires the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress on alternatives to burn pits, such as incinerators and waste-to-energy systems. The report must be delivered within 60 days after the President submits the fiscal year 2024 budget. This bill does not change current waste disposal practices but mandates a review of potential alternatives to reduce exposure to harmful emissions from burn pits. The focus is solely on gathering information for congressional consideration, with no immediate policy changes enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prioritize pandemic preparedness for unknown viral threats. It directs the Secretary to develop platform manufacturing technologies for rapid medical countermeasures and fund flexible research against high-risk respiratory viruses (including pathogen-agnostic approaches). The bill authorizes $40 million annually (2024-2028) for these specific purposes, requiring that products developed with this funding be substantially manufactured in the U.S. unless waived for public interest reasons. It directly affects federal health agencies managing pandemic response and U.S. manufacturers receiving these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests to Medicare Part B coverage, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries. It creates a new coverage category for FDA-approved blood tests (like those analyzing cell-free DNA) that screen for multiple cancer types simultaneously, as defined in the bill. Medicare would cover these tests once every 12 months, and the bill clarifies that this change does not impact existing coverage for standard cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. The policy change ensures beneficiaries can access these new screening options without unnecessary delays after FDA approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 351 (Down East Remembrance Act), is a ceremonial renaming measure. It designates six specific creeks in North Carolina with new names (Noah Styron Creek, Hunter Parks Creek, Kole McInnis Creek, Stephanie Fulcher Creek, Jacob Taylor Creek, and Daily Shepherd Creek) based on their geographic coordinates. The bill requires all future references in U.S. federal laws, regulations, maps, and official documents to use these new names instead of the previous designations. It does not change any laws, regulations, or affect any people or policies - it solely updates official records for these waterways.

Maddy summaryS 2005, the Mandatory Materiality Requirement Act of 2023, would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to specify in new disclosure rules that public companies must only disclose information the company determines is important for investment decisions. The bill amends the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934 to mandate that the SEC explicitly state in rulemaking that disclosure obligations apply only when information is material - meaning a reasonable investor would consider its omission significant to their decision. This applies to all SEC rulemaking on disclosure requirements for public companies, though it excludes rules that would reduce disclosure burdens. The bill does not change current disclosure standards but alters how future SEC rules must be structured.