Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale or transfer of firearms or ammunition to anyone convicted of a "violent misdemeanor" within the past 5 years. It defines a "violent misdemeanor" as a state or federal offense involving physical force, a deadly weapon, or intent to cause injury. Key safeguards include requiring legal representation for the conviction to count, excluding expunged records unless civil rights restoration explicitly prohibits gun ownership, and applying only to convictions occurring 180 days after enactment. The law directly affects individuals with recent violent misdemeanor convictions, modifying federal gun law sections 922(d)(11) and 921(a)(38) to implement this ban.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a federal provision (subsection (b) of section 14 of the National Labor Relations Act) that allowed states to enact "right-to-work" laws. These laws prohibit mandatory union membership as a condition of employment. By removing this federal barrier, the bill would prevent states from passing or enforcing such laws, directly affecting workers in states with existing right-to-work statutes. The key mechanism is the federal preemption of state right-to-work laws, making union membership voluntary nationwide without requiring state action.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Supreme Court to establish a code of conduct for justices within 180 days of enactment, with public access to these rules on the Court's website. It sets minimum disclosure standards for gifts, income, and reimbursements received by justices and their law clerks, and strengthens recusal requirements when justices have financial ties to parties in cases. The bill creates procedures for filing complaints about justices' conduct and establishes a judicial investigation panel to review such complaints, while also requiring parties and amicus curiae to disclose gifts to justices and lobbying activities related to the nomination of justices. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in Supreme Court operations.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution directs the Archivist of the United States to immediately certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, claiming it was validly ratified after Virginia became the 38th state to approve it in 2020. It asserts that the ERA meets all constitutional requirements under Article V, including the completion of ratification by three-fourths of states (38 states total), and references historical precedents like the 27th Amendment’s delayed certification. The resolution does not alter legal rights or create new law - it solely addresses the Archivist’s statutory duty under 1 U.S.C. §106b to formally recognize the ERA’s ratification. It affects only the Archivist’s office, requiring them to fulfill a procedural step without delay.

Maddy summaryS 2600, the Public Housing Fire Safety Act, requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inspect public housing for automatic sprinkler systems and report on their presence - especially in older "exempted" projects (buildings not originally required to have sprinklers due to their age or construction). It establishes a new $25 million annual grant program (2024-2033) to help public housing agencies retrofit exempted projects with sprinkler systems, but prohibits using funds for rebuilt properties. The bill directly affects public housing agencies and residents in older federally subsidized housing units lacking modern fire safety measures. It does not mandate installations but provides funding to improve fire safety in eligible buildings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Farmworker Coordinator position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve how farmworkers access federal programs. The Coordinator will assess existing outreach, develop coordination plans across USDA agencies (like the Farm Service Agency and Food and Nutrition Service), and communicate program eligibility information directly to farmworker employers. Key duties include measuring program outcomes for farmworkers, identifying research priorities, and recommending new initiatives. The bill directly affects farmworkers by aiming to make USDA programs more accessible and effective, while requiring coordination across multiple USDA offices.

Maddy summaryThe Break the Cycle of Violence Act creates federal grant programs to fund community-based violence intervention initiatives that aim to reduce gun violence in high-risk communities. It authorizes $300 million in 2024, increasing to $700 million annually from 2026-2031, for grants to community organizations and local governments to implement evidence-based strategies that provide trauma-informed services, job training, and wraparound support to individuals at high risk of violence. The bill establishes a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate efforts, collect data, and share best practices, while also creating IMPACT grants for job training programs targeting opportunity youth in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. The legislation specifically addresses racial disparities in violence exposure, with findings showing Black children and teens are over 12 times more likely to be shot to death than White peers. The program requires grantees to use strategies that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration, and to partner with community organizations reflecting the populations impacted by violence.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Credit for Farmers Act of 2023 provides immediate financial relief to economically distressed farmers and ranchers by deferring principal and interest payments on direct farm loans for two years, setting interest rates to zero percent during that period, and extending repayment dates by two additional years. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide clearer explanations in denial letters for farm loan applications and waives fees on guaranteed loans for historically underserved farmers (including socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers) for two years. Additionally, the legislation removes eligibility restrictions based on previous debt write-downs, allows refinancing of existing debt through farm loans, and establishes new equitable relief provisions for applicants wrongfully denied assistance due to administrative errors. These changes aim to improve access to credit for struggling agricultural producers while reforming administrative processes within the Farm Service Agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most employers from using credit history reports when making hiring decisions or taking adverse employment actions (like denying a job). It directly affects job applicants and current employees by preventing employers from considering their credit scores for these purposes. The law includes narrow exceptions for positions requiring national security clearances or when required by other laws. Employers cannot deny employment or take negative employment actions simply because an applicant refuses to authorize a credit check. The bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "ghost guns" as firearms (including frames and receivers) without a unique serial number from a licensed manufacturer or importer. It requires all new firearms to have a serial number engraved by a licensed maker and prohibits unlicensed individuals from manufacturing, selling, transferring, or possessing ghost guns after a one-year transition period (starting one year after enactment). The bill also bans unlicensed engraving of serial numbers on firearms and updates rules to ban undetectable firearms, with penalties including fines and up to 5 years in prison for repeat violations. These changes directly affect unlicensed gun builders, sellers, and possessors of ghost guns, while allowing licensed dealers a grace period for compliance.