Sen. Markwayne Mullin

Maddy summaryS.1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023, repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die after the bill's enactment. It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation) and creating a new tax rate schedule for gifts. This bill directly affects high-net-worth individuals who would have paid estate or gift taxes on large transfers of wealth. The changes take effect after the bill's passage, with the exemption adjusted annually for inflation.

Maddy summarySRES 523 is a Senate resolution honoring the late Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin. The resolution expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death, directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate it to the House of Representatives and send a copy to his family, and instructs the Senate to adjourn as a mark of respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally commemorates Kohl's service and legacy. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators and passed unanimously on January 11, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 3624, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, restricts U.S. federal funding for organizations that perform, promote, or support abortions internationally. It prohibits federal funds from being provided to foreign or domestic groups (including NGOs and multilateral organizations) that conduct abortion services, provide related counseling or referrals, develop abortion tools, or financially support such activities. The bill also blocks funding for groups that fail to maintain strict separation between abortion-related work and other programs receiving U.S. aid. This directly affects foreign aid recipients and domestic organizations administering international programs that involve abortion-related services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to require states to establish and enforce child support obligations from a biological father for an unborn child, directly affecting mothers expecting a child and the child's biological father. Key provisions include allowing retroactive payments starting from the month of conception (with medical verification), requiring court determination of payment amounts based on the mother and child's best interests, and prohibiting mandatory paternity testing without the mother's consent. It explicitly defines "unborn child" as any human fetus at any developmental stage carried in the womb. The law applies to child support enforcement under federal program rules, with changes effective two years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2024 clarifies that states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers and similar life-affirming programs that provide services like counseling, parenting classes, baby supplies, and referrals to health or housing resources - without offering or referring for abortions. It directly affects pregnancy centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes currently receiving TANF funding in states such as Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, and Ohio. The bill amends federal law to explicitly permit TANF funding for these programs and prohibits the federal government from discriminating against them or imposing unwarranted requirements. It also establishes legal remedies, including lawsuits for damages, if the government violates these provisions.

Maddy summaryThe Pregnancy Center Support Act of 2024 would create a federal tax credit for individuals and businesses donating to qualifying pregnancy centers, covering 50% of contributions up to $10,000 per person ($20,000 for joint returns). To qualify, centers must be tax-exempt non-profits (501(c)(3)) that provide free services like counseling, medical support, and material aid to pregnant women without performing or promoting abortions. The credit aims to reduce the tax burden on donors supporting centers that help women choose childbirth over abortion through services such as prenatal care, housing assistance, and adoption referrals. This bill directly affects donors and pregnancy centers meeting these specific criteria, with the credit applying to donations made after the law’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for U.S. manufacturers producing rare earth magnets, offering $20 per kilogram for magnets made with domestically sourced materials and $30 per kilogram if at least 90% of component materials (like neodymium, dysprosium, or cobalt) are also produced in the U.S. The credit phases out after 2032, reducing to 70% in 2033, 35% in 2034-2035, and ending after 2035. It prohibits credits for magnets using materials from "non-allied foreign nations" and requires production to occur within a regular business operation. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryS 3588, the Constitutional Election Integrity Act, prohibits federal funding for election administration in states that block presidential candidates from appearing on ballots using Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment (which disqualifies individuals who engaged in insurrection). It directly affects states administering federal elections by cutting off federal funds if they restrict ballot access for candidates under this constitutional provision. The bill shifts jurisdiction for disputes over presidential ballot eligibility under Section 3 to federal courts, requiring three-judge panels to handle cases and send findings to the Supreme Court for expedited review. It also explicitly bars state courts and officials from deciding such disputes, centralizing legal challenges in federal courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 32) seeks congressional disapproval of a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) on May 31, 2023. The rule, published as Regulation B under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), addressed how lenders must evaluate small business loan applications to prevent discrimination. If passed, the resolution would block this rule from taking effect, meaning lenders would not be required to follow these specific small business lending provisions. The bill directly affects the CFPB's regulatory authority and financial institutions that process small business loans under ECOA.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows border states (adjacent to the U.S. northern or southern borders) to place temporary, movable structures on federal land for border security without needing a special use permit, provided they give the relevant federal agency 45 days' notice. The structures can be placed for up to one year, with possible 90-day extensions if the Secretary concerned approves based on input from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which must determine that "operational control" of the border hasn't been achieved. It directly affects border states (like Texas, California, Arizona, Montana, Washington) and federal land agencies managing borderlands (such as the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service). The key change removes a permitting barrier for temporary border security measures, tying extensions to CBP's assessment of border security status.