Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, clinical diagnostic laboratories, imaging services providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly disclose standardized pricing information for healthcare services in a machine-readable format. It mandates disclosure of gross charges, discounted cash prices, payer-specific negotiated charges, and other pricing details for a minimum of 300 "shoppable" services. The bill establishes civil penalties for non-compliance, with fines ranging from $300 per day for smaller facilities to over $10 million annually for larger hospitals. The goal is to make healthcare pricing more transparent for consumers, helping them compare costs and make informed decisions about their care. The requirements will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends a 1990 agricultural law to create new federal research and extension grants focused on "natural climate solutions." It directs funding for projects that improve land management practices on agricultural lands, soils, grasslands, wetlands, and forests to store carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key provisions require these projects to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, promote biodiversity and climate resilience, and reduce runoff. The grants directly support researchers, farmers, and land managers working on these specific conservation practices.
Maddy summaryThe Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act of 2023 establishes a new regulatory framework for hardrock mineral mining on federal lands. It requires mining operations to pay royalties of 5-8% on mineral production (with exemptions for existing operations), introduces annual $200 maintenance fees for existing mining claims, and $50 location fees for new claims. The bill creates a Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund to finance reclamation of abandoned mine sites, funded by these new fees and royalties. It also establishes new permitting requirements for exploration and mining activities, including environmental protection standards and financial assurances for reclamation. The law directly affects mining claim holders, operators, and the federal government through new revenue streams and regulatory requirements.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SRES 492) honoring the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It expresses the Senate's condolences for her passing and recognizes her lifetime of humanitarian work, including her advocacy for mental health care, founding of caregiver support programs, and service with The Carter Center. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it is purely a commemorative statement. It was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2023.
Maddy summaryThe Farewell to Foam Act of 2023 bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene food service ware (like takeout containers and cups), expanded polystyrene loose fill (packing peanuts), and expanded polystyrene coolers starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects food service providers (restaurants, grocery stores, schools), manufacturers, distributors, and retailers selling these products. Violations require written warnings for first offenses, with escalating civil penalties starting at $250 for repeat violations, though small businesses with lower annual revenue face limits on how often penalties apply. The bill excludes coolers used for medical or drug storage, focusing the ban solely on consumer food and packaging items.
Maddy summaryThis bill would grant college athletes at public and private universities the right to form labor unions under federal law by redefining them as "employees" for collective bargaining purposes. It specifically covers athletes who receive any compensation (such as scholarships or stipends) for participating in intercollegiate sports, allowing them to negotiate collectively with schools and athletic conferences through multiemployer bargaining units. The bill prohibits schools from requiring athletes to waive these rights in scholarship agreements and clarifies that the changes will not affect tax treatment or eligibility for federal financial aid.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the Inclusive Democracy Act of 2023, protects voting rights for people with criminal convictions in federal elections. It requires states to notify individuals about their voting rights at conviction, during probation/parole, and in carceral settings, while establishing procedures for incarcerated people to register to vote and access absentee ballots. The bill mandates carceral settings to provide voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and access to voting information, with specific deadlines for processing and transmitting these materials. It also requires states to accept and process voting applications submitted by incarcerated individuals within defined timeframes, including allowing electronic submission. The law applies to federal elections starting with the November 2024 general election.
Maddy summaryThe SAFER Banking Act provides legal protections for banks and financial institutions that serve state-legal marijuana businesses and related service providers. It creates a "safe harbor" preventing federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for offering services to these businesses, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The bill also allows income from state-legal marijuana businesses to be considered "legal income" for mortgage qualification purposes and establishes guidance for suspicious activity reporting related to these businesses. Similar protections are extended to hemp-related businesses and service providers, without requiring banks to serve these businesses.
Maddy summaryThe WEATHER Act of 2023 would create a new federal crop insurance policy to protect farmers from income losses caused by specific weather events like drought, floods, extreme heat, wildfires, and hail. This policy would cover all 50 states and territories, allowing farmers to adjust coverage levels (from 5% to 150% of the median county farm income) and offering faster payments (within 30 days) after a weather event. It prioritizes support for small-scale farms (under $350,000 income) and underserved producers, with reduced paperwork and special consideration for on-farm processing losses. The bill requires the federal crop insurance corporation to research and develop this policy, report findings within one year, and recommend next steps to Congress - making it a proposal for future policy, not an immediate law.
Maddy summaryThe End Solitary Confinement Act (S 3409) would prohibit solitary confinement in Federal correctional facilities, requiring all incarcerated people to have at least 14 hours daily of out-of-cell congregate interaction including programming, recreation, and social activities. The bill establishes strict limits on confinement (no more than 4 hours total in a 24-hour period for emergencies), creates a community monitoring body to oversee compliance, and provides incentives for states to adopt similar standards by tying federal funding to compliance. It also includes due process protections for people placed in restrictive housing, requiring neutral hearings with legal representation and medical assessments. The bill directly affects all people incarcerated in Federal facilities and would impact state and local facilities receiving Federal funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.