Maddy summaryThe Kids Off Social Media Act prohibits social media platforms from allowing children under 13 to create accounts and requires platforms to delete all personal data when children's accounts are terminated. It bans social media platforms from using personalized recommendation systems for children or teens (ages 12-17), with limited exceptions for basic device information like language settings or location. The bill also requires schools receiving certain broadband subsidies to implement technology protection measures blocking student access to social media during school use and adopt grade-specific screen time policies for device usage. Schools must annually certify compliance with these requirements to maintain eligibility for subsidized internet services. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general would enforce these provisions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2024 allows individuals convicted of certain Federal offenses (level A or B) or arrested for specific offenses (level A or C) to have their convictions vacated or arrest records expunged if their criminal activity was directly related to being a victim of human trafficking. The bill establishes a legal process where trafficking survivors can file motions with courts, supported by their testimony, to clear their records without needing to prove other persons were convicted. Courts must review these motions using a preponderance of evidence standard and may grant relief if the survivor demonstrates their offense was a direct result of trafficking. The law also creates a presumption of duress for trafficking survivors in court proceedings and requires U.S. attorneys to receive training on human trafficking indicators. Additionally, it mandates reports to Congress on the implementation and impact of the law, including the number of survivors filing motions and court outcomes.
Maddy summaryThe Next Step Home Act restores voting rights in federal elections for U.S. citizens who have completed sentences for federal felony convictions after December 21, 2018. It directly affects people released from federal custody who have served their sentences, requiring federal agencies to notify them of their voting rights upon release. Key provisions include mandating notification by the Bureau of Prisons or probation officers, establishing legal remedies for voting denial, and tying federal prison funding to compliance with the law. The bill applies only to federal elections (not state/local), does not override state voting laws, and takes effect for elections after its enactment.
Maddy summarySRES 655 is a Senate resolution passed on April 18, 2024, to honor the late Joseph I. Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1988-2013), following his death. The resolution recognizes his career, including his role in creating the Department of Homeland Security, establishing the 9/11 Commission, and advocating for civil rights and environmental protections. It directs the Senate to adjourn in his memory and transmit a copy to his family, expressing the Senate's sorrow and respect. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, as it solely commemorates his legacy.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates April 2024 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month" and formally recognizes local news as essential to democracy. It affirms that local journalism serves a vital public function by informing communities, supporting civic engagement, and holding local government accountable. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding - it is a symbolic acknowledgment of the critical role local news plays in democratic communities. It highlights the severe decline in local news outlets (including the loss of nearly 2,900 print newspapers since 2005) but focuses solely on recognition, not policy action.
Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate resolution (SRES 649) encourages increased awareness and conservation efforts for lake sturgeon, a long-lived, ancient freshwater fish species. It specifically urges federal, state, tribal, and local partners to collaborate on managing sturgeon populations, protect and restore their habitat, control invasive species, and educate the public and anglers about the species. The resolution highlights lake sturgeon's ecological role as ecosystem health indicators and their cultural significance to Indigenous communities. It does not create new laws or funding but promotes existing conservation partnerships and public engagement.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) for the federal judicial branch, directly affecting federal judges, Supreme Court justices, and judicial employees. The IG will investigate alleged misconduct (like ethics violations or fraud) in courts below the Supreme Court and ethics issues involving Supreme Court justices, while preventing waste and fraud. Key mechanisms include conducting audits, subpoenaing records, protecting whistleblowers who report misconduct, and reporting findings to Congress and the Chief Justice. The IG cannot review court decisions or discipline judges, ensuring the role focuses on oversight rather than judicial intervention.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends and enhances federal funding for specialty crop programs (like fruits, vegetables, and nuts) through 2028, increasing annual funding to $100 million starting in 2024. It requires state agricultural programs to consult annually with specialty crop producers and industry groups when designing grant priorities. The bill directly affects farmers growing specialty crops and state agencies distributing the grants, ensuring their input shapes how funds are allocated. Key changes include extending the program timeline, mandating stakeholder consultation, and securing long-term funding levels.
Maddy summaryThe Banning Toxics from Plastic Bottles Act of 2024 prohibits retailers from selling single-use beverage containers containing specific toxic substances (such as certain phthalates and bisphenols), polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polyethylene glycol, or non-transparent containers (except transparent blue or green). Violations carry fines up to $50,000 per violation, with collected funds supporting a new Local Clean Up of Plastics Fund. This fund provides grants to local governments for improving waste management, water systems, and recycling infrastructure, prioritizing rural and underserved communities. The law takes effect two years after enactment.
Maddy summaryThe Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024 establishes new environmental justice protections for communities near plastics facilities by requiring environmental justice assessments for permits, setting a temporary moratorium on new permits for plastics facilities, and mandating new emissions standards. The bill directly affects covered facilities (plastics production facilities) and fenceline communities (low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities located near these facilities), requiring facilities to reduce emissions, provide community benefit agreements, and conduct environmental monitoring. It sets specific targets for reducing single-use plastics (25% source reduction by 2034) and increasing reusable alternatives (30% reuse/refill by 2034), with exemptions for medical products and certain food packaging. These provisions aim to address the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of plastics production on vulnerable communities through concrete regulatory changes.