Sen. Cynthia M. Lummis

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the tax code to exempt certain income from mutual ditch irrigation companies and similar water organizations from taxable income. It specifically excludes revenue from selling, leasing, or exchanging water rights, water delivery contracts, or company stock from taxation. The change aims to support water conservation by allowing these organizations to retain income from water transactions without tax liability, provided the funds are used for eligible expenses like new water conveyance systems. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Tracking Bad Actors Act of 2023 mandates that federal financial regulators (including the SEC, CFTC, and FDIC) create a free, publicly accessible database within three years. This database will list individuals or entities convicted or held liable in financial misconduct cases brought by federal regulators, the DOJ, state agencies, or self-regulatory organizations. Key provisions require automatic removal of entries if cases are overturned or withdrawn, and the SEC will oversee the database’s operation. The law directly affects financial professionals and entities subject to enforcement actions, providing transparency for investors and employers.

Maddy summaryS 1906, the Promising Pathway Act, creates a faster FDA approval pathway for new drugs treating serious or life-threatening conditions, allowing provisional approval within 90 days of application. It requires drug sponsors to establish patient registries tracking usage and outcomes (with 90% participation minimum), mandates insurers to cover these drugs identically to fully approved drugs, and sets 2-year provisional approval periods renewable up to three times (max 8 years total). The bill includes safety monitoring, with withdrawal if serious side effects outweigh benefits or if full approval isn’t sought within 180 days. This directly affects drug manufacturers, patients with serious conditions, and health insurers by altering approval timelines, coverage rules, and post-approval monitoring.

Maddy summaryS 1834, the "No Free TRIPS Act," requires the U.S. President and federal officials to get explicit Congressional approval *before* starting any negotiations to withdraw from, suspend, waive, or modify the international TRIPS Agreement. This bill directly affects the executive branch, specifically the President and U.S. trade officials who handle global intellectual property negotiations. Its key provision mandates that Congress must authorize any such action on the TRIPS Agreement prior to negotiations beginning. The bill does not change U.S. policy on intellectual property but alters the process for modifying the country's international commitments. It is a procedural measure focused on congressional oversight of trade negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial Senate resolution designates May 21-27, 2023, as "National Public Works Week" to honor public works professionals. It recognizes their daily work maintaining infrastructure like roads, water systems, and emergency services that support community health, safety, and resilience. The resolution urges communities to celebrate these professionals' contributions to public infrastructure and community well-being through local activities. It has no legal effect or funding provisions - it is purely a symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJRES 18) disapproves a Department of Homeland Security rule that would have expanded the "public charge" standard for immigration. The rule, published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2022, aimed to deny visas or green cards to immigrants who might rely on public benefits like housing or food assistance. By passing this resolution, Congress blocks the rule from taking effect, meaning immigrants applying for visas or permanent residency would not face this specific eligibility barrier. The resolution directly affects non-citizens seeking to enter or remain in the U.S. under immigration processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for uranium miners, mill workers, ore transporters, and core drillers who were exposed to radiation between 1942 and 1978. It requires claimants to provide medical documentation linking their illness (like lung cancer or kidney disease) to that exposure. The bill transfers $475 million from unused coronavirus relief funds to the RECA trust fund and extends the deadline for filing claims from 2 to 4 years after enactment. This directly affects workers in specific states (including Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico) who developed radiation-related illnesses after working in uranium-related industries during the specified period.

Maddy summaryThe Main Street Tax Certainty Act permanently extends the 20% tax deduction for qualified business income (QBI), which currently applies to owners of pass-through businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations. The bill achieves this by amending the tax code to remove an expiration date (via striking subsection (i) of Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code). This change directly affects small business owners who rely on the QBI deduction to reduce their taxable income. The key provision eliminates uncertainty about the deduction’s future, ensuring continued eligibility without requiring future legislative action.

Maddy summaryS 1688, the "Yes In My Backyard Act," requires local governments receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to report on plans to adopt specific housing-friendly land use policies. It directly affects cities and counties that administer CDBG programs by mandating annual submissions describing their progress on 22 policy examples, such as allowing duplexes in single-family zones, reducing parking requirements, or streamlining permitting. The bill does not require adoption of these policies but tracks jurisdictions' efforts to remove barriers to affordable housing. This reporting mechanism aims to address discriminatory zoning while keeping existing CDBG funding rules intact.

Maddy summaryThis bill bars federal funding for state or local databases that track lawfully owned firearms or their owners. It directly affects states and local governments maintaining such databases, preventing them from using federal money to create or maintain these records. The law includes an exception allowing funding for databases tracking lost or stolen firearms and their owners. The key provision is a federal funding prohibition targeting databases of legal gun ownership, not the databases themselves.