Sen. John R. Curtis

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes a federal program providing funding for wildlife crossings - such as overpasses or underpasses - to help animals safely cross roads. It authorizes $100 million annually from 2027 through 2031 from the Highway Trust Fund, making the program permanent (removing "pilot" language). Key provisions include requiring 90% federal funding for projects in small, rural, or disadvantaged communities (up to 100% if financial hardship exists) and allocating 0.5% of funds yearly to help tribes and other eligible groups apply for and access program funding more efficiently. The bill directly affects communities and tribes seeking to build wildlife crossings near highways.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3520) invalidates a specific Forest Service rule issued on November 25, 2024, which addressed criminal prohibitions related to law enforcement activities. The rule (89 Fed. Reg. 92808) is declared "without force or effect," and the Secretary of Agriculture is prohibited from implementing, enforcing, or administering this rule or any substantially similar rule. The bill directly affects the Forest Service's authority to enforce that particular rule. It is a procedural measure with no new policy provisions, solely reversing an existing regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that public comments on federal land management rules (administered by the Bureau of Land Management) must come only from U.S. citizens, replacing the previous standard. It mandates that agencies implement CAPTCHA systems to prevent artificial intelligence from submitting comments, explicitly stating this is to deter AI-driven public involvement. The changes apply to rulemaking under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, affecting how the public can participate in decisions about national public lands. The bill does not alter land management policies but modifies the process for gathering public input.

Maddy summaryThe National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (deliberately set fires to manage wildland fuels) on federal lands. It requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to increase prescribed fire acreage by 10% annually on federal lands, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund projects meeting specific ecological and collaborative criteria. The bill also addresses liability for prescribed fire managers, streamlines environmental reviews, and creates a national education program to improve public understanding of prescribed fire. It requires annual reporting on prescribed fire activities and landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies jurisdiction over civil matters involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes on their tribal lands. It grants the State of Utah civil jurisdiction over lawsuits where the tribe is a party and the dispute occurs on tribal lands (defined as lands held in trust by the U.S. for the tribe or under federal restrictions). For contract disputes involving tribal lands or the tribe, it directs cases to federal courts under specific U.S. Code provisions, while explicitly preserving the tribe's sovereign immunity from lawsuits without consent. The law directly affects the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, Utah state courts, and federal courts handling tribal land-related civil cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires timeshare companies to provide buyers with a clear, single-document breakdown of all upfront and ongoing costs (including fees that may change) before finalizing a sale. It mandates disclosure of termination options and a 14-day cancellation period without penalty. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce these requirements as part of its authority over unfair or deceptive practices. The law directly affects timeshare buyers by increasing transparency and timeshare companies by setting new disclosure standards for sales agreements.

Maddy summaryS 3513, the "Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act of 2025," imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign entities (including companies and individuals) involved in purchasing or facilitating the import of Russian oil or petroleum products after a 90-day delay from enactment. The sanctions block all U.S. financial transactions with these entities, though the bill includes four exception frameworks: countries reducing Russian oil purchases, payments for Ukraine support, countries providing military/economic aid to Ukraine, and limited temporary port-specific exemptions. Exceptions require annual congressional certifications and strict fund usage rules (e.g., Ukraine aid funds must support defense or humanitarian needs). The sanctions expire 5 years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, providing federal grants to States, Indian Tribes, and qualified nonprofits to prevent drowning and drain entrapment. It requires grant recipients to spend at least 25% of funds on hiring/training personnel for pool safety enforcement and drain cover inspections, with the remainder for public education on pool safety. The program allocates $2.5 million annually (2026-2030) for grants and a national awareness campaign, prioritizing areas with higher drowning rates and underserved communities. Recipients must report on fund usage, outcomes, and barriers. The law defines "nonprofit" as 501(c)(3) organizations with proven pool safety experience.

Maddy summaryS 3407, the Western Refined Fuel Reserve Act of 2025, creates a new reserve within the Strategic Petroleum Reserve specifically for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in designated salt cavern storage facilities across eight Western States (Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington). The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to establish this reserve within six months, filling it to minimum levels of 5 million barrels of gasoline, 3 million barrels of diesel, and 2 million barrels of jet fuel over five years. The reserve can be drawn down during emergencies or supply disruptions to address vulnerabilities in the Western U.S., with annual reports to Congress detailing operations and recommendations. It prioritizes locations near existing distribution systems and areas most dependent on imported fuels, using existing funding streams for acquisition and maintenance.

Maddy summaryS 3400, the Ally’s Act, requires most private health insurance plans and group health plans to cover hearing implants and related services for eligible individuals. It mandates coverage for cochlear implants, bone conduction devices, maintenance, repairs, upgrades every five years, hearing assessments, pre- and post-surgery care, and aural rehabilitation. Insurers cannot impose stricter cost-sharing or treatment limits for these services than for other medical care, and cannot deny coverage based on medical necessity determinations by a physician or audiologist. The law applies to plans covering individuals with hearing loss (including unilateral or bilateral) who meet medical criteria, effective for plan years starting January 1, 2026.