Sen. Ron Johnson

Maddy summarySRES 141 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing March 25, 2025, as the 204th anniversary of Greece's independence. It celebrates the historical and ongoing democratic partnership between Greece and the United States through historical references and current bilateral ties, including NATO membership and energy cooperation. The resolution does not create new laws, policies, or obligations; it solely expresses the Senate's formal recognition of Greece's independence day and reaffirms shared democratic values. It directly affects no individuals or groups, serving only as a ceremonial gesture to honor the U.S.-Greece relationship.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax reimbursement program for businesses that properly dye certain diesel fuel or kerosene. It requires the IRS to pay back the tax previously paid on "eligible indelibly dyed" fuel (defined as fuel with tax paid under Section 4081 but not refunded, and exempt under Section 4082(a)) when removed from a terminal. The payment applies only to fuel dyed for off-road use, preventing misuse of lower-taxed fuel. The bill amends tax code sections to include this new reimbursement process and takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill's title ("Safe Routes Act of 2025") does not align with its actual content. The bill, formally titled S 1063, actually creates a vehicle weight exemption for specific logging vehicles. It waives federal weight limits for logging vehicles transporting raw forest products (like logs or wood chips) on Interstates, but only for trips of 150 miles or less from origin to a processing facility. The exemption applies only when vehicles comply with existing state weight tolerances and configurations for such transport. This directly affects logging companies and their transportation operations within the specified distance and product parameters.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases federal funding for projects improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It allows states and localities using federal highway funds to fully cover (100%) the costs of specific projects, such as connecting existing bike/pedestrian paths or reducing risks to vulnerable road users, if they use "Proven Safety Countermeasures" for cyclists/pedestrians as defined by the Federal Highway Administration. Projects must align with state safety plans or local safety plans like Complete Streets or Vision Zero plans. The bill directly affects states and local governments managing transportation infrastructure funded through federal highway programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in organ harvesting within China, as stated in its policy to address "state-sponsored organ harvesting" linked to Falun Gong persecution. Key mechanisms include requiring the President to create and update a list of sanctioned persons within 180 days, blocking their U.S. property, banning visas, and revoking existing visas for listed individuals. Exceptions cover humanitarian aid (e.g., food, medicine) and national security activities. It also mandates a report within one year on China’s organ transplant practices, including whether Falun Gong persecution constitutes an atrocity under existing law. The sanctions authority expires after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal education law to prohibit federally funded athletic programs from allowing individuals assigned male at birth to participate in sports designated for women or girls. It defines "sex" for this purpose as biological sex at birth, based on reproductive anatomy and genetics. The law directly affects schools, colleges, and sports organizations receiving federal funding. Violations would constitute a breach of Title IX, requiring programs to exclude individuals whose sex is male from women's or girls' athletic teams.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires federal agencies to repeal 10 existing rules before issuing new regulations, with major rules needing to cost no more than the repealed rules. It applies to regulations imposing costs on businesses, states, or local governments, but excludes internal agency policies or rules being made less burdensome. Agencies must report within 90 days on costly or outdated rules, and the President must submit a 5-year report on regulatory reductions. The law aims to reduce regulatory burden through mandatory rule replacement.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "sanctuary jurisdiction" as a state or local government that prohibits sharing immigration status information with federal authorities or refuses to comply with federal immigration detainers (requests to hold individuals for immigration enforcement). It makes such jurisdictions ineligible for specific federal grants, including Economic Development Administration funds and Community Development Block Grants, by requiring that grant projects be located in areas not designated as sanctuary jurisdictions. Jurisdictions found to be sanctuary jurisdictions must return any grant funds received during the period they were designated as such and cannot receive future funds until compliance is achieved. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for estates of people who die on or after the bill's enactment date, directly affecting heirs of large estates (typically valued over $13 million for 2025). It also modifies the gift tax by establishing a $10 million lifetime exemption (adjusted for inflation), replacing the current exemption amount. The bill sets new tax brackets for gifts exceeding this threshold and adjusts the calculation method for gift tax liability. These changes apply to gifts made or estates settled after the bill becomes law, with no impact on existing estate plans or transfers before enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Fair Access to Banking Act (S 401) prohibits large financial institutions ($10 billion+ in assets) and payment networks from denying services to lawful businesses based on political or reputational factors, such as the type of legal business they operate. It requires banks to justify denials using objective, risk-based standards instead of category-based decisions, and mandates written explanations for denials. The law enables lawsuits against violators with treble damages and civil penalties up to 10% of service value (capped at $10,000 per violation). It directly affects major banks, payment processors, and credit unions that serve large-scale customers, ensuring fair access for businesses operating within federal law.