Empire approval (not system approval) shows that it should be giving buffs to Dust Income and Science of 15% (Happy) and 30% (Ecstatic). Currently, although it shows it should be giving those buffs, it is giving nothing.

This can be replicated by starting a fresh game as the Sophons and enacting the Tax Act and then the Toys for Boys law. Dust production will be 14 and science will be 35 after the Tax Act, and they SHOULD go to 16 (14 * 1.15 = 16.1) and 36 (35 * .9 * 1.15 = 36.225) after Toys for Boys raises happiness to 70%, but instead dust doesn't move, and science goes down to 32 (35 * .9 = 31.5).

This should be a huge reward for maintaining a happy empire, but instead you are only getting the food and influence bonus for system happiness (which functions fine), and not the bonus for Empire approval at all.