This bill is a Senate resolution expressing condolences to the family of Kathleen 'Kathy' Sessums, a Louisiana state employee who passed away in April 2026. It honors her life and career, noting her 46-year tenure in public service where she led major improvements to state financial and administrative systems. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions and directs a copy of the document to her family as a gesture of respect.
Senate Resolution 134 formally commends Isaac Herzenberg, a student-athlete from Metairie Park Country Day School, for winning his fourth consecutive Class 2A state track and field championship in the javelin. The resolution recognizes his athletic achievements, including a state-record throw of 186 feet at the 2026 meet and his commitment to training, and notes his upcoming collegiate career at the University of Nebraska. This legislative action is a ceremonial gesture intended to honor his success and bring pride to his school and community, rather than establishing new laws or policies.
This Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana State Law Institute to study whether notaries can acknowledge private documents via video call as a distinct process from remote online notarization. The study would focus on creating rules that allow this method for specific documents, such as those signed privately, while excluding important legal papers like wills and trusts that currently cannot be notarized remotely. Key proposed safeguards include requiring the signer and two witnesses to appear simultaneously on video, ensuring the notary knows the signer personally or can verify their identity, and keeping a record of the original document. The Institute is instructed to report its findings and any legislative recommendations to the state legislature by March 1, 2027.
Senate Resolution 142 formally commends Braxton Whitesell, a resident of Walker, Louisiana, for winning the reserve champion title at the 2026 Hondo Rodeo Fest in New Orleans. The resolution highlights his extensive achievements in both high school and professional rodeo competitions as a way to recognize his accomplishments. This document serves as an official acknowledgment of his success and directs that a copy be sent to him.
This bill asks the Louisiana Economic Development agency to conduct a comprehensive study of the various government groups managing the Mississippi Riverfront and nearby areas in New Orleans. The study will map out who these groups are, what powers they hold, how they are funded, and how well they work together to maintain public spaces and support local growth. By reviewing these details, the agency will provide recommendations to improve coordination, ensure transparency, and clarify responsibilities among the different entities involved. The final report is scheduled to be submitted to the state legislature by February 1, 2027.
This bill is a commendation resolution that formally recognizes Dewain Strother for his induction into the 2026 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. It directly affects Strother by having the state legislature acknowledge his nearly five-decade career as a teacher, coach, and educational leader in Sabine Parish. The resolution highlights his achievements, including founding the girls' basketball program at Florien High School and compiling over 1,200 wins, but does not create new laws or change any policies. The only concrete action required is for the legislature to send a copy of the resolution to Strother as a record of the honor.
This resolution requests the Louisiana state retirement systems to review their investment portfolios for any holdings in companies controlled by the Chinese government or its military. The bill directs these systems to identify such investments, assess the associated risks, and create a plan to sell them off in a careful and orderly way. Trustees must also establish rules to prevent future investments in Chinese-linked entities and submit a detailed report to the Senate by December 1, 2026, listing the specific assets, their values, and the percentage of each portfolio they represent.
Senate Resolution 137 is a commemorative measure that formally acknowledges the historical importance of U.S. Highway 80 in Louisiana. The resolution highlights the highway's role as an early transcontinental route that boosted commerce, tourism, and cultural development in communities like Shreveport and Ruston. It specifically notes the road's connection to the Louisiana Hayride and its designation as a scenic byway with preserved roadside architecture. This bill does not change any laws or policies; instead, it serves to celebrate the approaching 100th anniversary of the highway's original designation in 1926.
This bill asks state agencies and law enforcement groups to report on how they are using opioid settlement funds for treatment and prevention programs in correctional facilities. It also requests that the Opioid Abatement Task Force and the Attorney General provide clearer guidance on which expenses are allowed under these funds. The measure aims to address concerns raised in a recent audit that many local areas have not spent their allocated money due to confusion about rules and a lack of available programs. By gathering this information, the state hopes to ensure that the millions of dollars received from opioid lawsuits are used effectively to help incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.
This bill amends a resolution to establish a study committee that will examine the issue of oversized vehicle permits and their impacts. The key change involves updating the list of required committee members to include the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association and the executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association. By adding these specific representatives, the bill ensures that local government leaders and forestry experts are directly involved in the upcoming review process. The legislation does not alter permit rules itself but rather sets up a formal group to investigate the matter.
This resolution directs Louisiana's Board of Regents to conduct a rigorous, peer-reviewed study on how mixing carbon dioxide from industrial sources and direct air capture could impact the state's water supply and ecology. The study must analyze risks such as groundwater contamination and rock interactions using real data from current well permits rather than hypothetical scenarios. It also requires evaluating whether existing regulations are sufficient to protect the environment and offering specific recommendations for improvement if gaps are found. The Board of Regents must submit an initial report by January 2027, an interim analysis by June 2027, and a final comprehensive report by June 2028 to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
This bill asks the Federal Emergency Management Agency to update how often it reviews flood maps in Louisiana. It specifically urges FEMA to consider the state's recent investments in levees and other flood protection measures when calculating flood risks under its new Risk Rating 2.0 system. The goal is to ensure that these improvements are recognized, which could lead to fairer flood insurance rates for residents and businesses in the area.
