Rep. Vanessa LaFleur

Maddy summaryHB 833 creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force in Louisiana to study and recommend improvements to services for sexual assault survivors. The task force, composed of members from the attorney general's office, sheriffs' association, state legislators, and district attorneys, will evaluate needs like counseling, school/work accommodations, and mandatory training for schools/hospitals/law enforcement. It must submit a report with specific recommendations to the governor and legislature by February 1, 2027, after which the task force will terminate. This bill does not change existing laws but sets up a process to inform future legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 321 creates legal protections for victims of human trafficking who committed prostitution-related offenses. It establishes an affirmative defense allowing victims (both minors and adults) to avoid prosecution for crimes like prostitution (R.S. 14:82) or solicitation (R.S. 14:83) if those acts resulted directly from trafficking. The bill also presumes children engaged in prostitution are trafficking victims, exempting them from prosecution and requiring referral to specialized services for sexually exploited children. Adults determined to be trafficking victims must be notified about available support services, while children automatically qualify for existing victim assistance programs under Louisiana law.

Maddy summaryHB 584 requires Louisiana's local social services districts to provide foster children aged 14-18 with durable, reusable luggage (such as backpacks, boxes, or suitcases) instead of garbage bags when they move between foster homes. This policy change directly affects youth in foster care by ensuring their belongings are transported safely and with dignity. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of garbage bags for this purpose and defines the responsibility of social services districts to provide the required luggage. It amends Louisiana law to guarantee this specific right for older foster youth during placement transitions.

Maddy summaryHB 476 requires all public secondary schools (grades 6-12) in Louisiana to display flyers about the Safe Haven Law inside bathroom stall doors. The flyers, created by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, must summarize the law (including how children can be legally surrendered), include the department’s website URL, a QR code, contact information, and the Safe Haven Law logo. Charter schools are exempt from this requirement under Section 3996(B)(92). The bill mandates that schools obtain these flyers from the Department of Education and post them in specified locations.

Maddy summaryHB 59 requires East Baton Rouge Parish and its cities to fund specific expenses for the 19th Judicial District Court's public defender office, which serves people who cannot afford legal representation. The bill mandates that local governments cover salaries for staff (including public defenders, clerks, and investigators) and operational costs like supplies, travel, and equipment. Funding responsibility is shared proportionally between the parish and individual cities, as determined by their governing authorities. This complements existing state funding and directly affects the office's ability to provide indigent defense services in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Maddy summaryHB 1253, known as the Gracey Claire Rushing Act, updates Louisiana laws to improve how coroners document and handle human remains and internal organs. The bill requires detailed autopsy reports that include specific personal information, medical findings, and a record of any retained organs, while keeping these reports private except for law enforcement or court orders. Family members and the decedent's physician are granted the right to receive a copy of the report upon request. The legislation is named in memory of a child whose death in 2009 prompted calls for better safeguards in the treatment of remains.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the death of Dr. Erma Waddy Hines, a distinguished educator and administrator at Southern University and A&M College. The bill formally acknowledges her forty-five years of service, highlighting her leadership roles in the university's arts and humanities college and her extensive community involvement with Jack and Jill of America. Adopted on May 29, 2026, the measure serves as an official tribute to her legacy and extends sympathy to her family, former colleagues, and students.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana Senate concurrent resolution asks the U.S. Congress to ensure that all individuals linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case are fully investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable for alleged crimes such as child sex trafficking and bribery. The bill specifically targets high-profile figures mentioned in recently released documents, including Ghislaine Maxwell, and calls for their names to be disclosed and legal actions to be taken through every available process. It does not create new laws or penalties but serves as a formal request to the federal government to pursue these cases aggressively. The measure is intended to address public concerns about accountability following the initial release of unclassified files related to Epstein and Maxwell.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows jurors in Louisiana's Nineteenth Judicial District to voluntarily donate their jury duty pay to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which supports children in the court system. The legislation creates a pilot program where jurors can choose to contribute their per diem compensation to CASA during jury orientation, with the court clerk managing the collection and distribution of funds. The bill also ensures that information about participating jurors remains confidential and is not part of public records. This change applies only to the Nineteenth Judicial District and is limited to a two-year trial period.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program for a Domestic Violence Intervention Court within the Nineteenth Judicial District Court in Louisiana. The program targets defendants convicted of domestic abuse-related offenses who are assessed as at-risk of reoffending, offering them voluntary participation in a specialized court track that combines judicial supervision with treatment and accountability measures. Key provisions include mandatory batterer intervention programming using evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy, regular court appearances, compliance with individualized case plans, and access to services such as mental health screening, substance abuse referrals, and victim safety planning. The court will operate with a coordinated team including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and victim advocates, while collecting data on recidivism and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness for potential statewide expansion.