Maddy summaryHR 20 is a resolution that expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Steven "Steve" Joseph Miguez. It acknowledges his life, business career, competitive shooting achievements, and family.
Maddy summaryHB 429 would expand state employment discrimination protections to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on both gender identity and sexual orientation. This bill directly affects workers and employers in the state by requiring businesses to comply with these expanded protections in hiring, promotion, and other employment practices. Key provisions include amending existing law to include "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" as protected characteristics, clarifying that discrimination based on "actual or perceived" status is prohibited. The bill's amendments primarily adjust technical wording (e.g., changing "designated" to "recorded" and refining language around "perceived" discrimination) without altering the core policy. It is currently pending in the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.
Maddy summaryHB 5 requires Louisiana public school systems to use savings from the Teachers' Retirement System to provide permanent salary increases for teachers and other school employees starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Certificated staff, such as teachers and administrators, must receive at least a $2,000 raise, while non-certificated staff, including aides and clerical workers, must receive at least $1,000. The bill mandates that these salary increases include associated retirement costs and applies to employees on specific leaves, such as military or maternity leave, provided they remain in their approved positions. If a school district does not have enough savings to cover the full amount of these raises, the remaining cost is to be funded through the state's minimum foundation program formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that charter schools participating in the state retirement system must also comply with these salary increase requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state code to update the citation for the section prohibiting certain disciplinary actions against students in elementary and secondary schools. The change corrects a reference from "17:416(B)(2)" to "17:416.1(B)(2)" to ensure the law is accurately cited in legal documents. By fixing this numbering error, the legislation helps maintain the integrity of the existing rules that govern how schools must treat student discipline. The update does not alter the actual disciplinary restrictions but ensures the legal framework is properly referenced.
Maddy summaryHB 391 amends the Louisiana statutes governing pardons by removing an option that allowed for a specific type of parole consideration. This change directly affects the legal process for granting pardons, ensuring that only one specific subsection of the law is referenced when evaluating eligibility. The bill does not create new rights or penalties but rather narrows the existing legal criteria used by officials processing pardon requests.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes violence prevention in Louisiana as a public health and safety crisis, requiring the state to address it using data-driven methods. It directs the Louisiana Department of Health to review factors contributing to violence, such as poverty, lack of education, and untreated trauma, while also examining community conditions like the safety of streets, parks, and schools. The department must then submit a report to the legislature by February 1, 2026, outlining current prevention efforts, strategies for conflict resolution, and ways to improve social determinants of safety in high-risk areas. Additionally, the bill allows the department to partner with universities and non-governmental organizations to gather information and develop recommendations for reducing violence.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the membership structure of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice by adjusting the representation for Jefferson Parish. Specifically, it changes the requirement so that one member will be selected from Jefferson Parish, while the total number of members from that parish is reduced from two to one. This amendment directly affects the commission's composition by altering how many commissioners represent that specific parish. The change is a procedural adjustment to the committee's makeup rather than a new policy initiative.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing election laws to clarify rules regarding prohibited political materials and establishes specific criminal penalties for violations. It primarily affects media organizations and online service providers by creating exceptions that protect them from liability when they host content without controlling or influencing it. The legislation also defines key terms such as "known candidate," "media entity," and "interactive computer service" to ensure clear application of these new protections. By referencing federal definitions for internet services, the bill aims to align state regulations with established national standards for online content moderation.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires local public school boards in Louisiana to mandate that school nurses complete at least one hour of training on sickle cell disease. The training must cover symptoms, treatments, and specific accommodations for students, using instructional materials developed by the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission. Additionally, the law extends this mandatory sickle cell training requirement to school nurses employed by charter schools, ensuring consistent education across different types of public schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes pharmacists in Louisiana to dispense up to a 30-day supply of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and a 28-day course of post-exposure prophylaxis to individuals aged 17 and older without a traditional prescription. It also permits pharmacists to perform rapid HIV tests or order laboratory testing for these patients, provided the testing occurs in a private, secured location within the pharmacy to ensure confidentiality. To support these changes, the state Department of Health must create specific rules outlining how pharmacists can administer these medications and tests, including requirements for discussing results with patients and coordinating with health insurance plans. An unpaid expert panel comprising health officials, physicians, pharmacists, and board representatives will assist in developing these operational guidelines.
