Rep. Chris Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana law to give public postsecondary education institutions more flexibility in setting and adjusting tuition and mandatory fees. It allows schools to charge different rates for specific high-cost programs and limits annual tuition increases to 10% over any two-year period while permitting fee reductions without restriction. Institutions must provide clear notice of any price changes before they take effect and must establish financial hardship waiver criteria for affected students. Additionally, schools are required to submit annual reports to state committees on how they are implementing these tuition and fee policies.

Maddy summaryHB 707 updates Louisiana's Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission rules to redirect assessment fees toward promoting propane use through advertising, trade shows, and consumer rebates for propane appliances. It requires the commission to form an advisory board with nine industry representatives (including specific permit holders) to advise on fund allocation. The board must meet publicly and can hold virtual sessions, with members serving without pay. The bill also allows the commission to partner with the Department of Agriculture for market development efforts. Currently pending in committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases survivor benefits for families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who die while performing their official duties. It establishes a base payment of $350,000 to the surviving spouse, or to the children or estate if no spouse exists, with an additional $50,000 for each dependent child. The law requires officers and firefighters to complete beneficiary designation forms and specifies that payments come from the state's Self-Insurance Fund. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to deaths resulting from injuries sustained while protecting life and property during official activities.

Maddy summarySB 387 amends Louisiana law to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), directly affecting PBMs, local pharmacies, health insurers, and patients. It establishes new definitions (like "Maximum Allowable Cost List" and "Effective rate pricing"), requires PBMs to provide transparent compensation and services to enrollees and providers, and creates a private right to sue for violations. The bill also mandates audits of PBM practices, sets penalties for noncompliance, and repeals outdated provisions. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability in how PBMs handle prescription drug pricing and reimbursements within Louisiana.

Maddy summaryHB 870 requires Louisiana health insurance issuers to immediately place cheaper generic drugs and biosimilars on more favorable formulary tiers (with lower out-of-pocket costs) when their wholesale acquisition cost is lower than the brand-name reference drug or product. Specifically, if a generic drug costs less than its brand-name equivalent at launch, insurers must cover it with better cost-sharing and cannot impose prior authorization, step therapy, or pharmacy restrictions that make it harder to access than the brand. The same rules apply to biosimilars that are cheaper than their reference biological products. This directly affects health insurance plans and enrollees seeking coverage for these cost-effective alternatives. The bill aims to reduce patient costs by mandating insurer action when cheaper, equivalent options become available.

Maddy summaryHB 401 designates the elevated section of U.S. Highway 190 over the Bogue Falaya River in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, as the "Corporal Justin D. McLeese Memorial Bridge" to honor a military corporal. The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting this name, using local or private funds to cover costs up to $2,250 per sign. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no substantive policy changes, solely commemorating an individual through a public infrastructure designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana laws governing electronic monitoring programs for individuals under court supervision, primarily affecting adults and juveniles subject to such monitoring. It clarifies that monitored individuals must pay for their own monitoring costs, though courts can waive these fees for juveniles or other cases at the request of the responsible party. The legislation establishes specific requirements for monitored persons, such as maintaining equipment in working order and cooperating with technical evaluations, while also defining how service providers must report violations and handle nonpayment. Courts are given authority to issue arrest warrants for noncompliance or unpaid fees, and the bill provides procedures for handling delinquent payments, including options for payment plans if the monitored person is indigent.

Maddy summaryHB 807 establishes a special fund within Louisiana's state treasury to support the Community and Technical College System's workforce training programs. It directly affects community colleges and private-sector employers in high-demand industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology by providing funding to hire more instructors and expand training capacity. Key provisions include using the fund for rapid-response instructor deployment, recruitment incentives, temporary instructors, and salary supplements - while prohibiting these funds from replacing existing state higher education funding. The program requires annual reporting to legislative committees on fund usage, supported industries, and credentials awarded.

Maddy summaryHB 755 establishes a new contracting method for Louisiana state agencies to hire professional design firms (like architects and engineers) for ongoing projects. It creates "master contracts" allowing agencies to issue multiple task orders for specific design work under a single agreement, with a maximum total fee of $1 million and a 2-year term. The bill requires agencies to follow specific selection procedures through professional boards, maintain at least two active contracts at all times, and prohibits using this system for new building designs. This directly affects state agencies needing design services and professional firms seeking state work, streamlining procurement while setting clear financial and procedural limits.

Maddy summaryHB 250 modifies Louisiana's ethics disclosure rules for board and commission members. It exempts immediate family members from reporting financial obligations like loans from them, unless the family member is a lobbyist or has a state contract. Board members must now certify that neither they nor their immediate family have conflicts of interest affecting their duties. This bill directly affects appointed board members and their families by changing financial disclosure requirements.