Rep. Adrian Fisher

Maddy summarySB 178 establishes a School Employee Bill of Rights document for all school employees in the state. It creates a formal framework outlining workplace rights and protections, directly affecting teachers, support staff, and other school personnel. The bill passed the Senate unanimously (36-1) and is now moving to the House for consideration. This is a procedural bill focused on defining employee rights through documentation, not implementing new operational policies.

Maddy summarySB 26 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to create and provide type 1 diabetes informational materials to the state Department of Education. These materials, which include descriptions of type 1 diabetes, risk factors, warning signs, and recommendations for blood autoantibody screening, must be distributed by school boards to parents and legal guardians of prekindergarten through secondary students at enrollment and annually. The bill mandates that schools share this information via website posting or electronic distribution, focusing on early detection and treatment guidance. It directly affects Louisiana public school students, their families, and school boards by standardizing diabetes awareness in educational settings. The legislation does not fund treatment or alter healthcare access but aims to inform families about critical diabetes indicators.

Maddy summarySB 202 (as described in its title) proposes transferring the University of New Orleans to the Louisiana State University System. However, the provided bill text only shows a technical amendment correcting a reference within existing law (changing "Subsection (C)(2)" to "R.S. 17:3230.1(C)(2)"), not the substantive transfer itself. This appears to be a procedural amendment related to the transfer process, not a new policy. The bill is currently in committee (Education) after recent amendments and is awaiting further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 640 creates the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction within the state Department of Transportation. The bill grants this new office authority to use emergency procurement procedures for highway projects until January 1, 2026, mirroring existing rules for the broader transportation department. This directly affects state transportation operations by establishing a dedicated unit with specific buying powers for highway construction needs. The bill focuses on administrative structure and procurement processes, not on changing road standards or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 559 updates appointment requirements for members of human services districts and boards. It requires appointees to both live in the district they serve and be registered voters in that district for at least one year prior to appointment. These changes apply specifically to individuals seeking board positions within human services districts. The bill modifies existing eligibility rules without altering service delivery or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 622 creates an advisory board within Louisiana's Department of Insurance to review and recommend approval for new treatments for rare cancers, replacing the original focus on histotripsy coverage. The bill establishes a 14-member board including the insurance commissioner, health department officials, cancer research center directors, and two oncologists specializing in rare cancers. Key provisions require the board to hold quarterly public meetings, submit annual reports to the legislature, and allow the insurance commissioner to create implementing rules. This affects health insurers by mandating their review of new rare cancer treatments through this board, rather than directly requiring coverage for specific procedures. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 496 modifies auto insurance requirements to allow drivers a temporary gap in coverage of up to 90 days without penalty. It directly affects vehicle owners who may experience brief lapses in insurance payments, such as due to payment delays or administrative errors. The bill amends existing law to specify that coverage lapses exceeding 90 days remain subject to standard penalties. The law would take effect on January 1, 2026, or later if vetoed and overridden. This change provides limited flexibility for short-term coverage interruptions while maintaining the core requirement for continuous insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 535 requires the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to evaluate state tax incentive programs administered by state agencies. This bill directly affects state agencies that manage tax breaks for businesses or individuals, such as economic development or job creation programs. The key mechanism is repealing two existing statutes (R.S. 47:1517.1 and R.S. 51:935.1) to enable this new evaluation process. The bill aims to assess the effectiveness and cost of these tax incentives, with no specific changes to the programs themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 126 modifies how Louisiana calculates state funding for parish councils on aging, increasing the minimum annual appropriation by $3.5 million to the Office of Elderly Affairs. This change directly affects local parish councils that provide services for seniors, ensuring they receive a higher guaranteed minimum funding level each year. The bill updates the funding formula to reflect this increased baseline amount, which must be included in the state budget. The policy change is a concrete financial adjustment to support aging services programs across Louisiana parishes.

Maddy summaryHB 533 establishes a tax credit for businesses that hire apprentices, interns, or youth workers, directly benefiting employers in these sectors. The bill sets an annual credit cap starting at $1 million for 2026, increasing by $1 million each year (up to $7.5 million total) if 80% of the prior year’s cap is used. Businesses must apply by February 28 each year for credits earned the previous year, with approvals based on a first-come, first-served system that may involve proportional allocation if demand exceeds available funds. The credit is expected to cost approximately $1.1 million in state funds annually.