Rep. Adrian Fisher

Maddy summaryHB 58 appropriates $10,000 from Louisiana's state general fund for fiscal year 2024-2025 to pay a court-ordered settlement. The funds cover principal, interest, court costs, and expert fees from a specific 2023 consent judgment between the state (via the Department of Transportation and Development) and MLA Logging, LLC, related to two consolidated insurance cases. This bill directly affects the state treasury by authorizing payment for a finalized legal obligation. It does not create new laws but provides the necessary funding mechanism for an existing court ruling.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Louisiana's Fourth Judicial District's district attorney to directly contribute funds from pretrial diversion programs to the criminal court fund instead of the judicial expense fund. It specifically affects the Fourth Judicial District Court's funding mechanisms by redirecting existing program revenues. The bill creates a new provision (R.S. 15:571.11(P)) to authorize this fund transfer, without altering eligibility for diversion programs or creating new requirements. It is a procedural change to fund allocation within the Fourth Judicial District.

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 summaryHB 888 is a procedural amendment that removes the word "authorities" from a specific line in the Social Work Licensure Compact legislation. This change does not alter the actual rules or requirements for social workers but serves as a minor text correction within the bill. The amendment affects the legislative record of the compact, which governs how social workers can practice across state lines, but it does not create new obligations or rights for practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing laws regarding pharmaceutical reimbursements to apply only to contracted pharmacists or pharmacies that do not own more than five shares or a five percent interest in a pharmaceutical wholesale group purchasing organization or vendor. The key provision restricts the scope of the reimbursement rules to ensure they target independent pharmacies rather than those with significant ownership stakes in drug supply chains. By adding this specific limitation, the legislation clarifies which entities must comply with the current reimbursement requirements without changing the underlying financial mechanisms.

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 amends the Louisiana law regarding residential contractor fraud to strengthen penalties and restitution requirements for offenders. It mandates that anyone convicted of this crime must pay full restitution to victims, covering both the cost of repairing fraudulent work and completing unfinished projects. Additionally, the legislation imposes a mandatory prison sentence of up to five years for cases where the victim is sixty-five years of age or older. These changes aim to provide greater financial recovery for victims and ensure stricter consequences for those who commit fraud against senior homeowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous authorization allowing the city of Monroe to take private property through a declaration process. The key change explicitly excludes all public electrical utility infrastructure, whether movable or fixed, from the property that can be expropriated. This means the city cannot seize power lines or other utility equipment located on the land it intends to acquire. The legislation directly affects the city's ability to expand or manage its land holdings while protecting essential utility assets.

Maddy summaryHB 644 allows students enrolled in home study programs to join public school activities. The bill removes a specific word from the text to ensure these students can apply for extracurricular programs without unnecessary barriers. This change directly affects families choosing home education by giving their children access to the same school events as traditional students. The legislation focuses on expanding participation opportunities rather than altering the core requirements of home study programs.