Rep. Francis Thompson

Maddy summaryHB 408, known as "The Gillian Guiffreda Act," mandates that health insurance plans cover treatments for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and related conditions. This directly affects children diagnosed with PANS - a severe neurological condition causing sudden behavioral and cognitive changes - and their families, who previously faced barriers to insurance coverage for specialized care. The bill requires insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary treatments related to these conditions, without imposing additional out-of-pocket costs on patients. It focuses on ensuring access to established medical care rather than creating new treatments or programs.

Maddy summaryHB 575 amends liability provisions to allow the biological or legal father of an unborn child to sue for damages if a pregnancy is terminated unlawfully. This bill directly affects fathers who may now pursue legal action against those responsible for an unlawful pregnancy termination. The key change, reflected in the Senate amendment, expands the group eligible to file such lawsuits beyond current provisions. The bill is pending further legislative action after passing committee amendments. (Note: This summary reflects the bill's current proposed language, not enacted law.)

Maddy summaryHB 77 expands Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program by creating an "Excellence Award" for students scoring 31 or higher on the ACT or qualifying via the Classic Learning Test (CLT). This new award level directly affects high-achieving Louisiana students attending accredited independent colleges within the state. The bill specifies that eligible students enrolled at participating independent colleges will receive either the actual tuition cost (up to $8,500) or a flat $8,500 payment, whichever is lower. It modifies existing scholarship provisions to add the CLT as an alternative assessment and clarify award eligibility for students pursuing degrees at qualifying institutions.

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 297 sets spending limits for construction and renovation projects by Louisiana's Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (DCRT). It establishes two key thresholds: DCRT can spend up to $250,000 per project without including it in the state's capital budget (for general repairs), or up to $1 million annually adjusted for inflation (based on the Consumer Price Index) for larger projects. Projects under $1 million require lieutenant governor approval but do not need capital budget inclusion. The bill also restricts DCRT from incurring debt for these projects except for short-term loans under specific conditions, without using state credit.

Maddy summaryHB 562 clarifies cost rules for fire departments providing vehicle extrication services after motor vehicle accidents. It requires these costs to be "reasonable" and align with FEMA-specified equipment and service rates, while prohibiting charges for items already covered in a department's regular budget. The bill specifies that costs may be billed to either the vehicle owner or the party responsible for the accident (via negligence), but not to the fire department itself. This policy affects fire departments, accident victims, and potentially insurance or liability claims, without changing existing fire protection services. The bill is pending further legislative steps after committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 556 is a technical correction bill that updates outdated legal references in Louisiana law regarding the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). It revises specific statute citations (such as R.S. 48:23, 76(C), 92, and 94) to align with current code sections, ensuring DOTD's operational procedures reference the correct laws. This procedural bill does not change DOTD's duties, funding, or public-facing policies - it only corrects statutory language for administrative accuracy. The bill affects the DOTD's internal operations by ensuring its legal framework matches current state statutes. (Note: This is a technical amendment, not a substantive policy change.)

Maddy summaryHB 264 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug manufacturers to increase transparency around drug pricing and compensation practices. It prohibits PBMs from charging pharmacies fees for claims (Amendment 7) and mandates drug manufacturers to notify the state commissioner of significant price increases (over 15% for brand drugs or "specialty" drugs) with explanations (Amendment 16). The bill also creates a fund for enforcement (Amendment 3) and requires PBMs to notify pharmacies of payment errors and allow claim corrections (Amendment 10). These provisions directly affect pharmacies, PBMs, and drug manufacturers by altering how drug costs and rebates are disclosed and managed.

Maddy summaryHB 686 appears to be a technical amendment to lobbying disclosure requirements related to foreign adversaries, based on the bill title and amendment details. The bill primarily corrects references in existing law, such as changing "Part 7.4" to "Part 791.4" in federal regulations and updating bill numbers from "24:53.1" to "24:51." It does not introduce new policy requirements but adjusts existing statutory language for accuracy. This bill directly affects lobbying entities required to disclose foreign adversary connections under current law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, scheduled for floor debate.

Maddy summaryHB 378 lowers the required ACT score for students completing approved home study programs to qualify for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award. It directly affects students in home study programs who previously needed a higher ACT score for initial TOPS eligibility. The bill amends the program's eligibility criteria by reducing the minimum ACT score threshold for this specific group. The change adjusts the policy without altering the program's core structure or funding amounts.