Rep. Steven Jackson

Maddy summaryHB 684 restricts the use of seclusion and physical restraint for students with disabilities in schools, requiring staff to first implement behavioral interventions. The bill clarifies that such interventions must address the student's behavior before restraint is considered, with a minor technical amendment correcting wording from "Behavior" to "Behavioral" in the text. This is a procedural adjustment with no new costs or policy changes, as noted by "EN NO IMPACT," and it directly affects school staff and students with disabilities in public education settings. The bill passed the House unanimously (99-0) and is now pending in the Senate.

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 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 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.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 238 creates new tax deductions for Louisiana taxpayers covering education expenses: full tuition deductions for private school (up to $6,000 per child), 50% deductions for home-schooling costs (up to $6,000 per child), and 50% deductions for certain public school expenses (up to $6,000 per child). It directly affects parents who claim children as dependents on federal tax returns and pay for qualifying education. The bill also requires child welfare agencies to annually report adoption details and foster care organization information to the tax department. All deductions are capped at $6,000 per child and tied to federal dependency claims.

Maddy summaryHB 617 updates the legal references within Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by changing titles and terminology. It replaces terms like "administrator" with "administrator assistant secretary," removes "child welfare" references, and updates them to "Louisiana Works" in multiple sections of the law. The bill has no financial or operational impact on services, as noted in the bill's "EN NO IMPACT" designation. This is purely an administrative adjustment to align legal language with current department structure and program naming.

Maddy summaryHCR 44 is a non-binding resolution urging the Louisiana State University School of Public Health to reconsider its recommended age for routine breast cancer screening. It does not change any current guidelines or mandate action; it simply asks the school to review its recommendations. The resolution is currently pending floor debate after passing committee review, but it has no legal effect on healthcare policies or patient care. This type of resolution expresses legislative opinion but does not alter medical practices.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution urges the EPA to fast-track testing and approval of a feral hog toxicant developed by LSU AgCenter. It specifically requests the EPA use an existing exemption (Limited Replicated Field Trials) to bypass the typical 10-year review process, directly affecting Louisiana agriculture which faces over $90 million in annual damages from feral hogs. The resolution does not create new law but formally asks federal agencies to expedite safety testing for a sodium nitrite-based solution to address the invasive species threat.