Rep. Steven Jackson

Maddy summaryHB 357 requires health insurance plans to cover integrative cancer treatments like acupuncture, directly affecting cancer patients seeking these services and health insurance issuers. The bill limits coverage for acupuncture treatment during active cancer care to fifteen visits per year, unless additional treatments are recommended by nationally recognized cancer guidelines and the treating physician. It also modifies prior authorization requirements by adding "prior authorization" to the list of coverage conditions. This bill is currently under review by the Committee on Appropriations after passing the Insurance Committee with amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 542 modifies how Louisiana casino operators calculate taxable revenue by adding a specific $5 million annual deduction for "promotional play wagers" (free or discounted gaming offers to customers). This directly affects licensed casino operators, allowing them to reduce their taxable "net gaming proceeds," "gross revenue," and "net slot machine proceeds" by this deduction amount. The bill also permits operators to transfer unused portions of this deduction to other licensed operators, provided they report the assignment to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. This change simplifies tax calculations for promotional activities without altering overall tax rates.

Maddy summaryHB 160 amends ethics complaint procedures to require that complaints must include matters identified in legally required reports submitted to the ethics board by government agencies or officials. This directly affects government agencies, officials, and ethics boards by clarifying the scope of issues that can be raised in formal ethics complaints. The key provision specifies that complaints must reference matters already documented in agency reports, streamlining the process for handling ethics concerns. The bill passed committee and advanced to third reading in May 2025.

Maddy summarySB 98 increases penalties for the retail sale of nitrous oxide, a substance sometimes misused recreationally. It requires retail sellers to be at least 21 years old (amending existing age requirements) while removing the age limit for medical practitioners selling it. The bill directly affects businesses selling nitrous oxide for non-medical purposes, such as whipped cream chargers, by imposing stricter age verification and higher fines for violations. The bill passed the Senate unanimously (37-0) and now moves to the House for consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 260 is a procedural bill that names itself "The Segus Jolivette Act" and adjusts section numbering within the legislation. It does not change any substantive homicide laws or affect specific individuals or policies. The bill’s sole provisions are administrative: naming the act after Segus Jolivette (a person likely recognized for contributions to criminal justice) and correcting section numbering. This is a commemorative measure with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summarySB 156, titled "HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: Provides for in vitro fertilization," establishes a legal framework for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The bill directly affects individuals seeking IVF services and healthcare providers offering these treatments by creating clear regulatory standards. While the provided text shows minor editorial amendments (correcting "invitro" to "in vitro" and punctuation), the bill's core purpose is to define legal parameters for IVF, though specific provisions like patient rights or provider requirements are not detailed in the excerpt. It passed the Senate with amendments and is now moving to the House for consideration.

Maddy summarySB 99 defines "mobile speed camera" in Louisiana law to include handheld, unmanned, or portable devices that capture speeding violations via photos or video showing a vehicle's license plate. It requires that citations issued by these devices be sent by mail and prohibits imposing criminal fines or fees for such violations. The bill also explicitly states that failure to pay these citations will not be reported to credit bureaus. This law directly affects drivers cited for speeding by mobile cameras and the agencies operating them.

Maddy summaryHB 273 establishes the official state children's Christmas book, designating a specific title as a state symbol. The bill’s amendments (Amendment No. 1 and 2) corrected minor drafting errors, such as removing unnecessary "the" before "Cajun" in the text. This is a symbolic procedural bill with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on residents or state programs. It focuses solely on naming a children’s Christmas book for official recognition.

Maddy summarySB 138 requires health insurance issuers in Louisiana to provide coverage to retired employees of district attorneys' offices who were previously covered under their employer's group plan, as long as they are not yet Medicare-eligible and their office is funded by a local sales tax. It prohibits insurers from denying enrollment or discriminating against retirees compared to active employees regarding coverage. The bill does not force district attorneys' offices to offer coverage to retirees or require better terms than those provided to active staff. It specifically applies to retirees from district attorney offices meeting the outlined eligibility conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 164 modifies mallard hunting license requirements for specific hunting preserves. It adds a requirement that licenses must be for "pen-raised mallard" and clarifies that coastal zones north of Highway 90 licensed as preserves in 2024 are included. The bill directly affects commercial hunting preserves that raise mallards for hunting, changing how their licenses are categorized. It does not alter general hunting rules but specifies license types and geographic boundaries for these preserves.