Rep. Neil Riser

Maddy summaryHB 720 clarifies that when a Louisiana parish or municipality maintains a road for four years or more, it becomes a public road automatically, without needing formal agreement. This means the road and its right-of-way cannot be sold by neighboring landowners, and public improvements like sidewalks built on it remain publicly accessible. If the government later decides to return such a road to its original owner, it must send written notice with a 90-day response period. The law applies retroactively to all roads meeting these conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires anyone conducting excavation or demolition that damages underground utility lines to immediately report the damage to both the utility owner/operator and Louisiana's regional notification center. This applies directly to construction crews, excavators, and demolition companies operating in Louisiana. The bill mandates reporting the location and nature of damage, allowing utility owners time to repair before work continues, and requires the notification center to alert all potentially affected utilities. The law aims to improve safety and reduce service disruptions by ensuring prompt communication when underground infrastructure is damaged.

Maddy summaryHB 858 exempts GPS location data collected by Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on individual wildlife and aquatic animals from public records disclosure. The bill amends state law to explicitly exclude this specific data from being released under public records requests. This directly affects the department's ability to share such data with the public, while protecting the precise locations of individual animals from potential misuse. The key provision prevents the release of GPS information that could reveal where specific animals are located.

Maddy summaryHB 851 prohibits intentional releases of 12 or more balloons at a single event, imposing fines similar to other littering violations. It specifically exempts balloon releases by people under 17, biodegradable balloons, indoor releases, scientific/weather balloons (by agencies/institutions), and balloons with tracking devices. The law applies to event organizers planning such releases but does not affect typical balloon use or accidental releases. This amendment to Louisiana's littering statute clarifies penalties for mass balloon releases while allowing for common exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Louisiana Highway 526 as the "Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway" to honor an individual. The legislation achieves this by officially adding the name "Hayden" to the existing title of the roadway in the state's legal records. It directly affects the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, which will use the new designation for official signage and mapping. The bill contains no changes to traffic laws, funding, or road construction requirements, serving solely as a commemorative measure.

Maddy summarySB 103 names a section of U.S. Highway 425 in Wisner, Louisiana (from the northern to southern city limits in Franklin Parish) as "Gladys Edwards Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs for this designation, but only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation - capped at $750 per sign. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes to transportation funding or infrastructure. The bill is currently pending referral to the Transportation Committee.

Maddy summarySB 159 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 17 in Franklin Parish (from Lawson Road to Highway 4) as the "Deputy Roy Gonzales Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install signs for this designation only if local or private funds cover the costs (up to $750 per sign) for materials and installation. This is a ceremonial memorial bill with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or regulations; it solely honors Deputy Roy Gonzales through highway naming.

Maddy summarySB 182 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 425 in Franklin Parish, Louisiana (from Winnsboro's northern to southern city limits) as the "Mayor Billy Cobb Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the actual costs (up to $2,250 per sign). This is a commemorative measure honoring Mayor Billy Cobb, with no new funding or policy changes for the public. It directly affects the highway segment and the department's signage procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 631 establishes a new $100 nonresident landowner bear hunting license in Louisiana, specifically for nonresidents who own land where bear hunting occurs. This bill adds the license as a new category (subsection 9) under existing nonresident hunting license fees in state law. It directly affects nonresident landowners who wish to hunt bears on their property without purchasing a standard nonresident license. The key provision is the creation of this dedicated license type with a fixed $100 fee, streamlining the process for this specific group of hunters.

Maddy summaryHB 120 creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Improvement District in a specific area of New Orleans bounded by Iowa Street, Amazon Street, Delaware Street, Memorial Park Drive, Kansas Street, and Hudson Street. It establishes a local governing board (seven members, including homeowners association leaders and resident appointees) to manage district funds collected through an annual property fee (up to $315 per parcel) approved by voters. The district’s funds must be used exclusively for security patrols, improved lighting, signage, beautification, and other quality-of-life initiatives within its boundaries, supplementing but not replacing city police services. Property owners in the district are directly affected, as they will pay the fee and vote on its continuation. The fee requires voter approval and expires after five years unless renewed by a majority vote.