Rep. Travis Johnson

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Louisiana House of Representatives' condolences for the death of Derek Scott, the son of State Representative Rhonda Gaye Butler. It acknowledges Scott's life at St. Mary's Training School and his impact on his family and community. The document serves as a formal tribute rather than establishing new policy or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses condolences for the death of Joe R. Salter, a former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and officially recognizes his contributions to the state. It acknowledges his long public service career, including his role as Speaker during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, and his subsequent work in various state government positions. The document records his notable accomplishments for posterity and extends appreciation to his family and the Louisiana community he served.

Maddy summaryHB 72 modifies existing gaming election procedures to apply exclusively to Concordia Parish. It replaces all references to "parishes" or "each parish" in the law with "Concordia Parish," meaning only residents of Concordia Parish would be eligible to hold a local election on permitting gaming. The bill does not create new gaming rules but adjusts the current process to target this specific parish. As a procedural amendment, it affects only Concordia Parish residents and has not yet advanced beyond prefiling.

Maddy summaryHB 116 creates the Northeast Louisiana Multimodal District, a new local government entity focused on developing rail infrastructure and economic growth in northeastern Louisiana. The district can enter contracts for rail facilities (including with freight carriers), create smaller subdistricts within its boundaries, and exercise powers similar to existing industrial and economic development boards. This directly affects communities within the district’s defined area by enabling coordinated infrastructure projects and economic planning. The bill establishes the district’s structure and authority without specifying funding or immediate projects.

Maddy summaryHB 113 requires Louisiana public and charter schools to recalculate the grades of students who were in ninth grade during the 2023-2024 school year, if those grades weren't originally calculated using the uniform 10-point grading scale. Schools must use the original percentage values assigned by teachers to convert those grades to the new 10-point scale. The resulting letter grades will then be used for all purposes, including updating students' cumulative grade point averages. This applies retroactively to the specified school year and affects all students enrolled in ninth grade during that time.

Maddy summarySB 365 creates Louisiana's Voting Rights Act, prohibiting political subdivisions (like parishes, municipalities, and school districts) and state agencies from implementing election policies that suppress voting or dilute the voting power of protected classes (defined as racial, ethnic, or language minorities). The bill establishes the Louisiana Voting Rights Commission to enforce these prohibitions, requiring election policies to avoid creating disparities in voter access or participation for minority groups. Key provisions include banning policies that intentionally or unintentionally reduce minority voters' ability to participate or elect preferred candidates, with exceptions only if a policy is necessary for a compelling government interest and no less discriminatory alternative exists. The law applies to all election-related actions, from registration to ballot counting, and sets clear standards for evaluating potential violations.

Maddy summaryHB 486 requires Louisiana public schools to offer mental health assessments to certain students. It defines which mental health professionals can conduct these assessments, including licensed mental health providers (like psychologists or counselors) and behavioral health service providers licensed by the state. Schools must use providers from these categories and can find current provider lists through licensing boards or the state Department of Health website. The bill focuses on creating clear pathways for schools to access qualified mental health professionals, directly affecting public schools and the students they serve.

Maddy summarySB 27 modifies tax credit rules for donations to school tuition organizations. It directly affects students attending nonpublic schools who receive scholarships from these organizations, their families, and donors seeking tax benefits. The bill adds a key provision: total financial assistance (including tuition organization scholarships and other public funding) for a student at a nonpublic school cannot exceed the actual tuition and fees. It also requires the Department of Education to verify this limit for each student.

Maddy summarySB 42 is a technical amendment to clarify which state office oversees perinatal behavioral health treatment services. It corrects the reference from "office of group benefits" to the properly capitalized "Office of Group Benefits" in the bill text. This change affects administrative processes within the state's health care system but does not alter eligibility, funding, or patient access to perinatal mental health services. The bill focuses solely on updating terminology for clarity in existing policy language.

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.