Rep. Gabe Firment

Maddy summaryHB 80 expands Louisiana's definition of "first responder" to include electrical linemen during weather emergencies declared by the governor. It defines "electrical lineman" as a private-sector worker who installs, maintains, or repairs power systems, clarifying they remain private employees without state benefits. The bill specifies that electrical linemen may display "first responder" on uniforms but are not governed by state or local government. This change applies only to weather emergencies under state emergency protocols, not other incidents.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It expresses the Louisiana House of Representatives' condolences on the death of Phil Alexander Robertson, a Duck Commander founder and "Duck Dynasty" star who was a prominent figure in northeast Louisiana. The resolution honors his life, family values, faith, and economic impact through his business, highlighting his 60-year marriage to Kay and his role as a community leader. It has no effect on laws or regulations, serving solely as a symbolic gesture of respect.

Maddy summaryHB 438 prohibits Louisiana insurance companies from using "institutional advertising expenses" when calculating insurance rates. These expenses are defined as broad marketing not aimed at specific products or consumer decision-making (e.g., general brand campaigns). The bill amends insurance rate regulations to require insurers to exclude such advertising costs from their rate calculations, focusing instead on operational expenses like acquisition and field supervision. This change applies to all insurers operating in Louisiana and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 561 amends a provision in surplus lines insurance law to explicitly state that certain policy requirements apply "to a commercial insured." This change directly affects insurance companies writing surplus lines policies and commercial businesses purchasing them, clarifying that specific rules (like disclosures or coverage terms) now apply to commercial clients. The bill modifies the existing legal text by inserting "to a commercial insured" after "insurer" in the relevant section, ensuring these requirements are unambiguously directed at commercial policyholders. It does not create new rules but refines how existing provisions apply to a key category of insureds.

Maddy summaryHB 590 clarifies that U.S. election campaigns cannot accept funding from foreign sources by amending language to explicitly prohibit contributions "by a person who is not a United States citizen." The bill directly affects candidates, political committees, and election campaigns that might receive foreign funding. Its key mechanism is a technical correction to remove ambiguous phrasing ("noncitizen") and replace it with clear, accessible language defining prohibited contributors. The bill does not create new penalties but ensures existing prohibitions against foreign election funding are unambiguous. (This is a substantive policy amendment, not a procedural bill.)

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SCR 57) passed by the Louisiana State Legislature to express condolences for Steven J. Miguez, a businessman and community member from Iberia Parish, following his death on February 24, 2025. The resolution recognizes his life of service, including founding businesses like Iberia Crew Boat & Marine Service and Miguez Fuel, his competitive shooting achievements, and his family. It has no policy provisions or direct effect on laws or constituents - it solely offers legislative condolences to his family. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate (34-0) and passed through the House without amendments.

Maddy summaryHCR 24 creates a special legislative committee to study the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) and its operations. The bill specifically directs the committee to examine LHSAA's structure and impact on all Louisiana high schools, including public, private, and parochial institutions, as amended throughout the text. This is a procedural resolution (not a law) that establishes a fact-finding body, with no immediate policy changes or direct effects on schools. The committee's work will inform future legislative decisions but does not alter current athletic association rules or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 434 modifies Louisiana law to limit compensation for individuals involved in car accidents when the at-fault driver failed to maintain required auto insurance. Specifically, it adds a new provision stating that recovery limitations apply only to "general damages" (such as pain and suffering), not to other types of compensation like medical bills or lost wages. This change directly affects accident victims seeking damages from uninsured drivers, restricting the scope of recoverable losses. The bill amends Louisiana Revised Statute 32:866 to clarify this limitation in the legal framework for civil liability claims.

Maddy summaryHB 450 requires all motor vehicle insurers operating in Louisiana to reduce their bodily injury liability and property damage insurance rates by at least 2% in every service area. Insurers must file these reduced rates with the state insurance commissioner within 60 days of the bill's effective date. The rate reduction savings will apply to policyholders when they renew existing policies or purchase new coverage. This bill directly affects insurance companies and their customers by mandating a specific, uniform rate cut. The legislation does not address evidentiary rules as suggested by its title, focusing solely on insurer rate adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 436 requires auto insurers to verify proof of citizenship before issuing a motor vehicle insurance policy. This directly affects unauthorized immigrants seeking auto insurance in the state, as insurers must confirm citizenship status prior to coverage. The bill's key provision mandates this verification step, with the exception that the requirement does not apply if insurers fail to perform the check. The law aims to prevent auto insurance coverage for individuals without legal citizenship status. (Note: This is a policy change affecting insurance eligibility, not a procedural or commemorative bill.)