Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn

Maddy summaryHB 640 creates the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction within the state Department of Transportation. The bill grants this new office authority to use emergency procurement procedures for highway projects until January 1, 2026, mirroring existing rules for the broader transportation department. This directly affects state transportation operations by establishing a dedicated unit with specific buying powers for highway construction needs. The bill focuses on administrative structure and procurement processes, not on changing road standards or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 556 is a technical correction bill that updates outdated legal references in Louisiana law regarding the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). It revises specific statute citations (such as R.S. 48:23, 76(C), 92, and 94) to align with current code sections, ensuring DOTD's operational procedures reference the correct laws. This procedural bill does not change DOTD's duties, funding, or public-facing policies - it only corrects statutory language for administrative accuracy. The bill affects the DOTD's internal operations by ensuring its legal framework matches current state statutes. (Note: This is a technical amendment, not a substantive policy change.)

Maddy summaryHB 690 is a procedural bill that amends Louisiana law to include specific state boards in the process for administering Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) medical activities. It directs the Surgeon General to draft rules involving the Louisiana State Law Institute, State Board of Medical Examiners, Board of Pharmacy, and State Board of Nursing. The bill does not create new policy but clarifies which entities must be consulted when implementing EUA protocols for healthcare providers. It directly affects these four state boards by designating their role in EUA rulemaking. The bill passed the Senate with strong support (73-22) in May 2025.

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 686 appears to be a technical amendment to lobbying disclosure requirements related to foreign adversaries, based on the bill title and amendment details. The bill primarily corrects references in existing law, such as changing "Part 7.4" to "Part 791.4" in federal regulations and updating bill numbers from "24:53.1" to "24:51." It does not introduce new policy requirements but adjusts existing statutory language for accuracy. This bill directly affects lobbying entities required to disclose foreign adversary connections under current law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, scheduled for floor debate.

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 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 526 designates a state website managed by the commissioner of administration as the official journal of the state, replacing printed versions. It requires the commissioner to post specific information about state boards and commissions on this website. The bill directly affects state government operations by shifting official record-keeping and transparency efforts online. The policy change becomes effective July 1, 2027, as specified in the bill's amendment. This is a procedural change focused on digital record-keeping, not substantive policy affecting citizens.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 267) asks the U.S. Congress to increase federal funding for Louisiana sheriffs' offices in seven parishes (Claiborne, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, Webster, and Winn) that patrol the Kisatchie National Forest. It highlights that current federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding - approximately $400,000 - is insufficient to cover the costs of patrolling and responding to emergencies in the 608,487-acre forest, despite it being federally owned. The resolution requests Congress take action to provide adequate funding to support these local law enforcement efforts. It does not create new law but formally urges federal action.

Maddy summaryHR 265 is a non-binding resolution urging the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) to study ways to strengthen the state's electrical grid against electromagnetic threats, such as solar storms or man-made incidents. It does not mandate specific actions or funding but asks the LPSC to explore technology, policies, and cost recovery methods for grid hardening. The bill was passed unanimously (95-0) in the Louisiana legislature on June 10, 2025, after being amended to replace "direct" with "urge and request" to clarify its advisory nature. This resolution primarily affects the LPSC's future planning efforts, not grid operators or ratepayers directly. It focuses on policy exploration, not implementing new requirements or infrastructure changes.