Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn

Maddy summaryHB 512 prohibits the sale, manufacturing, and distribution of cell cultured food products (lab-grown meat alternatives) within Louisiana. It defines these products as cultured animal tissue grown outside the original organism and bans their sale or mixing with traditional meat products. The bill directly affects food producers, distributors, and retailers selling these products in the state. Violations could lead to penalties under Louisiana's meat inspection laws. The legislation takes effect upon enactment, pending further legislative action.

Maddy summaryHB 354 renames the Magnolia Bridge (on Louisiana Highway 64 over the Amite River between East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes) as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting this name, with costs covered by local or private funds not exceeding $750 per sign. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or services.

Maddy summaryHB 717 requires food manufacturers and retailers in Louisiana to label cell-cultured food products with a clear, bold disclosure in at least 30-point font. This directly affects producers and sellers of lab-grown meat, dairy, or seafood products. The bill mandates that the disclosure must be easily visible on product packaging or menus, without using technical terms. The goal is to ensure consumers can identify cell-cultured foods at the point of purchase, promoting transparency in food labeling.

Maddy summaryHB 672 designates brick manufacturing as a priority industry in Louisiana and requires Louisiana Economic Development to implement specific support measures. The bill directs the agency to identify suitable clay-rich sites for manufacturing, create workforce training programs, streamline regulatory approvals, and prioritize brick manufacturers for rail and port access. These provisions aim to reduce entry barriers and leverage Louisiana’s natural resources (clay deposits, infrastructure) to grow the brick manufacturing sector. The bill directly affects brick manufacturers seeking to establish or expand facilities in Louisiana, with the goal of creating local jobs and boosting the state’s economic competitiveness in building materials.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commendation resolution that formally recognizes Margaret "Mimi" Stoker for her induction into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame. It highlights her extensive career in agricultural extension, environmental education, and community service across Louisiana, including her thirty-two years with the LSU AgCenter and her work with the Natchitoches Lions Club. The resolution expresses appreciation for her decades of contributions to the state and offers well wishes for her future endeavors.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution asks the U.S. Congress to require the Department of Defense to provide exact population counts of military personnel, civilian employees, and their families directly to the Census Bureau for military bases in the contiguous United States. The bill aims to improve census accuracy by replacing door-to-door counts on secure installations with verified data already maintained by the military, which should reduce undercounts and allow census resources to focus elsewhere. By ensuring precise numbers are submitted during the decennial census, the measure seeks to support fair congressional apportionment and federal funding allocation for affected communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a resolution to establish a study committee that will examine the issue of oversized vehicle permits and their impacts. The key change involves updating the list of required committee members to include the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association and the executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association. By adding these specific representatives, the bill ensures that local government leaders and forestry experts are directly involved in the upcoming review process. The legislation does not alter permit rules itself but rather sets up a formal group to investigate the matter.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana legislature to the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies to speed up research and clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It does not create new laws or change funding directly but instead asks federal officials to prioritize efforts to develop better treatments for this aggressive blood cancer. The resolution also names these proposed research efforts the "Jonas A. Feeley Act" to honor a recent victim of the disease. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture to advocate for increased federal attention on improving survival rates for patients with this condition.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for committing arson against religious buildings in Louisiana. It directly affects individuals charged with setting fire to places of worship and law enforcement officials who prosecute such cases. The law establishes minimum prison sentences of two years without parole for simple arson, with a maximum of 30 years, and sets higher penalties of 12 to 30 years without parole if the fire causes injury or death. These provisions apply to anyone convicted of the crime under the amended state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update science and health education standards to include the science of human growth and development, specifically covering prenatal growth and fetal development. It asks the board to provide age-appropriate instructional materials, such as high-definition ultrasound videos or computer-generated animations, on its website to support teaching these topics. The resolution also requires the board to submit a written report to state education committees by March 1, 2027, detailing any actions taken in response to these requests. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that urges the board to consider these changes rather than mandating them.