Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn

Maddy summaryHB 498 gives Beauregard Parish's governing authority (the Police Jury) the power to ban carbon dioxide sequestration projects and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide within the parish through a local resolution or ordinance. The bill requires the parish to notify the state Department of Conservation and Energy of any such ban, which would override state permits or approvals for these projects. It directly affects Beauregard Parish residents, landowners, and potential energy developers by allowing local control over these specific infrastructure projects. The law is limited to Beauregard Parish and does not apply to other parishes in Louisiana.

Maddy summaryHB 497 gives Vernon Parish’s governing authority (the Police Jury) the power to prohibit carbon dioxide sequestration projects, carbon dioxide storage wells, and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide within the parish. It allows the parish to ban these projects through a local resolution, overriding any state permits or approvals that conflict with the parish’s decision. The bill requires the parish to notify the state Department of Conservation and Energy of its prohibition, which becomes effective immediately upon adoption. This directly affects residents and businesses in Vernon Parish, as well as companies seeking to build or operate CO2 infrastructure there.

Maddy summaryHB 504 authorizes Sabine Parish's governing authority (the Police Jury) to prohibit Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells, carbon dioxide sequestration projects, and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide within the parish. The bill gives Sabine Parish the power to block these projects through a local resolution or ordinance, overriding state permitting authority. It requires the parish to notify the state Department of Conservation and Energy of any prohibition and ensures such local decisions supersede conflicting state permits or approvals. This directly affects residents and developers in Sabine Parish by allowing the parish to decide whether carbon dioxide infrastructure can be built there.

Maddy summaryHB 5 gives Louisiana parishes the authority to decide whether carbon dioxide storage wells, carbon dioxide sequestration projects, and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide may operate within their borders. Parishes can either pass a local resolution banning these activities or hold a parish-wide election (triggered by a 15% voter petition) where a majority vote determines approval or prohibition. The bill requires the state Department of Conservation and Energy to comply with these local decisions, overriding any existing state permits or approvals. This directly affects parish governments and residents, shifting permitting authority from the state to local communities for these specific energy infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHB 68 adds a specific offense to Louisiana's disturbing the peace law, prohibiting the interruption of worship services or religious ceremonies at churches or other places of worship. The bill defines this conduct as disturbing the peace, with penalties including fines up to $500, imprisonment up to six months, or both, and requires at least 15 days of the sentence to be served without probation. This law directly affects individuals who disrupt religious gatherings, making such interruptions a criminal offense. The bill does not change existing penalties for other disturbing the peace violations but specifically targets disruptions at religious sites.

Maddy summaryHB 102 creates a new criminal offense for "second degree cruelty to elderly and persons with infirmities," targeting intentional or negligent mistreatment causing serious injury to vulnerable individuals. It directly affects caregivers - including family members, neighbors, nursing homes, and care facilities - and applies to elderly people (60+), those with disabilities, or individuals in residential care settings. Key provisions define the crime, set penalties of up to 40 years in prison (with a mandatory minimum of 5 years if death occurs), and include an affirmative defense for spiritual healing methods. The bill also designates this offense as a "crime of violence" under Louisiana law, impacting sentencing in related cases.

Maddy summaryHB 294 allows houses of worship (like churches, mosques, and synagogues) to request that disruptive or trespassing individuals leave their premises. If such individuals refuse, authorized staff or security may use reasonable force to remove them, consistent with existing self-defense laws. The law protects these individuals and the religious organization from legal liability when using force that is necessary and proportional to the disruption. This directly affects places of worship and their staff by clarifying their legal authority to maintain order during services or religious activities.

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 summaryHB 613 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections (Motor Vehicles office) to add an eagle symbol on driver's licenses and state ID cards for applicants whose U.S. citizenship has been verified. This applies only to verified citizens and does not change eligibility for licenses. The bill mandates that the eagle symbol be included on all new cards or during future system upgrades if current technology cannot accommodate it. It also requires the agency to create rules for the symbol's design and placement. The bill does not affect non-citizens or change citizenship verification processes.

Maddy summaryHB 360 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 41 in Pearl River (from Lock 1 Road to LA 36) as the "Sgt. Michael J. Guillory Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation, provided local or private funds cover the costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting only the named highway segment and its signage. The bill focuses solely on honoring Sgt. Michael J. Guillory through a permanent road designation.