Rep. Jason DeWitt

Maddy summaryHB 802 allows landowners to use dogs to retrieve deer that have been mortally wounded on their private property. The bill clarifies that this permission applies only to private land and specifies that the dogs must be used to recover the animal rather than to hunt it. By adding specific wording, the legislation ensures that the use of dogs is strictly limited to the recovery of already wounded game on the owner's land.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automobile insurance companies in Louisiana to offer a 25% discount on liability premiums to active-duty military members, reservists, and National Guard personnel based in the state. To help cover the cost of these discounts, insurers receive a tax credit equal to the amount of the discount they provide, with any unused credit refunded without interest. The state insurance commissioner must create specific rules to define which military personnel qualify and to establish the process for verifying eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the retail sale of nitrous oxide, a gas commonly used in whipped cream dispensers but also used recreationally. It directly affects businesses that sell consumer goods, requiring them to stop selling the gas at retail locations. The law establishes enforcement mechanisms through the office of alcohol and tobacco control to ensure compliance. By banning retail sales, the legislation aims to reduce the availability of the substance in stores without addressing other potential sources of supply.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Louisiana State Forester to create a training program focused on post-traumatic stress and emotional support for wildland firefighters. The legislation aims to help these workers manage the psychological stress associated with their demanding jobs by establishing an educational initiative. It does not allocate specific funding but rather mandates the state forester to develop this support system as part of their duties. The law applies specifically to individuals who fight wildfires and does not extend to other types of emergency responders.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the language in a previous law to clarify that jurors can donate their daily jury duty pay to the Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization. The changes correct minor wording errors by replacing "the" with "their" and updating a section reference from "Paragraph (A)" to "Subsection A." These adjustments ensure the existing rule allowing jurors to give their compensation to CASA is clearly written without altering the policy itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames two specific sections of state highways in Louisiana to honor two individuals. It designates a part of Highway 175 in Mansfield as the "Jerius Marshall Highway" and a segment of Highway 133 in Start as the "Luke Letlow Memorial Highway." The legislation applies only to the named road sections within their respective parishes and does not alter any traffic laws or funding. By changing the official names of these roads, the bill serves as a commemorative measure rather than introducing new operational rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes computer science a mandatory subject for high school graduation in states that require two units of foreign language study. It achieves this by amending existing graduation requirements to list computer science as an option alongside specific foreign language courses like Spanish. Additionally, the legislation mandates that teacher preparation programs include training on how to teach computer science. These changes directly impact high school students, their graduation plans, and the professional development of future educators.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the text of a law regarding mandatory reporting of child abuse by changing the word "Section" to "Article" in two specific places. These changes do not alter the actual requirements for who must report suspected abuse or how reports are handled. The legislative action is purely a technical correction to the document's structure rather than a new policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for joining insurance companies as defendants in civil lawsuits, primarily affecting plaintiffs, defendants, and liability insurers. It allows courts to add an insurer to a case after a verdict or settlement is reached to ensure the judgment can be enforced, provided the lawsuit falls within the policy's coverage limits and the insurer has not previously denied coverage. The legislation also establishes specific deadlines for insurers to formally notify insured individuals when they decide not to cover a claim or refuse to defend them in court. Additionally, it sets procedures for how insurers must communicate their decision to reserve rights regarding a claim, requiring written notice to the insured and the insured's legal counsel within a set timeframe before trial.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the requirements for real estate brokers and salespeople in Louisiana to clarify how they can regain their licenses after expiration or inactivity. It allows individuals who let their licenses lapse to reapply within a specific window without having to complete the full initial education hours again. Specifically, brokers and salespeople who renew their application by the end of the year following their expiration date can skip the standard 150-hour broker course or 90-hour salesperson course. Additionally, the law states that inactive licensees do not need to complete annual continuing education while their license is inactive, though they must finish required training before returning to active status.