Rep. Jason DeWitt

Maddy summaryHB 268 requires Louisiana public schools to provide career exposure activities for students in grades 6-8, mandating at least six activities annually per grade level. Three of these activities must align with high-demand Louisiana jobs (via Louisiana Works), involve employer interaction, link to career pathways, or offer work-based learning. It also requires schools to provide at least one career awareness activity for K-5 students before fifth grade and document at least one activity per student in their Individualized Graduation Plan. School boards must annually certify compliance to the state Department of Education and maintain records of these activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Louisiana Highway 526 as the "Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway" to honor an individual. The legislation achieves this by officially adding the name "Hayden" to the existing title of the roadway in the state's legal records. It directly affects the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, which will use the new designation for official signage and mapping. The bill contains no changes to traffic laws, funding, or road construction requirements, serving solely as a commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 938 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana to reimburse pharmacies at the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a standard dispensing fee for all prescriptions, regardless of whether the pharmacy is independent or affiliated with the PBM. It prohibits PBMs from retaining rebates from drug manufacturers, mandating that all rebates be passed through to health plan sponsors as lower premiums, reduced patient costs, or broader coverage. The bill also limits payment errors to a 2% rate for prescription claims, establishes a formal appeal process for pharmacies disputing underpayments, and grants state regulators access to PBM data for oversight. This directly affects Louisiana pharmacies, PBMs, and health plans by standardizing payments, increasing transparency, and reducing financial disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales and use tax rebate program for purchases of equipment and materials used in aerospace facilities and activities in Louisiana. To qualify, aerospace facility owners must certify that their projects will create at least 200 new permanent jobs and invest at least $1 billion in the state between July 2026 and July 2031. The rebate applies to purchases made on or after July 1, 2026, and can be claimed annually by eligible contractors and facility owners through the Department of Revenue. If a facility fails to meet its job creation or investment obligations by July 2031, the state can terminate the agreement and require repayment of any rebates already received. The program is administered by Louisiana Economic Development, which certifies facilities and manages agreements that can be renewed for up to 10 additional years.

Maddy summaryHB 367 modifies Louisiana's enforcement process for the Structural Pest Control Commission by requiring the commission to send alleged violators a 30-day certified mail notice before holding an adjudicatory hearing. This applies directly to businesses or individuals operating under structural pest control licenses who face potential penalties, license suspensions, or revocations. The bill does not change penalties or create new rules but standardizes the notification process for hearings under existing enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 346 renames a specific section of U.S. Highway 171 in Florien, Louisiana (from Louisiana Highway 118 to Sandra Lane) as the "Speaker Joe Salter Memorial Highway." The bill directs the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage for this redesignation, provided local or private funds cover the department's actual costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a procedural naming bill with no substantive policy changes affecting residents, programs, or funding. It solely honors Speaker Joe Salter through a highway designation.

Maddy summaryHB 841 establishes new rules for property takings (expropriation) in Louisiana, primarily affecting landowners and pipeline companies with expropriation authority. It requires pipeline operators to provide detailed written notices to landowners before seeking property, conduct appraisals by disinterested third parties, and engage in at least five in-person negotiation meetings. The bill mandates a 30-day response period for landowners to review offers and contest takings on grounds like lack of good-faith negotiation or procedural violations. It also shifts court costs to the expropriating authority (not landowners) and empowers the Department of Conservation and Energy to revoke certificates for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally commends Dr. Paul Dean Coreil on his retirement as Chancellor of Louisiana State University of Alexandria. The bill recognizes his decades of service in higher education, public service, and youth development, specifically highlighting his leadership in increasing university enrollment and expanding academic programs. Upon passage, the Legislature expresses its appreciation and transmits a copy of the resolution to Dr. Coreil.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 4) suspends Louisiana’s rules restricting supplemental feeding and baiting for deer hunting in chronic wasting disease (CWD) control areas for 18 months. It directly affects hunters, landowners, and local businesses in CWD zones by temporarily lifting bans on baiting and feeding practices that were previously prohibited in "Enhanced Mitigation Zones" and restricted in "Buffer Zones." The suspension aims to support traditional hunting methods and reduce economic impacts on rural communities while allowing further study of CWD management. The resolution requires the state register to publish a summary of this change in the Louisiana Register.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows campaign funds to be used for clothing required to hold a public office in Louisiana, such as uniforms, belts, and shoes, without those expenses being automatically treated as personal use. It creates specific exceptions to the rule that normally prohibits using campaign money for personal clothing, permitting these costs if they are necessary for official duties or related fundraising events. The law also covers expenses for cleaning and maintaining such required clothing. Candidates and their committees must still demonstrate that these expenditures were not for personal use unless they fall under the new exceptions. This change affects state candidates and elected officials by clarifying when campaign funds can legally cover wardrobe needs tied to their official roles.