Rep. Ed Larvadain

Maddy summaryHB 297 expands Louisiana tenants' right to early lease termination to include victims of stalking and cyberstalking, in addition to domestic abuse. It directly affects residential tenants who are victims of these crimes and need to leave their rental properties for safety. The bill requires tenants to provide documentation from a qualified third party (like a social worker, police officer, or prosecutor) and complete a specific certification form detailing the incident and why remaining on the premises is unsafe. This creates a formal process for tenants to terminate leases early without penalty, while requiring lessors to follow defined procedures for approval.

Maddy summaryHB 629 creates a special Louisiana license plate for the Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, available to any Louisiana resident who applies and pays fees. The plate requires a minimum of 1,000 applicants to be issued, with an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) collected by the state. All $25 fees go directly to the Krewe of Athena to fund scholarships for debutantes, with the plate design including the words "Krewe of Athena" and following state plate regulations.

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 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 summaryHB 111 would allow incarcerated individuals in Louisiana to earn an additional 90 days of credit toward their parole supervision date if they obtain an associate's degree from a regionally accredited, department-approved educational institution while serving their sentence. This policy directly affects people in Louisiana state prisons who complete such a degree program. The key provision adds this specific credit to existing good time calculations under Louisiana law, reducing the time they must serve under parole supervision. The bill does not alter prison sentences but shortens the parole period for eligible individuals who earn the degree.

Maddy summarySB 66 requires Louisiana courts to prioritize testimony from medical experts subpoenaed in child custody or child in need of care cases involving alleged abuse or neglect. It mandates that courts hear these medical experts before other witnesses and allows for expedited hearings to secure their testimony before granting continuances. The law applies specifically to cases under Louisiana’s Civil Code (custody) and Children’s Code (child in need of care). This changes court scheduling procedures to ensure medical evidence about potential child harm is reviewed more promptly. The bill does not alter custody standards or create new legal requirements beyond testimony prioritization.

Maddy summaryHB 447 creates the Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development District in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, covering the area along Highway 90 from the St. Charles/St. Bernard parish line to Lapalco Boulevard. The district will be governed by a seven-member board appointed by local civic associations and elected officials (including a Jefferson Parish council member), with no tax authority. Its purpose is to enhance economic development, improve infrastructure, and promote job growth for property owners and residents within the defined district boundaries through coordinated planning and public improvements. The district cannot levy taxes but may receive grants and enter contracts to fund projects outlined in its annual budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Board of Regents to study possible changes to the TOPS-Tech award, which helps Louisiana students pay for postsecondary training in high-demand fields. The study, to be completed by March 1, 2027, will look at whether the program should expand to cover more types of eligible programs, pay for fees beyond just tuition, and adjust eligibility rules for apprenticeship students or those working for specific workforce providers. It will also examine how well the program tracks student success, such as job placement and earnings, to measure its return on investment. The final report will include findings and any suggestions for new laws, and it will be sent to the House Committee on Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana's TOPS-Tech scholarship program to clarify how funding is distributed to students in associate degree and shorter-term training programs. It establishes that eligible students will receive awards equal to tuition and fees from the 2016-2017 academic year, with adjustments for programs that no longer align with state priorities. The legislation also allows TOPS-Tech awards for students in registered apprenticeships and employees at approved workforce providers, while requiring the Board of Regents and Louisiana Works to track program outcomes and submit annual reports to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 875 modifies Louisiana's fees for drivers who let auto insurance lapse. It reduces reinstatement fees based on lapse duration (e.g., $150 for 1-30 days, $250 for 31-90 days, $450 for over 90 days) and increases the grace period before fees apply to 30 days for first-time lapses. The bill exempts fees if insurance lapses were ≤30 days and the license plate is surrendered within 30 days, or for first-time lapses with 10-day advance notice. It also caps total fees at $850 for drivers under 65 and $250 for seniors aged 65+, with fees becoming final debt after 60 days. This directly affects Louisiana drivers who experience insurance coverage gaps.