Rep. Chuck Owen

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Louisiana statutes to create legal protections for parent-driven learning microschools and public school learning pods. It allows parents to group their children together for personalized education in private homes or other buildings without triggering zoning changes or additional fire safety regulations. The legislation also exempts these microschools from standard licensure requirements and clarifies that they cannot be forced to register with government agencies. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of public school learning pods to include small group instruction settings and directs the state law institute to update related terminology.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana's open meetings law to strengthen transparency for public bodies. It requires legal counsel or a trained presiding member at every public meeting, mandates that meeting notices be posted at the public body's office or published in an official journal and online at least 24 hours before the meeting, and specifies that written minutes must include the substance of decisions, motion makers, and seconders. The bill also requires draft minutes to be available to members within one month and mandates that adopted minutes be posted on a public body's website for at least three months. These changes directly affect government agencies, school boards, and other public entities that hold meetings in Louisiana.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all K-12 school employees in Louisiana to immediately report any threats of violence or terrorism to local law enforcement and, if applicable, to the school administrator. It also mandates that law enforcement agencies forward these threat reports to the state's Louisiana Fusion Center within seven days, while protecting the privacy of students and individuals who made the reports. Additionally, the bill establishes a program where the Fusion Center will conduct free physical security assessments of public schools every three years starting in 2027, with optional assessments available for charter and nonpublic schools. The assessments will identify safety vulnerabilities and provide nonbinding recommendations for improvements, but schools are not required to implement these suggestions and will be protected from liability regardless of their decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 578, the "Restoring Biological Truth Act," amends Louisiana statutes to replace the term "gender" with "sex" in all legal references, defining "sex" as an individual's biological sex at birth (male or female). The bill specifically requires that "sex" be used instead of "gender" in civil codes, court documents, workforce reporting (e.g., R.S. 4:158.2), child custody forms (e.g., R.S. 13:1856), and diversity language for boards (e.g., R.S. 3:1493), while clarifying that gender identity cannot substitute for biological sex. It directly affects state agencies, courts, and organizations collecting demographic data or drafting legal documents. The bill does not create new restrictions but changes terminology across 50+ statutes to align with the defined biological sex standard.

Maddy summaryHB 403 changes Louisiana's food safety law to set a $30,100 annual sales threshold for home-based food sellers. It directly affects small home food businesses whose gross sales reach or exceed this amount, requiring them to comply with standard food safety regulations. The bill amends Section 4.9(B) of the state code to remove the exemption from the Sanitary Code for these sellers. This is a concrete policy change limiting the current exemption to businesses with lower sales volumes.

Maddy summaryHB 816 prohibits foreign adversaries (as defined by U.S. Treasury) and entities with foreign adversary control from owning or acquiring land within 25 miles of designated Louisiana military installations. The bill directly affects foreign governments, corporations, or investment funds with foreign adversary ties seeking to purchase or lease such adjacent property. Key provisions include requiring affidavits to verify non-adversary status, imposing $50,000 civil penalties for violations, and allowing contract rescission if a foreign adversary interest is discovered. Exceptions cover U.S. citizens, legal residents, and residential properties (1-4 family homes). The law aims to protect military sites by restricting ownership near installations, with enforcement handled by the state attorney general.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the U.S. Congress and the United States Forest Service to permit the use of dogs for hunting within the Kisatchie National Forest. It also requests that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries collaborate with the Forest Service to ensure this hunting practice is conducted safely and sustainably. The legislation does not create new laws but serves as a formal recommendation to federal and state agencies regarding hunting regulations in the specified forest area.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution asks the Department of Transportation and Development to form a team that studies safety risks from increased train traffic at the Alabo Street Wharf. The request focuses on potential dangers like grain dust explosions and train collisions with vehicles in nearby neighborhoods, citing recent accidents as a reason for the review. If the study finds issues, the department must create a plan to improve safety and share its findings with the legislature by January 1, 2027. The measure does not change laws or fund projects directly but serves as a formal request for an official safety assessment.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution asks the U.S. Congress to oppose any efforts to transfer, privatize, or remove parts of the Kisatchie National Forest in Grant Parish, Louisiana, from federal ownership. The bill highlights the forest's cultural, economic, and recreational value to the community while urging increased investment in outdoor activities and conservation. It does not change federal law but serves as a formal expression of local support for keeping the land under federal management.

Maddy summaryHB 1247 establishes a statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator to oversee and support forensic care for sexual assault survivors across the state. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and survivors by creating a centralized role to improve the consistency and quality of medical examinations and evidence collection. Key provisions include defining the coordinator's responsibilities, setting up a funding mechanism, and outlining procedures for training and certification of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. The legislation aims to streamline the response to sexual assaults by ensuring survivors receive standardized, trauma-informed care from qualified professionals.