Rep. Rhonda Butler

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 847 amends Louisiana law governing the election and duties of soil and water conservation district supervisors. It requires each district to elect three supervisors annually (one per year) on the second Saturday in June, with nominations needing 25 qualified voter signatures on petitions. Supervisors must attend at least 66.67% of district meetings annually to be eligible for reappointment, and vacancies are filled through regular elections. The bill directly affects local conservation district supervisors and voters within those districts.

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 370 increases the assessment rate for Louisiana's Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund from 0.04% to 0.08% on the value of regulated agricultural commodities sold to grain dealers and cotton merchants. The bill requires these dealers to pay the assessment at the first point of sale to the state commission. This directly affects grain and cotton dealers who handle regulated commodities in Louisiana, as they will pay a higher fee on each transaction. The change aims to bolster the fund, which provides financial assistance to farmers when crop losses occur due to natural disasters. The bill does not alter eligibility for fund benefits or the fund's purpose.

Maddy summaryHB 801 creates a "Classic Black" specialty license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, available to any Louisiana resident who applies for it. The plate features a black background with white numbers and "LOUISIANA" at the top, and requires a $25 annual fee (plus $3.50 handling) on top of standard license taxes. All fees collected will fund emergency vehicle operations training for local governments at the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Holden. The plate is restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans, but requires at least 1,000 applicants before issuance.

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 summarySB 104 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish (from the intersection with Highway 78 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line) as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway" to honor the renowned author. The bill requires the state transportation department to install signage only if local or private funds cover the costs (capped at $750 per sign for materials and installation). This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting the designated highway corridor and its signage. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 11 in Slidell, St. Tammany Parish (between Carollo Drive and Kostmayer Avenue) as the "Dan DeBlanc American Hero Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation, but only if local or private funds cover the costs - up to $2,250 per sign - for materials and installation. The bill directly affects the local community through signage and funding requirements, with no broader policy changes or financial obligations for the state. It is a commemorative measure with no substantive legislative impact beyond naming a highway corridor.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana concurrent resolution asks federal officials to officially classify all work in the crawfish industry as agricultural labor. Currently, many crawfish tasks are treated as non-agricultural, which forces employers to use a visa program with strict limits and long delays. The bill seeks to change these rules so that crawfish farmers can hire temporary foreign workers under the H-2A program, which is designed for seasonal farm jobs and includes requirements for housing and wages. If approved, this change would allow the industry to secure a reliable workforce for the upcoming 2026 harvest season.