Rep. Joy Walters

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the entire length of Interstate 49 in Louisiana (from its intersection with I-10 in Lafayette Parish northward) as the "Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation, up to $2,250 per sign. The bill directly affects the highway corridor and its signage, with no financial burden on the state. It is a procedural naming measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the highway designation and signage cost rules.

Maddy summaryHB 149 designates a specific segment of United States Highway 190 Business East in Slidell, Louisiana (from Beech Avenue/Interstate 10 Service Road to Military Road) as the "Senior Police Officer Trevor Abney Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the costs (up to $2,250 per sign). This is a purely ceremonial bill with no substantive policy changes, solely honoring a police officer through road naming.

Maddy summaryHB 120 creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Improvement District in a specific area of New Orleans bounded by Iowa Street, Amazon Street, Delaware Street, Memorial Park Drive, Kansas Street, and Hudson Street. It establishes a local governing board (seven members, including homeowners association leaders and resident appointees) to manage district funds collected through an annual property fee (up to $315 per parcel) approved by voters. The district’s funds must be used exclusively for security patrols, improved lighting, signage, beautification, and other quality-of-life initiatives within its boundaries, supplementing but not replacing city police services. Property owners in the district are directly affected, as they will pay the fee and vote on its continuation. The fee requires voter approval and expires after five years unless renewed by a majority vote.

Maddy summarySB 338 requires Louisiana schools to follow specific procedures for investigating student bullying reports. It directly affects schools, students involved in bullying incidents, and their parents or guardians. The bill mandates that schools take disciplinary action against bullies after confirming incidents, report criminal bullying to police, and require bullies and their parents to complete court-approved decision-making courses. The State Board of Education must develop these procedures, which include parent meetings before disciplinary steps. The bill is pending review by the Education Committee after being prefiled on February 27, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 376, the "Learn and Earn Act," creates a new program allowing Louisiana public high schools to partner with businesses for paid, credit-bearing work-based learning opportunities. It requires school boards to establish career practicums through written agreements with businesses that ensure fair value exchange (e.g., businesses provide equivalent benefit for school resources used) and align with state-approved career pathways. The program directly affects high school students - especially in rural or underserved communities - by offering compensated job training in fields like healthcare or technology while meeting educational requirements. Key provisions mandate that these practicums operate exclusively within defined instructional boundaries, prioritize student safety/supervision, and integrate financial literacy and employability skills.

Maddy summaryHB 854 creates new specialty license plates in Louisiana, including "Alzheimer's Awareness," "Lupus Awareness," "Krewe of Sobek," "Mystic Krewe of Imani," "Huntington High School," and "Green Oaks Performing Arts Academy" plates. Each plate requires a minimum of 1,000 applicants and carries a $25 annual fee, with $24 of the fee going directly to the associated organization (e.g., Alzheimer's Association or krewes) and $1 covering administrative costs. These plates are restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, and vans, and must follow existing design regulations. The bill directly affects Louisiana residents who apply for these plates and the designated nonprofit organizations or krewes that receive the fee revenue.

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 summaryHB 763 requires Louisiana state agencies to report settlement agreements involving alleged violations of federal or state law to a public online database. The database must include specific details for each settlement, such as the date it became final, a description of claims settled, payment amounts (with breakdowns for attorney fees, penalties, and other costs), termination conditions, and economic justification. Agencies must submit this information within 90 days of a settlement’s finalization for agreements entered after January 1, 2027, and the data will remain publicly accessible for five years. This law directly affects state agencies (which must report) and the public (which gains transparency into settlement terms and state spending).