Rep. Josh Carlson

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commendation resolution that formally recognizes Pamela Granger and her engineering firm, McBade Engineers & Consultants, LLC, for ten years of business in Youngsville and the Lafayette area. The measure highlights the company's contributions to local infrastructure, including flood risk reduction and water management projects for various government agencies. By adopting this resolution, the Louisiana House of Representatives expresses official appreciation for the firm's service to the state rather than enacting any new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution expressing the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the tragic deaths of eight young children in Shreveport. It formally acknowledges the loss of Mar'Kaydon Pugh, Sariahh Snow, Khedarrion Snow, Braylon Snow, Layla Pugh, Kayla Pugh, Shayla Elkins, and Jayla Elkins, who were all students at various local schools. The text describes each child briefly by name, age, and school, and concludes by offering comfort to their families and friends.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commends Paul Hollis, the director of the United States Mint, for his return visit to the Louisiana House of Representatives. The measure expresses gratitude for his past service as a state representative and his current role as the first Louisianian to lead the Mint. It does not create any new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as an official statement of appreciation for his contributions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and asks Congress to cooperate with those efforts. It directly affects the Louisiana Legislature by formally recording its position on a federal policy change. The bill cites the Tenth Amendment to argue that education powers should remain with states rather than the federal government. It does not create new laws or change state education policy, but rather sends a message to the federal government about Louisiana's stance on the issue.

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 summarySB 310, the "Signs of Hope Act," requires all public high school and college/university student health centers in Louisiana to display specific signs about pregnancy resources. The signs must read "Pregnant? Help Is Available for You and Your Baby!" with a website link to Louisiana Department of Health pregnancy resources, measure at least 16x20 inches, use large readable text, and include color graphics. These signs must be placed in patient admission areas, waiting rooms, and consultation rooms by health center staff. The Louisiana Department of Health designs the signs but may accept donated signs or use donated funds to cover costs, without requiring state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 294 allows houses of worship (like churches, mosques, and synagogues) to request that disruptive or trespassing individuals leave their premises. If such individuals refuse, authorized staff or security may use reasonable force to remove them, consistent with existing self-defense laws. The law protects these individuals and the religious organization from legal liability when using force that is necessary and proportional to the disruption. This directly affects places of worship and their staff by clarifying their legal authority to maintain order during services or religious activities.

Maddy summaryHB 285 allows Louisiana high school boards to partner with credit unions to operate on-site branches at high schools. The bill requires these branches to be integrated into the state-mandated financial literacy course (R.S. 17:270), giving students hands-on experience managing personal finances. School boards must establish rules for outside use of buildings, including fees, under this new partnership framework. The policy directly affects high school students, school boards, and credit unions by embedding practical financial education into existing coursework.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Louisiana's major public higher education systems to conduct internal audits of all state and federal money spent on increasing the number of graduates from underrepresented minority groups between fiscal years 2021 and 2026. The affected institutions must examine specific expenses such as staff salaries, recruitment programs, scholarships, and vendor contracts related to this goal and submit their findings to the legislative auditor. The legislative auditor will then combine these individual reports into a single written document for the state legislature to review. This measure is designed to provide oversight on how public funds are used to meet specific diversity objectives without creating new spending or changing existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Louisiana's legislative auditor to conduct a comprehensive fiscal audit of state and federal funds spent by public universities and colleges on a specific goal of increasing completers from underrepresented minority groups between fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2025-2026. The audit will examine expenditures across multiple institutions, including staff salaries, recruitment programs, scholarships, data systems, and performance-based funding tied to this objective. The auditor must produce a written report detailing how much money was spent and where it was allocated, which will be sent to key legislative committees and leaders before the 2027 legislative session. This measure aims to provide oversight on how public funds are used to meet the executive budget's diversity completion targets.