Rep. Josh Carlson

Maddy summaryHB 232 updates Louisiana's process for minors (under 18) to obtain employment certificates. It replaces school-based requirements with a standardized digital form, requiring minors to provide parent/guardian consent and age verification (like a birth certificate) through the state department. Employers must keep the certificate for 14 days after a minor’s job ends, and the state can revoke certificates for improper issuance or illegal employment. The bill removes all obligations from schools and school boards regarding these certificates. It takes effect on August 2, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 305 requires Louisiana's Board of Regents and state agencies like Louisiana Works to create a free, public online dashboard showing how college programs connect to job outcomes. The dashboard will display data such as graduate employment rates, typical wages, and alignment with high-demand jobs, disaggregated by program. It aims to help students, families, and schools make informed decisions while allowing policymakers to assess workforce needs. The bill explicitly states it won’t mandate program changes, force performance funding, or disclose personal student information.

Maddy summaryHB 553 increases the size of Louisiana's Assessors' Certification Program Committee from five to eleven members, with specific appointments from the Louisiana Assessors Association, Tax Commission, and certified assessors. It expands the list of approved courses for both initial certification (e.g., IAAO courses 101 and 2, Appraisal Institute 400) and recertification, requiring 59-74 hours of continuing education including USPAP training. The bill mandates that all certified assessors and deputy assessors must meet these updated education requirements to maintain their certification, with recertification needed every five years. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

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 bill establishes a new system called CARE Accounts to manage future medical payments awarded in personal injury cases. When a court orders compensation for future medical expenses, those funds must be placed in a special money market account owned by the person who caused the injury but controlled for the injured person's benefit. The account can only be used to pay for medically necessary treatments and services, though the bank does not verify each transaction. Any money left in the account after the injured person dies returns to the person who caused the injury. The law will not apply to cases filed before it takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 244 would establish a new recreational alligator hunting season in Louisiana, separate from existing commercial hunting. It requires hunters to obtain a special alligator hunting license and recreational harvest tags issued by the Louisiana Wildlife Commission, and prohibits hunting outside designated seasons, without proper licenses/tags, or using illegal methods. The bill allows the Commission to set specific seasons, harvest quotas, residency rules, and permitted hunting hours by geographic area. Violations would be classified as a class three violation, with penalties specified in the bill. This directly affects Louisiana residents and visitors seeking to hunt alligators recreationally under new rules.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month in Louisiana to increase public recognition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It encourages citizens to support research and advocate for those affected by the progressive neurodegenerative disease. The measure does not alter existing laws or funding but serves as a symbolic state designation.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution formally commends Lafayette resident Emile Myers for his annual "Emile's Hot Cocoa Fundraiser." The bill recognizes how Myers started a neighborhood hot cocoa stand at age eight in 2019, which has grown into a major community event raising over $100,000 for various local nonprofits. It highlights the fundraiser's support for organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and the American Cancer Society, as well as its role in mentoring the next generation of young philanthropists. This measure serves as an official acknowledgment of Myers' leadership and the positive impact of his youth-led charitable work.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana House of Representatives asking the U.S. Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to show identification at federal election polling places. The resolution argues that voter ID laws help prevent fraud and increase public trust in elections, noting that 36 states already have similar requirements. It does not directly change any laws or affect voters immediately, but rather serves as a non-binding recommendation to federal lawmakers. The bill is a procedural measure expressing support for election integrity rather than implementing specific policy changes itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules in Louisiana to protect minors from potential harm while using companion chatbots, which are AI systems designed to simulate human conversation and relationships. It requires these platforms to obtain explicit consent from a parent or guardian before a minor can create an account and grants parents specific controls, such as monitoring chat history, limiting daily usage, and receiving alerts if the child expresses intent to self-harm. Additionally, the law mandates that platforms clearly inform users they are interacting with artificial intelligence, automatically terminate accounts for minors without parental consent, and permanently delete personal data upon account closure. Companies that knowingly or recklessly violate these provisions could face civil penalties, legal action by the state attorney general, and lawsuits from affected minors.