Rep. Tehmi Chassion

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Louisiana Department of Health to set minimum reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation services used by Medicaid recipients. It establishes a minimum payment of $14.50 per trip plus $2.10 per mile for transportation providers. The Louisiana Department of Health must implement these changes by October 1, 2026, through a Medicaid state plan amendment. This policy change directly affects transportation providers serving Medicaid patients and the state's healthcare administration.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a section of the insurance code to change the term "Subsection" to "Paragraph" within the text regarding contractor verification. The change is a minor technical correction that does not alter the substantive rules or requirements for insurance claims. It directly affects the written language of the statute but has no impact on the policies governing contractors or insurance companies. The measure passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous vote and was sent to the Senate for further consideration.

Maddy summarySB 25 adjusts the salary schedules for Louisiana parish registrars of voters, their chief deputies, and confidential assistants. It establishes new pay ranges based on parish population size (e.g., 0-40,000 residents or 200,001-1,000,000 residents), with specific annual salaries for each population bracket and experience level (Step 1 through Step 12). Compensation is tied to the latest federal census data, Louisiana Tech University population estimates, or locally determined parish population figures. The updated schedule takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting these local election officials across Louisiana's parishes.

Maddy summarySB 43 establishes Louisiana's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Program within the Department of Health to fund clinical studies using psychedelic medications (like psilocybin) for treating opioid use disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant mental health conditions. The program requires academic health centers to meet strict federal and state compliance standards - including FDA approval, safety protocols, and therapist qualifications - to conduct these studies. Eligible patients, including those with the specified conditions, may participate, and parishes can use opioid settlement funds to enroll residents. The bill mandates annual progress reports from participating centers and requires coordination with other states conducting similar research. This is a research-focused program, not a policy allowing general therapeutic use.

Maddy summaryHB 153 prohibits Louisiana courts from sending criminal court fines or fees to the Department of Revenue's debt recovery office for collection and bans reporting these debts to credit bureaus or consumer reporting agencies. It directly affects individuals who owe fines or fees from criminal cases, including violations of state law or parish ordinances. The bill requires courts to handle these debts internally rather than using state debt collection systems or impacting credit reports. This change aims to prevent credit score damage and collection efforts tied to unpaid criminal court debts.

Maddy summarySB 237 requires schools in Louisiana to immediately report allegations of physical or sexual abuse against school employees to the state Department of Education. It creates a database tracking these reports and mandates schools check this database before hiring new employees to identify potential patterns of abuse. The bill also requires the Department of Children and Family Services to notify the state child ombudsman within three business days of child abuse or neglect fatalities or near-fatalities, including specific details like prior department involvement. Additionally, it directs the child ombudsman to notify legislators within 24 hours of any child death linked to abuse or neglect investigations. These provisions directly affect schools, school employees, child welfare agencies, and state legislators.

Maddy summarySB 268 requires Louisiana municipalities to follow specific procedures when replacing lead water pipes connecting public mains to buildings (called "service lines"). It allows municipal water systems to enter properties for this work after providing property owners and residents with at least seven days' notice - via in-person contact first, then certified mail or posted notice - detailing the work schedule, water disruption, and nearby water distribution points. After replacement, municipalities must send a follow-up letter summarizing the work. The bill directly affects property owners in municipalities with lead service lines and governs how municipal water systems (like water districts or utilities) must conduct these replacements.

Maddy summaryHB 342 requires local education agencies (LEAs) in Louisiana to prove the appropriateness of a student's special education program or placement during due process hearings, shifting the burden of proof from parents to the school district. This directly affects parents of students in special education and the LEAs (like school districts) involved in these disputes. The bill specifies that LEAs must meet this burden by showing the program or placement is appropriate "by a preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The change applies to both current and proposed educational plans in formal due process hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 782 regulates vapor products and alternative nicotine products in Louisiana by establishing new definitions, increasing permit fees, and adding enforcement mechanisms. It requires retail businesses selling these products to obtain permits (increasing annual fees from $25 to $100 for retailers), mandates wholesale dealers to verify retailers have valid permits, and prohibits remote sales. Violations can result in fines up to $4,000 for repeat offenses, and unpermitted products may be seized and forfeited. The bill directly affects retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers operating in this market within Louisiana.

Maddy summaryHB 762 prohibits Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) from referring certain unpaid reinstatement fees to the Office of Debt Recovery. It directly affects drivers who owe fees to reinstate a suspended license or registration. The bill amends state law to specifically exclude debts from Section 32:863(A)(3)(a) (reinstatement fees) from being sent to debt recovery, while keeping other delinquent debts referable. This change prevents OMV from escalating these specific fee collections through debt recovery procedures, requiring direct resolution with OMV instead.