Rep. Tehmi Chassion

Maddy summarySB 187 creates the St. Martin Parish Economic and Industrial Development District, a special district entity for economic development purposes in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. The bill establishes the legal framework for this district but does not include substantive policy changes or funding mechanisms. It passed unanimously in the Senate (39-0) and is now pending in the House. This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming and creating the district structure.

Maddy summarySB 126 adds a specific exemption for charter schools from reporting school mapping data requirements under Louisiana law (R.S. 17:416.16.1). The bill directly affects charter schools operating under Louisiana's Chapter 3996, exempting them from this data collection mandate unless otherwise required by their approved charter. Key provisions clarify that charter schools are exempt from "all statutory mandates" applicable to public schools, with this mapping data requirement explicitly listed as one of the exempted provisions. This change modifies existing law to remove a specific reporting obligation for charter schools, while public schools remain subject to the mapping data requirement. The bill focuses on administrative clarity for charter schools within existing legal frameworks.

Maddy summarySB 128 requires law enforcement officers to submit a written report whenever they use physical force - such as striking, restraining, or using weapons - against a member of the public. This applies directly to all law enforcement agencies and officers in the state, mandating that reports detail when force was used, who must file the report, and penalties for failing to comply. The bill specifies that "physical force" includes weapon use and requires agencies to establish clear policies around reporting. It is named "Shantel Arnold's Law" in recognition of a specific case, though the focus remains on the mandatory reporting requirement. The legislation aims to increase transparency in officer conduct without specifying enforcement consequences beyond policy requirements.

Maddy summarySB 26 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to create and provide type 1 diabetes informational materials to the state Department of Education. These materials, which include descriptions of type 1 diabetes, risk factors, warning signs, and recommendations for blood autoantibody screening, must be distributed by school boards to parents and legal guardians of prekindergarten through secondary students at enrollment and annually. The bill mandates that schools share this information via website posting or electronic distribution, focusing on early detection and treatment guidance. It directly affects Louisiana public school students, their families, and school boards by standardizing diabetes awareness in educational settings. The legislation does not fund treatment or alter healthcare access but aims to inform families about critical diabetes indicators.

Maddy summarySB 136 requires insurance companies to submit annual rate transparency reports detailing how premiums are calculated. These reports directly affect all insurance companies operating in the state, providing the public and regulators with clearer insight into rate-setting practices. The bill amends existing law (changing section 22:1461.1 to 22:1464.1) to establish this reporting requirement. The law will take effect on January 1, 2026, after passing the Senate unanimously.

Maddy summarySB 42 is a technical amendment to clarify which state office oversees perinatal behavioral health treatment services. It corrects the reference from "office of group benefits" to the properly capitalized "Office of Group Benefits" in the bill text. This change affects administrative processes within the state's health care system but does not alter eligibility, funding, or patient access to perinatal mental health services. The bill focuses solely on updating terminology for clarity in existing policy language.

Maddy summarySB 202 (as described in its title) proposes transferring the University of New Orleans to the Louisiana State University System. However, the provided bill text only shows a technical amendment correcting a reference within existing law (changing "Subsection (C)(2)" to "R.S. 17:3230.1(C)(2)"), not the substantive transfer itself. This appears to be a procedural amendment related to the transfer process, not a new policy. The bill is currently in committee (Education) after recent amendments and is awaiting further legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 233 modifies Louisiana's School Readiness Tax Credit by adding a $5 million annual cap on the total value of credits issued each calendar year. This change directly affects businesses that claim the credit for providing child care services to support working parents. The bill establishes a specific limit ($5 million per year) to prevent the credit program from exceeding this total amount, ensuring the state's fiscal responsibility. The policy change is implemented through new language in Louisiana law (R.S. 47:6107(C)), which sets this annual spending ceiling. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

Maddy summaryHB 145 increases the maximum amount homeowners can deduct from their income tax for construction code retrofits and expands the deduction to cover costs associated with meeting "fortified home" standards. This bill directly affects homeowners who make qualifying retrofits to their properties, including those upgrading to meet fortified home requirements for disaster resilience. Key provisions include raising the deduction limit and adding fortified home compliance costs to eligible expenses. The bill is currently moving through the legislative process after passing committee approval.

Maddy summaryHB 264 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug manufacturers to increase transparency around drug pricing and compensation practices. It prohibits PBMs from charging pharmacies fees for claims (Amendment 7) and mandates drug manufacturers to notify the state commissioner of significant price increases (over 15% for brand drugs or "specialty" drugs) with explanations (Amendment 16). The bill also creates a fund for enforcement (Amendment 3) and requires PBMs to notify pharmacies of payment errors and allow claim corrections (Amendment 10). These provisions directly affect pharmacies, PBMs, and drug manufacturers by altering how drug costs and rebates are disclosed and managed.