Maddy summaryHB 548 updates Louisiana's rules for certifying and regulating certified public accountants (CPAs), directly affecting current license holders, applicants seeking licensure, and out-of-state CPAs wanting to practice in Louisiana. It sets new education requirements (150 semester hours including an accounting concentration) and experience rules (1-2 years depending on education), while creating a "substantial equivalency" system to recognize other states' licensing standards. The bill expands the State Board's authority to investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and adopt rules governing CPAs, and establishes clear pathways for out-of-state CPAs to practice without reapplying if their credentials match Louisiana's standards. These changes aim to standardize licensing and simplify cross-state practice for qualified professionals.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 584 requires Louisiana's local social services districts to provide foster children aged 14-18 with durable, reusable luggage (such as backpacks, boxes, or suitcases) instead of garbage bags when they move between foster homes. This policy change directly affects youth in foster care by ensuring their belongings are transported safely and with dignity. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of garbage bags for this purpose and defines the responsibility of social services districts to provide the required luggage. It amends Louisiana law to guarantee this specific right for older foster youth during placement transitions.
Maddy summaryThis bill adopts a new rule to ensure that any future sales and use tax exemptions in Louisiana apply equally at both state and local levels, preventing situations where local taxes differ from state taxes for the same items. Effective January 1, 2026, the rule requires a report from the Legislative Fiscal Officer before lawmakers can vote on any tax exemption, ensuring the report is available to all members before a decision is made. While the rule generally blocks motions that would create non-uniform tax bases, either the Senate or the House can override this restriction if two-thirds of the members present vote to do so. The measure directly affects the legislative process for tax laws and impacts businesses and consumers by standardizing how sales taxes are applied across the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows jurors in Louisiana's Nineteenth Judicial District to voluntarily donate their jury duty pay to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which supports children in the court system. The legislation creates a pilot program where jurors can choose to contribute their per diem compensation to CASA during jury orientation, with the court clerk managing the collection and distribution of funds. The bill also ensures that information about participating jurors remains confidential and is not part of public records. This change applies only to the Nineteenth Judicial District and is limited to a two-year trial period.
Maddy summaryHB 196 amends Louisiana law (R.S. 17:1208) to establish that public school teachers (excluding those with annual leave) may use up to eight personal leave days per school year without pay loss. Teachers must provide 24 hours' notice to their principal, and this leave is deducted from their current year's sick leave balance. The bill specifies that personal leave cannot be carried over to future years or paid out upon retirement or death. It directly affects Louisiana public school teachers by clarifying their personal leave entitlements and integration with existing sick leave policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Louisiana Commission on Fatherhood Engagement within the governor's office to promote responsible fatherhood and support fathers across the state. The commission will consist of 16 members representing various state agencies, elected officials, community organizations, and faith groups, who will serve two-year terms without pay. Its main duties include raising awareness about fatherhood challenges, coordinating programs that help fathers build parenting skills and access employment services, organizing a state summit every four years, and submitting annual reports to the legislature with funding requests. The commission will focus on improving father involvement in child custody proceedings, supporting incarcerated fathers, and collecting better data on fatherhood engagement across state agencies. The law will remain in effect until January 1, 2031.
Maddy summarySB 307 would authorize the display of the Ten Commandments as a historical monument on Louisiana State Capitol grounds, alongside other documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence. The bill requires that such displays include context documents explaining their historical significance to the legal and cultural heritage of Louisiana and the U.S., and mandates that private donations fund the monument without state cost. It references Supreme Court rulings (Van Orden v. Perry and American Legion v. American Humanists Association) that permit religious historical displays on government property when privately funded. The commissioner of administration would oversee the installation, with the bill explicitly prohibiting state funding for the monument.
Maddy summaryHB 861 abolishes inactive boards, commissions, and similar entities in Louisiana that were identified as inactive in a 2025 Legislative Auditor Report. The bill repeals the statutes creating these entities - including the Advisory Commission for Louisiana's Energy, Environment, and Restoration and the Byways Commission - and removes all references to them from state law. This directly affects Louisiana's state government by eliminating redundant legal structures and streamlining operations. The bill does not create new programs but focuses on removing inactive entities to improve government efficiency.
Maddy summaryHB 609 prohibits healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana from charging fees for medical records when veterans request them specifically to apply for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. It applies only once per veteran for the purpose of a disability claim, requiring providers to verify veteran status and the claim's purpose before waiving fees. The law exempts costs for preparing, reproducing, handling, or transmitting records under this specific circumstance. This directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and healthcare entities handling such record requests.
Maddy summaryHB 288 requires healthcare providers in Louisiana to include "miscarriage" in parentheses after "spontaneous abortion" in all medical records and billing documentation. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and medical billing entities regulated under Louisiana law. The key provision mandates this terminology change for consistency in clinical records and billing systems, using plain language to clarify the medical term "spontaneous abortion" (referring to early pregnancy loss). The bill is procedural, focusing solely on standardizing medical documentation terminology without altering healthcare services or patient rights.