Rep. Beryl Amedée

Maddy summaryHB 432 amends laws concerning third-party litigation financing, affecting companies that fund lawsuits, the individuals they fund, and their attorneys. It limits the amount litigation financers can recover to a share of the plaintiff's proceeds after attorney fees and costs are paid. The bill also makes the existence of these financing agreements discoverable in civil actions. Additionally, attorneys must disclose the financing contract and provide a copy to their clients within 30 days of being retained or entering the agreement. These provisions do not apply to nonprofit legal organizations offering pro bono services.

Maddy summaryHB 427, titled "CIVIL/PROCEDURE: Provides for a reversionary trust," establishes provisions related to the administration of a reversionary medical trust. The bill clarifies that the trust is intended to authorize payments for medical claims and related benefits. It mandates that the trustee managing this medical trust must provide an annual accounting to the claimant, detailing all payments made on their behalf for medical care and related benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 443 amends civil procedure related to notifications in "delictual actions," which are civil lawsuits involving harm or damage. The bill requires a plaintiff's attorney to notify the defendant in writing if the defendant has insurance that may cover a portion of the damages. This notification must be provided within twenty business days of the plaintiff's counsel being retained. This new requirement affects plaintiffs' attorneys by adding a specific notification duty and defendants by ensuring they are informed about their potential insurance coverage early in the legal process.

Maddy summaryHB 440, as amended, addresses insurance claims and the recovery process for claimants. The bill establishes new proceedings that specifically consider a claimant's failure to use their personal health insurance to mitigate damages. It also removes certain provisions related to subrogation concerning insurance payments. This legislation directly impacts individuals making insurance claims and the insurance companies involved in those claims.

Maddy summaryHB 34 revises how medical expenses are handled in civil lawsuits, impacting claimants seeking recovery for medical costs and parties involved in trials. It limits the recovery of medical expenses to amounts considered reasonable for the claim. The bill allows any party to introduce evidence of both the billed and paid amounts for medical services. Furthermore, agreements between healthcare providers and third parties, such as letters of protection with attorneys, will be admissible as evidence to ensure transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 670 proposes to implement new fees on money transmitted from Louisiana to locations outside the United States. Individuals sending less than $500 would pay a $5 fee, while those sending $500 or more would pay $5 plus an additional 5% on the amount exceeding $500. These fees would be collected by licensed money transmitters and remitted quarterly. The collected funds would be deposited into a newly established "Human Trafficking Prevention and Victim Services Fund," to be used exclusively for human trafficking prevention initiatives and victim services.

Maddy summaryHR 20 is a resolution that expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Steven "Steve" Joseph Miguez. It acknowledges his life, business career, competitive shooting achievements, and family.

Maddy summaryHB 39 amends Louisiana law to change the governance structure of the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority. It requires the parish president to appoint four commissioners (including at least one tenant from a housing development operated by the authority) and mandates the parish governing body to appoint one commissioner, creating a five-member board. The bill also adds that any removal of a commissioner must be approved by the parish governing body. This directly affects how the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority's board is formed and managed, with no broader policy changes beyond its specific local governance rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4 allows Louisiana parishes (local governments) to decide whether carbon dioxide storage wells (Class VI injection wells) can operate within their boundaries. Parishes may choose this through a local council resolution or by holding a parish-wide election requiring a 15% voter petition to trigger a vote, with results binding if a majority supports or opposes the wells. If an election is held, its outcome overrides any prior parish council decision and remains in effect for five years. This bill directly affects parishes and residents by shifting permitting authority from state agencies to local communities for these specific wells.

Maddy summaryHB 555 would establish penalties for healthcare providers who violate medical intervention standards, directly affecting hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities. It sets a $5,000 fine for the first violation and $25,000 for subsequent violations, plus investigation costs and attorney fees. The bill also requires the attorney general to create a system for reporting, investigating, and collecting these fines. This legislation focuses on enforcement of medical treatment compliance without restricting other legal actions.