Rep. Jerome Zeringue

Maddy summaryHR 57 is a resolution that commends Mark Shirley for his 41 years of service as a marine extension agent with Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU AgCenter upon his retirement. It acknowledges his contributions to coastal and marine communities, youth education, and Louisiana's aquatic farming industry.

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 484 modifies Louisiana's tax credit program for donations to school tuition organizations by adding specific eligibility requirements for students. It defines a "qualified student" as one from a Louisiana household earning no more than 250% of the federal poverty level, with exceptions for students with disabilities (who are exempt from the income limit). The bill allows qualified students to receive multiple scholarships from school tuition organizations, capped at 80% of state per-student funding for grades K-8 or 90% for grades 9-12, without blocking other public scholarships. The changes take effect for donations supporting the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 515 adjusts the state's contribution toward health insurance premiums for eligible state retirees. It specifically applies to state employees who retire after January 1, 2026, and have at least 25 years of full-time service, including 15-20 years in the state's group health insurance program. The bill establishes tiered state contribution rates: 56% for 15-16 years of program participation up to 70% for 19-20 years, whichever is higher. These changes take effect for retirees qualifying under these criteria after 2026, with no impact on retirees covered before that date.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana bill adds Tianeptine, a substance increasingly used for its sedative effects, to Schedule I of the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. By placing it in this category, the legislation classifies Tianeptine as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use within the state. The law applies to any material containing Tianeptine, including its salts and isomers, unless it is part of a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consequently, this change subjects the substance to the strictest level of regulation, making possession, distribution, and use subject to criminal penalties similar to those for other Schedule I drugs.

Maddy summaryHB 380 is a technical amendment bill that modifies the language of an existing statute regarding electronic court filings. The legislation makes specific word changes, such as adjusting the number of committee members from seven to six and clarifying that attorneys must use the filing system they choose. These adjustments refine procedural details without introducing new policies or altering the core function of the electronic filing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a law regarding cemetery emergency assistance by adding a specific instruction to adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act. The change does not create new programs or funding but rather modifies the legislative text to include a procedural step for rulemaking. It directly affects the administrative process used to implement existing cemetery disaster relief measures. The bill is a technical amendment focused on ensuring the proper legal framework is in place for future rule adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a licensing requirement for wholesale and retail seafood dealers in the state. It creates an exemption from this license for restaurants and retail grocers that only buy seafood from licensed dealers and sell it fully prepared for immediate consumption. The legislation sets the annual license fee at three hundred dollars and mandates that all licensed dealers maintain specific records.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous resolution regarding the use of funds generated from alternative energy production in Louisiana's coastal zone. The specific change directs that $300 be allocated from these funds, replacing a previously blank amount. This adjustment affects the financial management of coastal energy projects by specifying a fixed sum for distribution. The measure does not create new programs but rather clarifies the exact dollar amount available for disposition under the existing framework.

Maddy summaryHB 940 authorizes the state to issue bonds to fund deferred maintenance projects for colleges and universities under an existing capital improvement program. The bill allows the Office of Facility Planning and Control to retain up to one percent of project costs for administrative expenses and permits university boards to approve smaller projects under one million dollars if they determine it is cost-efficient. It also updates the maximum funding limit for these projects from one hundred eighty-one million dollars to two billion dollars and clarifies the timeline for legislative approval. These changes directly affect state higher education institutions by providing a financial mechanism to address necessary repairs and upgrades.