Maddy summaryHB 121 expands the authority of Louisiana's commissioner of agriculture and forestry to address imported seafood violating state law. The bill specifically grants the commissioner the power to seize, hold, or destroy seafood products that breach state regulations. This directly affects businesses importing seafood into Louisiana, requiring compliance with state standards. The law takes effect upon the governor's signature or after the legislative session's deadline, as outlined in the bill's provisions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 588 adds three new industry representatives to Louisiana's Seafood Safety Task Force: one from the oyster industry, one from the crab industry, and one from the finfish industry. This expands the task force's membership from 14 to 17 members without altering the task force's existing duties or responsibilities. The bill specifically defines these new roles as mandatory positions within the existing statutory structure.
Maddy summaryHB 851 prohibits intentional releases of 12 or more balloons at a single event, imposing fines similar to other littering violations. It specifically exempts balloon releases by people under 17, biodegradable balloons, indoor releases, scientific/weather balloons (by agencies/institutions), and balloons with tracking devices. The law applies to event organizers planning such releases but does not affect typical balloon use or accidental releases. This amendment to Louisiana's littering statute clarifies penalties for mass balloon releases while allowing for common exceptions.
Maddy summaryHB 349 clarifies how Louisiana's Imported Seafood Safety Fund can be used. It directs all funds in the account to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry for two specific purposes: enforcing the state's seafood safety laws and promoting Louisiana seafood products. The bill ensures these funds cannot be used for other purposes, directly affecting seafood safety enforcement and marketing efforts within Louisiana's seafood industry. This change updates existing law to provide clear, focused spending guidelines for the fund.
Maddy summaryHB 725 requires restaurants and other seafood retailers in Louisiana to keep purchase invoices from seafood vendors for six months. This affects all businesses buying seafood for sale, mandating they maintain these records and make them available for inspection by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture. The bill prohibits creating or submitting false records and allows the department to impose civil penalties for violations. It aims to improve traceability and accountability in the seafood supply chain without specifying additional consumer or environmental protections.
Maddy summaryHB 801 creates a "Classic Black" specialty license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, available to any Louisiana resident who applies for it. The plate features a black background with white numbers and "LOUISIANA" at the top, and requires a $25 annual fee (plus $3.50 handling) on top of standard license taxes. All fees collected will fund emergency vehicle operations training for local governments at the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Holden. The plate is restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans, but requires at least 1,000 applicants before issuance.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Louisiana Highway 526 as the "Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway" to honor an individual. The legislation achieves this by officially adding the name "Hayden" to the existing title of the roadway in the state's legal records. It directly affects the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, which will use the new designation for official signage and mapping. The bill contains no changes to traffic laws, funding, or road construction requirements, serving solely as a commemorative measure.
Maddy summarySB 104 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish (from the intersection with Highway 78 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line) as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway" to honor the renowned author. The bill requires the state transportation department to install signage only if local or private funds cover the costs (capped at $750 per sign for materials and installation). This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting the designated highway corridor and its signage. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage and has not yet been voted on.
Maddy summaryHB 629 creates a special Louisiana license plate for the Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, available to any Louisiana resident who applies and pays fees. The plate requires a minimum of 1,000 applicants to be issued, with an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) collected by the state. All $25 fees go directly to the Krewe of Athena to fund scholarships for debutantes, with the plate design including the words "Krewe of Athena" and following state plate regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new system called CARE Accounts to manage future medical payments awarded in personal injury cases. When a court orders compensation for future medical expenses, those funds must be placed in a special money market account owned by the person who caused the injury but controlled for the injured person's benefit. The account can only be used to pay for medically necessary treatments and services, though the bank does not verify each transaction. Any money left in the account after the injured person dies returns to the person who caused the injury. The law will not apply to cases filed before it takes effect on January 1, 2027.