Rep. Beth Billings

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution (HR 258) urges President Trump to support the federal Major Richard Star Act. It addresses a current law requiring combat-wounded, medically retired veterans to choose between military retirement pay and VA disability benefits, resulting in reduced total compensation due to an offset. The resolution argues these benefits come from separate funds honoring distinct forms of service and should not be mutually exclusive. The bill passed unanimously in the Louisiana House (93-0) and was referred to the federal administration for consideration. (Note: This is a state legislative resolution requesting federal action, not a bill changing federal law itself.)

Maddy summaryHB 120 corrects outdated references in Louisiana law regarding death benefits for Louisiana State Guard members. It removes specific statutory citations (like R.S. 29:26.1(G)) that no longer apply, ensuring the law accurately references current provisions. The bill directly affects families of deceased Louisiana State Guard members by maintaining their eligibility for existing death benefits without changing the benefit amount or eligibility criteria. This is a technical correction to the legal text, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHR 296 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by Louisiana's House of Representatives to commemorate St. Patrick's Day. It formally recognizes Louisiana's historical Irish cultural ties, including the 1806 St. Patrick's Day celebration in New Orleans and Irish immigrants' role in building the New Basin Canal (1832-1838). The resolution also acknowledges the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, which fosters U.S.-Ireland relations. As a non-binding commemoration, it does not create new policies or affect any specific group legally.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana legislative resolution (HR 316) urges Congress and the former Trump administration to prevent federal regulators from pressuring banks to cut ties with specific industries. It criticizes past actions like "Operation Choke Point" (targeting gun sellers, payday lenders, and crypto businesses) and regulatory "guidance" on climate policy, arguing such pressure harms free-market access to banking. The resolution demands regulators focus solely on financial crime (money laundering, terrorism financing) and avoid using their authority to advance unrelated policy goals. It calls for greater transparency to balance regulatory oversight with fair access to banking services for law-abiding customers. Note: This is a symbolic state resolution, not a federal law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 345) is a memorial from Louisiana's House urging Congress to create a federal disaster insurance program covering flooding, tornadoes, fires, and other disasters. It directly affects homeowners and businesses in disaster-prone areas by requesting affordable insurance to cover rebuilding costs, modeled after the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The resolution emphasizes that such insurance would provide financial certainty for insurers and expedite recovery efforts after events like hurricanes or wildfires. It does not create new law but asks Congress to adopt this approach to complement existing disaster relief programs.

Maddy summaryHR 329 is a resolution (not a binding bill) passed by the Louisiana House urging the Attorney General and Louisiana Department of Insurance to investigate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for potential violations of existing laws. It specifically requests that these agencies examine whether PBMs are violating rules by owning or financially benefiting from pharmacies, which critics argue creates conflicts of interest that disadvantage independent pharmacies. The resolution also urges the Louisiana legislature to pass new laws prohibiting PBMs from owning or having financial interests in pharmacies. This would aim to prevent PBMs from steering patients to their own affiliated pharmacies and ensure fair reimbursement practices for all pharmacies. The resolution highlights concerns about rising drug costs, reduced competition, and threats to rural pharmacy access, referencing similar actions taken by other states.

Maddy summaryHB 184 creates a new tax deduction for Louisiana residents diagnosed with a terminal illness (or their spouse in joint returns) who withdraw funds from retirement accounts due to immediate financial need. The bill allows these "qualifying taxpayers" to deduct hardship distributions from their taxable income, as defined in Louisiana law (R.S. 47:297.26). This deduction applies only to withdrawals made because of a terminal illness diagnosis, not general financial hardship. The policy takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. It directly affects Louisiana taxpayers with terminal illness who access retirement funds early.

Maddy summaryHB 531 requires the attorney general to coordinate sexual assault nurse examiner services statewide, with a specific focus on improving access in rural areas. This bill directly affects sexual assault survivors, particularly those in underserved rural communities, by aiming to ensure consistent access to specialized forensic medical examinations. The key provision establishes a statewide coordination system funded through legislative grants or appropriations, directing the attorney general to manage this effort under new statutory language. The bill does not create new services but aims to better organize existing nurse examiner programs across the state.

Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a task force to study the feasibility of building a regional water purification facility serving Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Charles parishes. The task force, composed of appointed representatives from these parishes and the City Services Coalition, will assess strategies for operation and management and submit a report to local authorities by March 15, 2026. The effort specifically addresses challenges like saltwater intrusion impacting drinking water quality in the region.

Maddy summaryThe full text of HB 359 is not provided, making a complete summary difficult. However, based on the available information, Amendment No. 1 to HB 359 proposes to add an emergency medicine physician, selected by the president of the Louisiana State Medical Society, to a specific list or body within the bill. Given the bill's title, "MENTAL HEALTH: Provides relative to victims of human trafficking," this physician would likely be involved in efforts related to mental health support for human trafficking victims. The specific role or impact of this addition cannot be determined without the full bill text.