Rep. Sylvia Taylor

Maddy summaryHB 198 creates a Louisiana income tax deduction for tip income earned by eligible residents. It allows taxpayers with adjusted gross income below $65,000 (single) or $130,000 (married filing jointly) to deduct 100% of their tip income, with the deduction percentage phasing down to 20% for higher earners within specified income ranges. The deduction applies to reported tip income from IRS Forms W-2 and 4137, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. The provision terminates if federal tax law changes to exempt tip income from federal taxation.

Maddy summaryHB 424 amends Louisiana's early voting rules to require parishes (counties) to add at least one additional early voting location for every 50,000 voters or 500 square miles of land. It mandates that all locations be accessible public facilities, with clear notice posted online and at election offices. The bill also requires the state to reimburse parishes for related costs (like rentals or temporary staff) if the legislature allocates funds for this purpose. This directly affects parish election offices and voters by expanding early voting access based on population or geography. The bill is currently pending in the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

Maddy summaryHB 5 requires Louisiana public school systems to use savings from the Teachers' Retirement System to provide permanent salary increases for teachers and other school employees starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Certificated staff, such as teachers and administrators, must receive at least a $2,000 raise, while non-certificated staff, including aides and clerical workers, must receive at least $1,000. The bill mandates that these salary increases include associated retirement costs and applies to employees on specific leaves, such as military or maternity leave, provided they remain in their approved positions. If a school district does not have enough savings to cover the full amount of these raises, the remaining cost is to be funded through the state's minimum foundation program formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that charter schools participating in the state retirement system must also comply with these salary increase requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new annual fee for holders of commercial seafood permits in Louisiana to fund imported seafood safety measures. The fee starts at $300 in 2025 and increases by $250 each year, reaching $1,000 in 2028 and remaining at that level thereafter. All collected funds will be deposited into a dedicated Imported Seafood Safety Fund for use as outlined in state law. The legislation directs the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to charge and collect this fee from permit holders.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state code to update the citation for the section prohibiting certain disciplinary actions against students in elementary and secondary schools. The change corrects a reference from "17:416(B)(2)" to "17:416.1(B)(2)" to ensure the law is accurately cited in legal documents. By fixing this numbering error, the legislation helps maintain the integrity of the existing rules that govern how schools must treat student discipline. The update does not alter the actual disciplinary restrictions but ensures the legal framework is properly referenced.

Maddy summaryHB 888 is a procedural amendment that removes the word "authorities" from a specific line in the Social Work Licensure Compact legislation. This change does not alter the actual rules or requirements for social workers but serves as a minor text correction within the bill. The amendment affects the legislative record of the compact, which governs how social workers can practice across state lines, but it does not create new obligations or rights for practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates the existing Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles as the state's Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The primary change is adding a new section to the state code to formally recognize this specific location with that official title. The legislation does not alter the physical memorial or its funding, but rather establishes its legal status as the designated memorial for the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes violence prevention in Louisiana as a public health and safety crisis, requiring the state to address it using data-driven methods. It directs the Louisiana Department of Health to review factors contributing to violence, such as poverty, lack of education, and untreated trauma, while also examining community conditions like the safety of streets, parks, and schools. The department must then submit a report to the legislature by February 1, 2026, outlining current prevention efforts, strategies for conflict resolution, and ways to improve social determinants of safety in high-risk areas. Additionally, the bill allows the department to partner with universities and non-governmental organizations to gather information and develop recommendations for reducing violence.

Maddy summarySB 40 amends the Louisiana Seafood Safety Act to clarify administrative roles within the state's health oversight system. The bill makes minor text changes to remove redundant language and establishes a specific task force to support the commission, with the Senate Health and Welfare Committee chairman serving as its leader. These adjustments aim to streamline how the state manages seafood safety regulations without altering the core safety standards themselves.