Maddy summaryHB 363 allows students enrolled in virtual schools to join public school extracurricular activities and sports teams at their neighborhood school based on where they live. It requires schools to treat virtual students the same as in-person students for tryouts, eligibility, and participation standards like grades and conduct. The bill prohibits schools from excluding virtual students from activities solely due to their enrollment type and bans participation in athletic associations that deny such students eligibility. This directly affects virtual school students in Louisiana and the public schools they reside near.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill asks the U.S. Congress to provide $10 million in federal funding to Louisiana to remove four unsafe bridges on U.S. Highway 90 in St. Tammany Parish. The bridges were closed in 2022 due to structural problems, which cut off a vital route for commuters, businesses, and hurricane evacuations connecting New Orleans to Mississippi. The legislation specifically targets the 2027 federal budget for transportation to pay for the demolition of these structures, which is intended as the first step toward rebuilding the highway. It is a formal request from the state legislature to the federal government and does not guarantee that the funding will be approved.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the licensing requirements for Type III early learning centers in Louisiana. Specifically, it clarifies that the state department cannot require licensing for prekindergarten programs run by public or nonpublic schools that are already approved under existing state laws. The legislation directly affects private and religious schools operating prekindergarten classes, ensuring they are not subject to duplicate licensing rules if they meet current educational standards. By removing the option to license these specific programs, the bill streamlines regulations for schools already operating under a recognized approval process.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana legislature to the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies to speed up research and clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It does not create new laws or change funding directly but instead asks federal officials to prioritize efforts to develop better treatments for this aggressive blood cancer. The resolution also names these proposed research efforts the "Jonas A. Feeley Act" to honor a recent victim of the disease. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture to advocate for increased federal attention on improving survival rates for patients with this condition.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Task Force on School Nurse Orientation in Louisiana to create a training program for new registered nurses entering public schools. The task force will review existing orientation programs, identify essential skills for school nurses, and develop recommendations for standardized training and mentorship opportunities. It will consist of nine representatives from various organizations including nursing associations, education agencies, and health departments, and must begin its work by August 1, 2026. The group will submit its recommendations to the legislature and will dissolve once its work is complete or by February 12, 2027.
Maddy summaryHB 712 creates fee waivers for Class "E" driver's licenses and state identification cards for homeless individuals in Louisiana. It requires applicants to provide a letter from an approved entity (like a homeless shelter, healthcare provider, or school liaison) confirming homelessness, which includes people living at or below 100% of the federal poverty line. The waiver covers all fees for issuing, renewing, or replacing these credentials, but excludes individuals violating driver's license laws. This bill directly affects homeless residents seeking essential identification without cost.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the use of career coaches alongside school counselors to help public middle and high school students and their parents create personalized graduation plans. The law establishes that these professionals can work together or independently to guide students through their educational goals. By adding career coaches to the list of eligible advisors, the measure expands the support options available to students without changing the core requirement of developing an individualized plan.
Maddy summaryHB 74 proposes creating a "Spectrum Alert" system in Louisiana to assist law enforcement in locating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who go missing. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a public notification system that verifies a child’s missing status, issues community alerts via text/email/flyers, and coordinates with private entities. It also mandates specialized training for officers on ASD responses and de-escalation tactics, while granting legal immunity to participating law enforcement, broadcasters, and others. The bill directly affects children with ASD, their families, and law enforcement agencies across Louisiana.
Maddy summaryHB 350 creates École Pointe-au-Chien as a public French immersion school serving students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Terrebonne Parish. The bill establishes the school as independent from state education boards, operating under its own board of directors. It specifies the school’s grade levels and location while requiring French immersion instruction as part of its curriculum. This directly affects students enrolled at École Pointe-au-Chien and its governing board.
Maddy summarySB 404 is a technical amendment bill that makes minor corrections to the text of an existing eye care law. The bill does not introduce new policies or programs but instead fixes specific wording errors in the statute to ensure legal clarity. These changes include correcting pronoun references, removing incomplete sentences, and updating terminology from "agreeance" to "agreement." The legislation directly affects eye care providers by refining the language of regulations they must follow, though it does not alter their obligations or rights.