Rep. Chasity Martinez

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.

Maddy summarySB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.

Maddy summarySB 34, "Bryan's Call," establishes clear rules for missing child alerts in Louisiana. It requires AMBER Alerts for children 17 or younger in immediate danger of serious harm or death, and Level II alerts for other missing children cases that don’t meet AMBER criteria. Local police must assess alert types, but state police make the final decision and provide required training for law enforcement on using these systems. The law also grants legal immunity to broadcasters, cable operators, and law enforcement for actions related to Level II alerts.

Maddy summaryHB 168 establishes a structured transitional reentry program in Louisiana for female parolees, administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. It directly affects women who have served at least five years in prison, have no sex offense convictions, are within six months of release, have no recent disciplinary issues, and voluntarily agree to participate. The program aims to support their safe community reintegration through tailored preparation, requiring parole eligibility and adherence to department-established screening. This policy creates a formal pathway for eligible female parolees to access reentry services before release.

Maddy summarySB 255 requires Medicaid-funded behavioral health providers in Louisiana to ensure staff delivering psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services hold at least a bachelor's degree in specific fields like counseling, social work, or psychology. This affects all licensed providers seeking Medicaid reimbursement for PSR services. The bill mandates these educational qualifications as a condition for continued reimbursement, updating existing Medicaid eligibility rules. The measure is pending legislative review and would not take effect until enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 636, the "Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act," requires Louisiana public colleges and universities to prevent, report, and respond to hazing involving student organizations. It defines hazing broadly (including physical brutality, dangerous activities, or substance consumption) and mandates annual hazing education for all students starting fall 2027, plus specific orientation education for new students. The bill also requires student organizations to report hazing incidents to both law enforcement and their institution, and institutions must document all actions and share full details with law enforcement. These provisions directly affect public postsecondary institutions, their students, and all student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, and clubs.

Maddy summarySB 351 modifies Louisiana's Early Childhood Education Fund rules by requiring local entities receiving state funds to provide a 1:1 match from non-government sources to expand childcare slots for families in the Child Care Assistance Program. It specifically targets quality slots in centers serving children under 15 months, limiting eligibility to economically disadvantaged families as defined by the State Board. The bill also expands the Advisory Council's role to advise on early education programs like Head Start and the Child Care Assistance Program. These changes directly affect local childcare providers and low-income families accessing state-funded early education services.

Maddy summaryHB 28 amends Louisiana's teacher certification appeals process to give the state superintendent of education new authority. It allows the superintendent to override a Teacher Certification Appeals Council's denial of certification if the denial resulted from circumstances beyond the applicant's control (e.g., administrative errors), but not if the certification would conflict with state or federal law. This applies to applicants denied certification after January 1, 2025, including retroactive review of past denials. The bill directly affects educators seeking certification who have been denied by the appeals council. The key change is adding this superintendent override option while maintaining the council's decision as final except under these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 23 would provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to eligible Louisiana state retirees and certain beneficiaries starting July 1, 2026. It applies to retirees aged 60+ with at least one year of benefits by June 30, 2026, plus specific beneficiaries (e.g., those linked to disability retirees or deceased retirees). The COLA would be capped at 2% of the first $80,000 of a recipient’s benefit and funded exclusively from the retirement system’s existing funds. The bill would take effect on June 30, 2026, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as Assumption Parish Day at the Louisiana state capitol. The measure recognizes the parish's historical significance, including its early settlement by Native American tribes and French and Spanish settlers, as well as its long-standing role in agriculture, particularly sugar cane production. By officially naming this date, the resolution expresses appreciation for the contributions of Assumption Parish to the state's agricultural industry and cultural landscape. The bill is a commemorative resolution that does not create new laws or change existing policies.