Rep. Kellee Hennessy

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 267) asks the U.S. Congress to increase federal funding for Louisiana sheriffs' offices in seven parishes (Claiborne, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, Webster, and Winn) that patrol the Kisatchie National Forest. It highlights that current federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding - approximately $400,000 - is insufficient to cover the costs of patrolling and responding to emergencies in the 608,487-acre forest, despite it being federally owned. The resolution requests Congress take action to provide adequate funding to support these local law enforcement efforts. It does not create new law but formally urges federal action.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 280) requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to study whether digital products (like apps or software) should be covered under Louisiana’s Products Liability Act, which currently applies to physical products. It asks the Institute to recommend to the legislature by February 2026 whether digital product designers and manufacturers should face the same safety standards as makers of physical products. The study aims to address legal gaps highlighted by recent court cases involving digital platforms and clarify liability for digital products in Louisiana. This resolution does not change existing law but seeks to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects digital product companies operating in Louisiana by potentially subjecting them to new liability standards.

Maddy summaryHR 265 is a non-binding resolution urging the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) to study ways to strengthen the state's electrical grid against electromagnetic threats, such as solar storms or man-made incidents. It does not mandate specific actions or funding but asks the LPSC to explore technology, policies, and cost recovery methods for grid hardening. The bill was passed unanimously (95-0) in the Louisiana legislature on June 10, 2025, after being amended to replace "direct" with "urge and request" to clarify its advisory nature. This resolution primarily affects the LPSC's future planning efforts, not grid operators or ratepayers directly. It focuses on policy exploration, not implementing new requirements or infrastructure changes.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution urges the EPA to fast-track testing and approval of a feral hog toxicant developed by LSU AgCenter. It specifically requests the EPA use an existing exemption (Limited Replicated Field Trials) to bypass the typical 10-year review process, directly affecting Louisiana agriculture which faces over $90 million in annual damages from feral hogs. The resolution does not create new law but formally asks federal agencies to expedite safety testing for a sodium nitrite-based solution to address the invasive species threat.

Maddy summaryHR 279 is a non-binding resolution condemning the June 1, 2025, antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado. It formally expresses legislative disapproval of the incident and the use of improvised incendiary weapons during the attack, as clarified by an amendment correcting the bill’s description of the weapon. The resolution directly addresses the public and lawmakers, emphasizing unity against antisemitism. It does not create new laws or affect specific individuals or groups. This is a procedural statement, not a policy change, with no financial or regulatory impact.

Maddy summaryHB 358 allows pharmacy technicians to work remotely under specific circumstances, directly affecting pharmacy technicians employed in licensed pharmacies. The bill amends existing law to permit technicians to perform duties from locations outside a physical pharmacy, provided they use secure remote systems. The state board of pharmacy must create implementing rules to govern this remote work arrangement, ensuring compliance with safety and licensing standards. This change modifies current regulations without altering core pharmacy operations or patient care requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 268 amends outdated legal terminology in Louisiana law regarding pornography involving juveniles, specifically correcting references from "Articles" to "Sections" in two code sections (R.S. 14:81.1 and 14:648(B)(3)(i)). The bill does not change legal definitions, penalties, or protections; it only updates how these provisions are cited in legal documents. This technical correction directly affects court records, legal filings, and law enforcement documentation referencing these specific statutes. The changes streamline legal references without altering the underlying criminal law.

Maddy summarySB 70 amends a definition related to remote patient monitoring services for healthcare coverage. It specifically clarifies that an "infant" eligible for these services includes a child discharged after requiring neonatal intensive care. The bill makes minor technical corrections to the bill text (removing a reference to "woman" and adding the infant definition). This is a procedural amendment affecting the bill's language, not a new policy change. The bill does not alter coverage rules or funding but ensures the definition aligns with healthcare needs.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 31) requests the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) to avoid scheduling games during Easter weekend (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday). It directly addresses the LHSAA, asking them to pause athletic events to allow student athletes and families time for religious observance of the Lenten season's end. The resolution cites that families in Louisiana often observe these days and that athletes deserve uninterrupted family time without choosing between sports and religious traditions. It is a non-binding request, not a law, and does not require the LHSAA to comply.

Maddy summaryHB 695 would require Louisiana businesses to accept gold or silver coins, bullion, or a gold-backed debit card (which converts stored gold into cash) as legal tender for transactions. This directly affects residents and businesses in Louisiana by expanding the forms of payment they must accept, beyond traditional currency. The bill’s key mechanism explicitly lists government-issued gold/silver coins and bullion as valid tender, while introducing a new "gold-backed debit instrument" for converting stored gold into fiat currency. The bill passed the Louisiana House on May 22, 2025, and is now pending in the Senate.