Rep. Kellee Hennessy

Maddy summaryHB 315 is a procedural bill that does not create new laws or change existing policies on its own. Instead, it establishes a condition for when a previous set of laws regarding prescription periods for tort actions will officially take effect. The bill specifies that these related laws will only become operative if and when four other specific bills from the 2024 legislative session are passed and enacted. Consequently, the measure directly affects the implementation timeline of those other bills rather than introducing independent legal changes.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution expresses the Louisiana Legislature's support for strengthening the state's partnership with Taiwan and expanding Taiwan's participation in international organizations. The bill specifically endorses efforts to deepen trade ties, encourages collaboration through the National Guard's State Partnership Program, and celebrates the anniversaries of the Taiwan Relations Act and the sister-state relationship between Louisiana and Taiwan. As a non-binding statement of intent, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies but serves to formally acknowledge the value of these diplomatic and economic connections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments in Louisiana to provide suitable and professional office space for veterans' service offices. The law mandates that these spaces be safe, well-maintained, and equipped with restroom facilities. It also clarifies that the cost of providing this office space does not count as a financial contribution toward the operation of the veterans' service offices.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specialty license plate in Louisiana featuring the text "LSU Baseball National Champions." The legislation directs the Department of Public Safety to design and sell these plates, which will be available to any vehicle owner in the state. By adding this new option to the list of approved specialty plates, the bill allows drivers to display their support for the LSU baseball team on their vehicles. The text of the law is updated to include this specific plate design within the existing regulations governing vehicle license plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing education laws to ensure that cardiac health information is provided to student athletes and their parents. It specifically clarifies that the state's requirements for this information must be met at a minimum level, removing language that previously suggested a higher standard. The change affects school districts and athletic programs by reinforcing the baseline obligation to share heart health data with families. No new funding or specific testing protocols are added; the text simply adjusts how the current mandate is phrased.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs a specific subcommittee within Louisiana's Children's Cabinet Advisory Board to study the needs of the state's child welfare system. The study will examine challenges faced by children and families receiving services from the Department of Children and Family Services and aim to provide recommendations for improving outcomes and protecting children. The subcommittee is required to submit a written report with its findings and suggestions by February 1, 2025, to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the state's legislative research library.

Maddy summaryHB 340 requires public school governing authorities to establish a tracking system for parental complaints. The bill mandates that schools record and monitor these complaints to ensure they are addressed consistently. This measure directly affects school districts and the parents who file grievances regarding school policies or operations. By creating a formal log, the legislation aims to improve transparency and accountability in how schools handle parental concerns.

Maddy summaryHB 440 amends the laws governing the recorded documents for planned community associations to clarify how specific sections of the statute are referenced. The bill changes the language used in the official records to ensure that citations point directly to the correct subsections of the new law rather than using a different phrasing. This adjustment affects homeowners and property managers in planned communities by standardizing how their governing documents are legally described. The change is a technical update designed to improve clarity in legal records without altering the underlying rights or obligations of the communities involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the installation and use of newborn safety devices at designated infant relinquishment sites under the state's Safe Haven Law. It directly affects hospitals and other facilities that serve as safe drop-off locations for parents wishing to surrender their newborns anonymously. The legislation allows these sites to use specific safety devices to facilitate the safe transfer of infants to medical professionals. This change aims to provide a secure and standardized method for handling newborn surrenders at these locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, which prohibits anyone from knowingly giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. It also amends existing laws to explicitly classify attempted abortions as a crime and adds the specific act of using drugs to cause an abortion to the state's list of racketeering activities. Under the new provisions, offenders face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years and fines between ten thousand and one hundred thousand dollars, depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy and the risk to the woman's health. The law applies to any person who engages in these actions, not just medical professionals, and ensures that a conviction under this bill does not prevent further prosecution for more serious offenses like murder if the woman is harmed or killed.