Rep. Lauren Ventrella

Maddy summaryHB 406 authorizes individuals to request the expungement of records from certain administrative adjudication proceedings. This applies if the Attorney General found that the agency's interpretation of law, which led to a stipulation, settlement, consent order, or default, was erroneous. Expungement is also allowed if the agency's proceedings concluded without a finding that the person violated the law. If the request meets these grounds, the agency must remove the records from public access, making them confidential and no longer public, though the records themselves are not destroyed and remain available to the agency.

Maddy summaryHR 20 is a resolution that expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Steven "Steve" Joseph Miguez. It acknowledges his life, business career, competitive shooting achievements, and family.

Maddy summaryHB 105 appropriates $450,000 from Louisiana's state general fund to pay a court-ordered settlement (consent judgment) in the case *Marchand v. State of Louisiana*. The bill directly affects the state (which must pay the funds) and Jared Marchand (the plaintiff who won the case). It specifies that the payment covers the judgment's principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees as determined by the court, with interest ceasing on the bill's effective date. The funds are allocated specifically for this existing legal obligation, not for new policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 411 expands Louisiana's existing "Fire Service Bill of Rights" to explicitly include emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, directly affecting firefighters and EMTs statewide. The bill adds 11 specific rights to the existing framework, covering areas like safety protections during emergencies, access to modern equipment, family support for on-duty deaths, education on hazardous materials, and recognition as first responders. It formally establishes a "Louisiana Fire and Emergency Medical Services Service Bill of Rights" to safeguard these rights under state law. The bill is currently pending in the Health and Welfare Committee after being prefiled and referred in April 2025. This is a procedural amendment to existing law, not a new policy.

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 modifies the legal standard for self-defense cases by changing when a judge must decide who holds the burden of proof. Instead of waiting until a defendant's first court appearance, the rule now applies once the state requests access to evidence under a specific discovery article. This adjustment shifts the timing of a critical procedural decision earlier in the criminal process. The change directly impacts criminal defendants and prosecutors involved in self-defense claims.

Maddy summaryHB 854 amends existing rules for the state wildlife rehabilitation program by extending a specific time limit from one day to two days and requiring that a notice be included in a particular process. These changes adjust procedural requirements for individuals or organizations working with injured wildlife to ensure they have adequate time and proper documentation. The bill does not create new programs or alter funding but instead refines how current regulations are applied to rehabilitation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the membership structure of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice by adjusting the representation for Jefferson Parish. Specifically, it changes the requirement so that one member will be selected from Jefferson Parish, while the total number of members from that parish is reduced from two to one. This amendment directly affects the commission's composition by altering how many commissioners represent that specific parish. The change is a procedural adjustment to the committee's makeup rather than a new policy initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 467 is a procedural bill that amends the state code to update references regarding the sale of raw milk and commercial animal feeds. The legislation modifies existing sections to include new requirements for monthly salmonella testing, record-keeping, and labeling standards for raw milk producers. It also grants the commissioner of agriculture the authority to temporarily suspend the sale of raw milk if it poses an immediate health threat, while allowing legislative committees to review and override such suspensions. Because the bill text indicates no impact on current laws and primarily serves to align statutory references, it functions as a technical update rather than introducing new substantive policy.

Maddy summaryHB 47 requires that any communication regarding school immunization requirements include information about available exemptions. This law expands the scope of who can claim these exemptions to cover not only students entering school but also those already attending. The bill applies to schools and the entities responsible for issuing information about vaccination rules. By clarifying that exemptions apply to current students, the legislation ensures consistent messaging about vaccine policies across all student populations.