Rep. Dixon McMakin

Maddy summaryHB 149 designates a specific segment of United States Highway 190 Business East in Slidell, Louisiana (from Beech Avenue/Interstate 10 Service Road to Military Road) as the "Senior Police Officer Trevor Abney Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the costs (up to $2,250 per sign). This is a purely ceremonial bill with no substantive policy changes, solely honoring a police officer through road naming.

Maddy summaryHB 597 establishes a new formula for adjusting judicial salaries in Louisiana. It requires annual salary increases for all Louisiana judges (Supreme Court, appellate, district, city, and parish courts) on July 1st, based on a five-year rolling average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill caps annual raises at the percentage increase for full-time state classified employees and mandates that the Louisiana Supreme Court and Judicial Budgetary Control Board must approve each increase before implementation, contingent on available funding. This replaces previous judicial compensation statutes (R.S. 13:42-50) with the new mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of Louisiana's Law Enforcement Recruitment Incentive Program from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029. The program provides financial incentives to encourage individuals to join law enforcement agencies in the state. Under this legislation, any remaining funds in the program's dedicated account will be moved to the state's general fund once the program ends. The change affects law enforcement recruitment efforts and the state's budget management for this specific incentive fund.

Maddy summaryHB 911 merges Orleans Parish's civil, criminal, and juvenile courts into a single "Forty-First Judicial District," directly affecting New Orleans residents, judges, clerks, and court staff. It abolishes 10 specific court divisions (including juvenile and civil/criminal divisions) and reduces judgeships from 31 to 22, while creating a unified clerk of court position and consolidating judicial offices. Key provisions include transferring juvenile court jurisdiction to the new district, eliminating duplicate court clerks, and extending current juvenile court judges' terms until 2027. The bill aims to streamline operations, reduce costs through economies of scale, and modernize a system described as "fragmented and inefficient" following Hurricane Katrina and financial challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 13 modifies how the Louisiana State Police Retirement System manages pension costs by changing amortization periods for past and future underpayments. It shortens the timeframe for spreading out payments from 30 years to 20 or 15 years under certain conditions (e.g., when the system reaches 70% funding or for specific valuation years). The bill also establishes a new "AFC rate" starting at 0% for benefit increases, with potential increases up to 2.5% if employer contributions decrease, and sets a minimum employer contribution rate starting in 2027-2028. These changes directly affect the state’s budget for the State Police Retirement System and the future retirement benefits of state police officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 22, 2026, as LSU Day at the Louisiana state capitol to honor the Louisiana State University System. The resolution formally recognizes the system's eight institutions, including the upcoming addition of LSU at New Orleans, for their contributions to education, research, and community service across the state. By passing this measure, the legislature acknowledges the university system's achievements without altering any laws or policies. The bill serves as a commemorative gesture rather than a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 422, the Behind the Counter Safety Act, requires retail stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and similar food service or retail establishments in Louisiana to create written workplace violence prevention plans. These plans must include risk assessments, safety measures (like panic buttons or bullet-resistant counters), employee training, and incident reporting procedures. The bill also mandates visible warning signs stating "Violence against employees is a crime," prohibits retaliation against employees who report violence, and requires businesses to report incidents to law enforcement and Louisiana Works. Additionally, the state department must provide public resources on workplace violence prevention and maintain anonymized incident data.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana legislation authorizes law enforcement officers to use fleet camera systems to issue citations for driving on the right side of multilane highways without requiring a traffic stop. The bill mandates that these citations be mailed to the vehicle owner and includes an administrative hearing process for drivers to contest the violation. All fines collected from these citations will be allocated to the Louisiana Office of State Police. Finally, the bill requires state agencies to implement public awareness campaigns and signage to notify motorists about the new enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana law to require the Secretary of State to make legislative acts and joint resolutions available on the Official Journal of the State's website within the time limits set by existing regulations. It directly affects the Secretary of State's office by clarifying their duty to transmit and publish legislative documents online. The key provision ensures that laws passed by the legislature are promptly accessible to the public through the state's official journal portal. This change streamlines the process for citizens to find and review enacted laws without needing physical copies.

Maddy summaryHB 101 designates the mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) as Louisiana's official state waterfowl. The bill authorizes its use on state documents and official insignia, such as government seals or publications. This is a symbolic change with no regulatory or policy impact on wildlife management, hunting, or conservation. It directly affects state agencies that produce official materials by adding a new emblem to their branding. The bill does not alter existing laws or create new obligations for residents or wildlife.