Rep. Paul Sawyer

Maddy summarySB 160 designates a specific segment of U.S. Highway 171 in Florien, Louisiana (from the northern to southern village limits in Sabine Parish) as "Joe R. Salter 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 department's actual costs for materials and installation, with a maximum cost of $750 per sign. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes affecting residents, businesses, or state funding beyond the signage costs. The bill has been prefaced and referred to the Transportation Committee but has not yet advanced further.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the entire length of Interstate 49 in Louisiana (from its intersection with I-10 in Lafayette Parish northward) as the "Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation, up to $2,250 per sign. The bill directly affects the highway corridor and its signage, with no financial burden on the state. It is a procedural naming measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the highway designation and signage cost rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales and use tax rebate program for purchases of equipment and materials used in aerospace facilities and activities in Louisiana. To qualify, aerospace facility owners must certify that their projects will create at least 200 new permanent jobs and invest at least $1 billion in the state between July 2026 and July 2031. The rebate applies to purchases made on or after July 1, 2026, and can be claimed annually by eligible contractors and facility owners through the Department of Revenue. If a facility fails to meet its job creation or investment obligations by July 2031, the state can terminate the agreement and require repayment of any rebates already received. The program is administered by Louisiana Economic Development, which certifies facilities and manages agreements that can be renewed for up to 10 additional years.

Maddy summaryHB 841 establishes new rules for property takings (expropriation) in Louisiana, primarily affecting landowners and pipeline companies with expropriation authority. It requires pipeline operators to provide detailed written notices to landowners before seeking property, conduct appraisals by disinterested third parties, and engage in at least five in-person negotiation meetings. The bill mandates a 30-day response period for landowners to review offers and contest takings on grounds like lack of good-faith negotiation or procedural violations. It also shifts court costs to the expropriating authority (not landowners) and empowers the Department of Conservation and Energy to revoke certificates for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that formally commends Reverend Doctor Gerrit Scott Dawson for his spiritual leadership of the First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge. It recognizes his twenty-two years of service, including guiding the church into its current denominational home and mentoring the congregation, on the occasion of his designation as pastor emeritus. The text highlights his personal and professional achievements, such as his academic credentials, authorship of eight books, and the growth of the church under his tenure, without imposing any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana House of Representatives asking the U.S. Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to show identification at federal election polling places. The resolution argues that voter ID laws help prevent fraud and increase public trust in elections, noting that 36 states already have similar requirements. It does not directly change any laws or affect voters immediately, but rather serves as a non-binding recommendation to federal lawmakers. The bill is a procedural measure expressing support for election integrity rather than implementing specific policy changes itself.

Maddy summaryHB 873 adds a $2 supplemental fee to certain Louisiana driver's license applications and renewals (including Class D, E, and commercial licenses) to create the "Pursuit Safety and Officer Technology Fund." The funds will provide grants to law enforcement agencies for pursuit intervention technology - such as GPS projectiles, tire deflation devices, and vehicle-tethering systems - and for training on their safe use. This affects all drivers obtaining or renewing eligible licenses statewide, with the fee appearing on standard license transactions. The bill does not change existing license costs but directs specific portions of fees toward this new safety fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools in Louisiana to offer age-appropriate hunting courses to students in grades five through twelve. The courses must include firearms training, hunter education, and conservation education, though schools may add other relevant topics. Charter schools are exempt from this requirement unless they choose to include it in their approved charter. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will work with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to create rules for implementation, with the program starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 919 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus the state's professional dispensing fee per prescription, with a minimum $12 per prescription. It prohibits PBMs from owning or contracting with pharmacies (including subsidiaries) and mandates annual transparency reports detailing foreign subsidiaries and financial arrangements with drug manufacturers. PBMs violating these rules face fines up to $100,000 per violation for executives, with unlimited liability for large PBMs ($500M+ revenue). The law applies retroactively to prescriptions filled between January 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025, and becomes fully effective for new requirements in 2027. These provisions directly affect pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs operating in Louisiana.