Rep. Kim Coates

Maddy summaryHB 184 creates a new tax deduction for Louisiana residents diagnosed with a terminal illness (or their spouse in joint returns) who withdraw funds from retirement accounts due to immediate financial need. The bill allows these "qualifying taxpayers" to deduct hardship distributions from their taxable income, as defined in Louisiana law (R.S. 47:297.26). This deduction applies only to withdrawals made because of a terminal illness diagnosis, not general financial hardship. The policy takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. It directly affects Louisiana taxpayers with terminal illness who access retirement funds early.

Maddy summaryHB 357 requires health insurance plans to cover integrative cancer treatments like acupuncture, directly affecting cancer patients seeking these services and health insurance issuers. The bill limits coverage for acupuncture treatment during active cancer care to fifteen visits per year, unless additional treatments are recommended by nationally recognized cancer guidelines and the treating physician. It also modifies prior authorization requirements by adding "prior authorization" to the list of coverage conditions. This bill is currently under review by the Committee on Appropriations after passing the Insurance Committee with amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 150 amends Louisiana law to exempt home-based food preparers from certain regulations when their gross annual sales reach $30,150 or more. Specifically, it revises Section 40:4.9(B) to state that the low-risk food preparation rules do not apply to home cooks selling homemade food who exceed this sales threshold. The bill directly affects small home food businesses that approach or surpass this revenue level, removing regulatory requirements for them. Key provisions clarify that only preparers with annual sales below $30,150 remain subject to the existing home food production rules. This creates a clear sales-based exemption for small-scale home food businesses.

Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a special task force to study how state agencies coordinate consultations for data center projects, aiming to improve natural resource planning and management. The task force will examine current interagency processes to identify gaps and recommend better coordination methods. It does not change existing laws or regulations but focuses solely on analyzing how agencies work together. The resolution is non-binding and currently under review in committee, with no voting record yet.

Maddy summarySB 46 prohibits intentionally releasing or dispersing chemicals into Louisiana's environment with the purpose of altering temperature, specifically limiting this ban to activities occurring below 1,000 feet above ground level. The bill directly affects individuals or entities seeking to use chemical dispersal for weather modification within the state. Key provisions include the 1,000-foot altitude restriction (added via amendments) and authorization for state environmental departments to use Louisiana Air National Guard surveillance capabilities for enforcement. The bill passed the Senate (27-12) on April 28, 2025, and now moves to the House for consideration.

Maddy summaryHB 273 establishes the official state children's Christmas book, designating a specific title as a state symbol. The bill’s amendments (Amendment No. 1 and 2) corrected minor drafting errors, such as removing unnecessary "the" before "Cajun" in the text. This is a symbolic procedural bill with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on residents or state programs. It focuses solely on naming a children’s Christmas book for official recognition.

Maddy summarySB 154 criminalizes the possession, distribution, and manufacture of kratom by classifying its active compounds (7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine) as Schedule I controlled substances. It directly affects individuals who use or distribute kratom products, with limited exceptions for medical prescriptions under specific state law. The bill imposes fines and prison terms ranging from up to 3 years for small amounts to up to 5 years for larger quantities, while allowing possession of small amounts (under 20 grams) to be punished by fines only. It replaces previous exemptions for kratom and defines "kratom" broadly to include any substance derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant or containing its active compounds. The law takes effect on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 80 expands Louisiana's definition of "first responder" to include electrical linemen during weather emergencies declared by the governor. It defines "electrical lineman" as a private-sector worker who installs, maintains, or repairs power systems, clarifying they remain private employees without state benefits. The bill specifies that electrical linemen may display "first responder" on uniforms but are not governed by state or local government. This change applies only to weather emergencies under state emergency protocols, not other incidents.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a legislative bill with policy provisions. It expresses the Louisiana House of Representatives' condolences on the death of Phil Alexander Robertson, a Duck Commander founder and "Duck Dynasty" star who was a prominent figure in northeast Louisiana. The resolution honors his life, family values, faith, and economic impact through his business, highlighting his 60-year marriage to Kay and his role as a community leader. It has no effect on laws or regulations, serving solely as a symbolic gesture of respect.

Maddy summaryHB 329 is a technical amendment to clarify language within existing insurance department funding provisions. It changes a reference from "Subparagraph" to "Paragraph" in a specific section of the law governing how insurance tax and fee proceeds are handled. The bill does not alter funding mechanisms or create new policy; it only corrects a procedural reference in the legislative text. This is a routine administrative adjustment with no direct impact on policy or affected parties.