Rep. Kim Coates

Maddy summarySB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 680 updates Louisiana's workforce development system to align with federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It establishes a unified statewide planning process, replaces fragmented local workforce boards with a coordinated system, and allows the state to seek federal waivers to reduce administrative costs. The bill directs more funding toward direct job training and employment services (rather than overhead) and requires Louisiana Works to prioritize measurable employment outcomes for workers and employers. This affects state agencies, local workforce boards, businesses seeking skilled workers, and job seekers needing training.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives regarding the tragic loss of eight children in Shreveport, Louisiana. It specifically names the eight victims and describes their personal qualities to honor their memories. The bill is a symbolic gesture intended to offer comfort to the families and friends of the deceased.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that expresses the Louisiana House of Representatives' condolences for the tragic death of eight children in Shreveport, Louisiana. It directly affects the families and loved ones of the deceased by offering official sympathy from the legislative body. The resolution lists the names of the children and briefly describes their positive qualities and school affiliations. It does not create any new laws or change existing policies, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of mourning.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution expressing the condolences of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the tragic deaths of eight young children in Shreveport. It formally acknowledges the loss of Mar'Kaydon Pugh, Sariahh Snow, Khedarrion Snow, Braylon Snow, Layla Pugh, Kayla Pugh, Shayla Elkins, and Jayla Elkins, who were all students at various local schools. The text describes each child briefly by name, age, and school, and concludes by offering comfort to their families and friends.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana House resolution asks the U.S. Congress to oppose any parts of the upcoming 2026 Farm Bill that might restrict the use of hunting dogs. The measure specifically targets proposed language that could limit lawful hunting traditions, field trials, and the training of working dogs. By urging state representatives to block such provisions, the bill aims to protect local hunting culture and the rural economy without changing federal law directly.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the Department of Transportation and Development to improve safety features along Interstate 12 in Livingston, East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany Parishes. The bill cites specific fatal accidents, including a 2020 collision involving a cable barrier and a 2025 crash caused by a vehicle striking a concrete median, as reasons for these improvements. By highlighting these incidents, the resolution seeks to prompt the state agency to address infrastructure vulnerabilities that have led to serious injuries and deaths. The measure does not mandate funding or specific engineering changes but serves as a formal request for the department to prioritize safety upgrades in the affected areas.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana legislative resolution asks the U.S. government to reclassify crawfish processing work as agricultural labor so that workers can be hired under the H-2A visa program instead of the more limited H-2B program. The bill also urges federal officials to create a special designation for long-term, compliant crawfish employers and to speed up visa processing times to help businesses meet their seasonal staffing needs. By making these changes, the measure aims to ensure a reliable workforce for the crawfish and landscaping industries during their peak harvest and maintenance periods. The resolution does not become law itself but serves as a formal request to federal agencies and lawmakers to take specific actions to address labor shortages in the state.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commends Paul Hollis, the director of the United States Mint, for his return visit to the Louisiana House of Representatives. The measure expresses gratitude for his past service as a state representative and his current role as the first Louisianian to lead the Mint. It does not create any new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as an official statement of appreciation for his contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 521 proposes a constitutional amendment to Louisiana's property tax system, allowing local taxing authorities (like parishes or municipalities) to adjust property tax rates to the maximum authorized rate from a prior reassessment without requiring new voter approval. The key mechanism permits these authorities to increase rates to the previous year's maximum level using a two-thirds vote of the governing body, after holding a public hearing with proper notice. This change would take effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all property tax collections starting that date. The bill does not change current tax rates but modifies the process for adjusting them, requiring transparency through public hearings while removing the need for separate voter referendums for these adjustments.