Rep. John Wyble

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include the substantive provisions or policy details of HB 371. While the bill title references "free exercise of religion" and it has progressed through committee and legislative stages, the bill text, summary, and specific mechanisms are missing from the given information. Without details on what the bill actually changes or who it affects, a factual summary of its policy content cannot be created. Procedural details (like amendments and committee actions) are noted, but not the concrete policy changes required for this summary.

Maddy summarySB 137 requires insurance companies to notify the state Department of Insurance when they stop, pause, or restart selling policies in a specific geographic region. This applies directly to all insurers operating within defined areas of the state. Insurers must provide written notice of these changes in policy availability, with the law taking effect on January 1, 2026. The bill creates a clear reporting mechanism to track shifts in insurance market access.

Maddy summarySB 126 adds a specific exemption for charter schools from reporting school mapping data requirements under Louisiana law (R.S. 17:416.16.1). The bill directly affects charter schools operating under Louisiana's Chapter 3996, exempting them from this data collection mandate unless otherwise required by their approved charter. Key provisions clarify that charter schools are exempt from "all statutory mandates" applicable to public schools, with this mapping data requirement explicitly listed as one of the exempted provisions. This change modifies existing law to remove a specific reporting obligation for charter schools, while public schools remain subject to the mapping data requirement. The bill focuses on administrative clarity for charter schools within existing legal frameworks.

Maddy summarySB 42 is a technical amendment to clarify which state office oversees perinatal behavioral health treatment services. It corrects the reference from "office of group benefits" to the properly capitalized "Office of Group Benefits" in the bill text. This change affects administrative processes within the state's health care system but does not alter eligibility, funding, or patient access to perinatal mental health services. The bill focuses solely on updating terminology for clarity in existing policy language.

Maddy summarySB 202 (as described in its title) proposes transferring the University of New Orleans to the Louisiana State University System. However, the provided bill text only shows a technical amendment correcting a reference within existing law (changing "Subsection (C)(2)" to "R.S. 17:3230.1(C)(2)"), not the substantive transfer itself. This appears to be a procedural amendment related to the transfer process, not a new policy. The bill is currently in committee (Education) after recent amendments and is awaiting further legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 233 modifies Louisiana's School Readiness Tax Credit by adding a $5 million annual cap on the total value of credits issued each calendar year. This change directly affects businesses that claim the credit for providing child care services to support working parents. The bill establishes a specific limit ($5 million per year) to prevent the credit program from exceeding this total amount, ensuring the state's fiscal responsibility. The policy change is implemented through new language in Louisiana law (R.S. 47:6107(C)), which sets this annual spending ceiling. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

Maddy summaryHB 640 creates the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction within the state Department of Transportation. The bill grants this new office authority to use emergency procurement procedures for highway projects until January 1, 2026, mirroring existing rules for the broader transportation department. This directly affects state transportation operations by establishing a dedicated unit with specific buying powers for highway construction needs. The bill focuses on administrative structure and procurement processes, not on changing road standards or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 556 is a technical correction bill that updates outdated legal references in Louisiana law regarding the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). It revises specific statute citations (such as R.S. 48:23, 76(C), 92, and 94) to align with current code sections, ensuring DOTD's operational procedures reference the correct laws. This procedural bill does not change DOTD's duties, funding, or public-facing policies - it only corrects statutory language for administrative accuracy. The bill affects the DOTD's internal operations by ensuring its legal framework matches current state statutes. (Note: This is a technical amendment, not a substantive policy change.)

Maddy summaryHB 684 restricts the use of seclusion and physical restraint for students with disabilities in schools, requiring staff to first implement behavioral interventions. The bill clarifies that such interventions must address the student's behavior before restraint is considered, with a minor technical amendment correcting wording from "Behavior" to "Behavioral" in the text. This is a procedural adjustment with no new costs or policy changes, as noted by "EN NO IMPACT," and it directly affects school staff and students with disabilities in public education settings. The bill passed the House unanimously (99-0) and is now pending in the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 264 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug manufacturers to increase transparency around drug pricing and compensation practices. It prohibits PBMs from charging pharmacies fees for claims (Amendment 7) and mandates drug manufacturers to notify the state commissioner of significant price increases (over 15% for brand drugs or "specialty" drugs) with explanations (Amendment 16). The bill also creates a fund for enforcement (Amendment 3) and requires PBMs to notify pharmacies of payment errors and allow claim corrections (Amendment 10). These provisions directly affect pharmacies, PBMs, and drug manufacturers by altering how drug costs and rebates are disclosed and managed.