Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana's special education laws by requiring school board members to receive training on special education policies and mandating that local school districts report annual financial and academic data to special education advisory councils. It extends the time limit for filing special education due process hearings from one to two years and allows for a non-adversarial early resolution process where resulting agreements can be enforced in court. Additionally, the legislation requires the state board to establish rules for behavioral health services and mandates that public schools install cameras in classrooms within 90 days of a parent's request.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames two specific sections of state highways in Louisiana to honor two individuals. It designates a part of Highway 175 in Mansfield as the "Jerius Marshall Highway" and a segment of Highway 133 in Start as the "Luke Letlow Memorial Highway." The legislation applies only to the named road sections within their respective parishes and does not alter any traffic laws or funding. By changing the official names of these roads, the bill serves as a commemorative measure rather than introducing new operational rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals running for local school board in Louisiana to hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. It also disqualifies candidates who have been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to specific crimes listed in state law. These new eligibility rules apply to all school board members seeking election, ensuring they meet educational and character standards before serving. The legislation does not change the number of board seats or the election process itself, but rather sets minimum requirements for who can become a candidate.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes computer science a mandatory subject for high school graduation in states that require two units of foreign language study. It achieves this by amending existing graduation requirements to list computer science as an option alongside specific foreign language courses like Spanish. Additionally, the legislation mandates that teacher preparation programs include training on how to teach computer science. These changes directly impact high school students, their graduation plans, and the professional development of future educators.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how local school superintendents are evaluated by requiring that at least fifteen percent of their performance review be based on student growth in mathematics by the end of third grade. The legislation directly affects school districts and the superintendents who lead them by changing the specific metrics used in their annual assessments. By adjusting the percentage and focusing the evaluation on early math achievement, the bill aims to align superintendent accountability with specific literacy and math outcomes for young students.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the text of a law regarding mandatory reporting of child abuse by changing the word "Section" to "Article" in two specific places. These changes do not alter the actual requirements for who must report suspected abuse or how reports are handled. The legislative action is purely a technical correction to the document's structure rather than a new policy change.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for joining insurance companies as defendants in civil lawsuits, primarily affecting plaintiffs, defendants, and liability insurers. It allows courts to add an insurer to a case after a verdict or settlement is reached to ensure the judgment can be enforced, provided the lawsuit falls within the policy's coverage limits and the insurer has not previously denied coverage. The legislation also establishes specific deadlines for insurers to formally notify insured individuals when they decide not to cover a claim or refuse to defend them in court. Additionally, it sets procedures for how insurers must communicate their decision to reserve rights regarding a claim, requiring written notice to the insured and the insured's legal counsel within a set timeframe before trial.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the requirements for real estate brokers and salespeople in Louisiana to clarify how they can regain their licenses after expiration or inactivity. It allows individuals who let their licenses lapse to reapply within a specific window without having to complete the full initial education hours again. Specifically, brokers and salespeople who renew their application by the end of the year following their expiration date can skip the standard 150-hour broker course or 90-hour salesperson course. Additionally, the law states that inactive licensees do not need to complete annual continuing education while their license is inactive, though they must finish required training before returning to active status.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution from the Louisiana Legislature urges President Biden's administration to end the temporary pause on approving pending liquefied natural gas export permits. The bill highlights the state's significant economic reliance on the oil and gas industry, which contributes billions in tax revenue and supports thousands of jobs. It argues that halting these approvals could disrupt global supply chains, increase energy costs, and harm national security. The measure does not change any laws but serves as a formal request to the federal government to resume its review of LNG export projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill adds Tianeptine to Schedule I of Louisiana's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. By doing so, it classifies the substance as a drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, making its possession, sale, and distribution illegal under state law. The change applies to Tianeptine in any form, including its salts and isomers, unless it is part of a pharmaceutical product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This legislative action directly affects individuals who manufacture, distribute, or possess the substance and law enforcement officers who enforce these regulations.