Rep. Stephanie Berault

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a small change to the state constitution to adjust the deadline for passing spending bills. Currently, the law requires such bills to be enacted by November 5, but this amendment would move that date to December 7. The change directly affects the legislative process by giving lawmakers an extra month to finalize budgets before the fiscal year begins. No new programs or funding levels are created; the bill only alters the procedural timeline for how appropriations are approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a law regarding the protection of agricultural land from foreign adversaries by adding a specific legal definition for "land." The change requires that the term "land" in the statute be interpreted according to the definition found in R.S. 3:3602. This clarification directly affects how agricultural properties are identified and protected under the existing legislation. The bill is currently under consideration by the Committee on Appropriations after being referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs a specific subcommittee within Louisiana's Children's Cabinet Advisory Board to study the needs of the state's child welfare system. The study will examine challenges faced by children and families receiving services from the Department of Children and Family Services and aim to provide recommendations for improving outcomes and protecting children. The subcommittee is required to submit a written report with its findings and suggestions by February 1, 2025, to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the state's legislative research library.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Louisiana laws to allow licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists to receive supervision through virtual video conferencing. It requires the state board to create specific rules for this remote supervision, ensuring it meets the same standards as in-person training through secure technology. The legislation also modifies experience requirements for licensure, permitting candidates to count up to three thousand hours of supervised practice that includes this virtual format.

Maddy summaryHB 440 amends the laws governing the recorded documents for planned community associations to clarify how specific sections of the statute are referenced. The bill changes the language used in the official records to ensure that citations point directly to the correct subsections of the new law rather than using a different phrasing. This adjustment affects homeowners and property managers in planned communities by standardizing how their governing documents are legally described. The change is a technical update designed to improve clarity in legal records without altering the underlying rights or obligations of the communities involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the installation and use of newborn safety devices at designated infant relinquishment sites under the state's Safe Haven Law. It directly affects hospitals and other facilities that serve as safe drop-off locations for parents wishing to surrender their newborns anonymously. The legislation allows these sites to use specific safety devices to facilitate the safe transfer of infants to medical professionals. This change aims to provide a secure and standardized method for handling newborn surrenders at these locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, which prohibits anyone from knowingly giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. It also amends existing laws to explicitly classify attempted abortions as a crime and adds the specific act of using drugs to cause an abortion to the state's list of racketeering activities. Under the new provisions, offenders face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years and fines between ten thousand and one hundred thousand dollars, depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy and the risk to the woman's health. The law applies to any person who engages in these actions, not just medical professionals, and ensures that a conviction under this bill does not prevent further prosecution for more serious offenses like murder if the woman is harmed or killed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, a state program designed to support pregnant women and newborns. It requires the relevant state department to create specific rules that ensure the program is clinically effective, financially stable, and held to high performance standards. The legislation also mandates that the department report its annual progress to the legislature, including details on oversight and penalties for failing to meet program goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to create a process for doctors to request exceptions when health insurance plans restrict access to certain medications. Specifically, it allows physicians to bypass standard approval steps for drugs used to treat postpartum depression if the medication's specific indication is not yet approved by the FDA. The law requires insurance companies to provide an easy online way for doctors to apply for these overrides and to grant them quickly when supported by sound clinical evidence. Although the bill includes language about this provision, it currently has no impact because it was recalled from committee and did not advance to a vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies an existing law to expand the list of specific medical treatments covered when a governor declares a state of emergency. It directly affects residents who need to seek care outside their home state during such emergencies by adding chemotherapy, radiotherapy, dialysis, and heart surgery to the list of covered services. The change ensures that these critical procedures are recognized under the same out-of-state coverage rules already in place for other treatments.