Rep. Mark Wright

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans to develop the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor roadway. This new roadway is intended to serve as a direct commercial traffic route for the Louisiana International Terminal, an alternative local traffic route, and an emergency evacuation path. The legislation empowers the Port to utilize public-private partnerships for the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of this project. It also outlines the board's powers, including property acquisition and accepting various funds, while requiring coordination and approvals from the Department of Transportation and Development.

Maddy summaryHCR 19 is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's condolences on the death of former state representative Billy Wayne "Coach" Montgomery, acknowledging his contributions as an educator, coach, and public servant.

Maddy summaryHB 34 revises how medical expenses are handled in civil lawsuits, impacting claimants seeking recovery for medical costs and parties involved in trials. It limits the recovery of medical expenses to amounts considered reasonable for the claim. The bill allows any party to introduce evidence of both the billed and paid amounts for medical services. Furthermore, agreements between healthcare providers and third parties, such as letters of protection with attorneys, will be admissible as evidence to ensure transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 668 amends Louisiana's tobacco tax laws, affecting manufacturers, dealers, and consumers of tobacco products. The bill continues the existing excise tax levied on cigarettes, outlining several specific tax rates per cigarette. It also authorizes reduced excise tax rates for certain tobacco products, allowing a 60% reduction for products with a U.S. FDA risk modification order and a 25% reduction for products with an exposure modification order. Additionally, the bill updates definitions related to tobacco products and taxation.

Maddy summaryHR 20 is a resolution that expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Steven "Steve" Joseph Miguez. It acknowledges his life, business career, competitive shooting achievements, and family.

Maddy summaryHB 302 requires asbestos lawsuit claimants in Louisiana to disclose all related asbestos trust claims within 30 days of filing their case. This includes providing detailed exposure history, work records, medical evidence, and all trust-related documents (like claim forms and settlement records). The bill mandates that defendants can challenge incomplete disclosures 60 days before trial, and courts must delay trials for 90 days if additional trust claims are needed. It also makes asbestos trust materials automatically admissible in court without privilege claims, directly affecting plaintiffs, defendants, and asbestos trusts in civil litigation.

Maddy summaryHB 626 extends Louisiana's existing sales and use tax exemption for physical materials used on ships to include certain digital products. The bill directly affects ship operators and owners of vessels (50+ tons) engaged in foreign or interstate coastwise commerce, covering digital products like prewritten software, access services, and information services used for vessel maintenance and operation. Key provisions add "digital products" to the definition of exempt items under the tax code, aligning digital goods with physical supplies already excluded from taxation. This change applies only to digital products incorporated into or directly used for vessel maintenance, not general business software. The exemption becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 10 outlines changes to the state's sales and use tax rates, exemptions, and credits, while also establishing a flat income tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts. The bill increases the standard deduction and modifies or eliminates specific income tax deductions and credits. This legislation directly affects taxpayers and businesses by altering how much they owe in state taxes and what financial relief they may qualify for.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the creation of a new entity called the Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission to oversee investments in the state's ports and waterways. The legislation includes minor text corrections to ensure proper grammatical structure and consistent capitalization within the commission's description. By establishing this commission, the bill aims to provide a dedicated body for managing and facilitating capital improvements in Louisiana's maritime infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 644 allows students enrolled in home study programs to join public school activities. The bill removes a specific word from the text to ensure these students can apply for extracurricular programs without unnecessary barriers. This change directly affects families choosing home education by giving their children access to the same school events as traditional students. The legislation focuses on expanding participation opportunities rather than altering the core requirements of home study programs.