Rep. Tim Kerner

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 resolution urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use its Section 32 program to buy domestic shrimp from Louisiana shrimpers. The measure aims to provide financial relief to local fishermen by having the USDA purchase surplus shrimp to support domestic markets and supply food to federal nutrition assistance programs. While the bill does not mandate the purchase, it formally requests that the agency prioritize Louisiana seafood in its procurement efforts to help stabilize the industry against rising costs and foreign competition.

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 summaryThis bill requires individuals convicted of vehicular homicide where the victim is a parent with a minor child to pay child support to the surviving child. The law mandates that offenders follow the existing child support payment schedule outlined in state law. It applies specifically to cases where a parent dies due to a vehicle-related crime, ensuring financial support for the remaining child. The measure adds a financial obligation to the criminal penalties already imposed for this offense.

Maddy summaryHB 294 allows houses of worship (like churches, mosques, and synagogues) to request that disruptive or trespassing individuals leave their premises. If such individuals refuse, authorized staff or security may use reasonable force to remove them, consistent with existing self-defense laws. The law protects these individuals and the religious organization from legal liability when using force that is necessary and proportional to the disruption. This directly affects places of worship and their staff by clarifying their legal authority to maintain order during services or religious activities.

Maddy summaryHB 450 adds five points to the final test score of veterans applying for entry-level firefighter or police positions in Louisiana civil service. It applies to veterans who served 180+ days honorably during wartime and received an honorable discharge, as verified by the hiring board. The bill modifies existing law (sections 33:2491(E) and 33:2551(5)) to include this scoring adjustment for competitive employment lists. This change directly affects veterans seeking these public safety jobs by potentially improving their ranking in hiring processes.

Maddy summaryHB 376 sets a 90-day maximum limit for provisional appointments in specific entry-level fire and police roles (like firefighter, police officer, jailer, and radio system technicians) within Louisiana municipalities, parishes, and fire districts. It prohibits successive provisional appointments for these positions, ensuring temporary hires cannot be renewed repeatedly. The bill amends existing civil service rules to clarify these restrictions for classified service positions. This directly affects local government hiring practices for frontline public safety roles. The measure focuses on procedural rules for temporary staffing, not broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Louisiana Highway 526 as the "Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway" to honor an individual. The legislation achieves this by officially adding the name "Hayden" to the existing title of the roadway in the state's legal records. It directly affects the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, which will use the new designation for official signage and mapping. The bill contains no changes to traffic laws, funding, or road construction requirements, serving solely as a commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 297 expands Louisiana tenants' right to early lease termination to include victims of stalking and cyberstalking, in addition to domestic abuse. It directly affects residential tenants who are victims of these crimes and need to leave their rental properties for safety. The bill requires tenants to provide documentation from a qualified third party (like a social worker, police officer, or prosecutor) and complete a specific certification form detailing the incident and why remaining on the premises is unsafe. This creates a formal process for tenants to terminate leases early without penalty, while requiring lessors to follow defined procedures for approval.

Maddy summaryHB 955 creates two new licenses in Louisiana: a **Cash Bail Fund Surety License** for entities posting cash bail (requiring background checks, education, and annual reports) and a **GPS Monitoring Provider License** with similar requirements. It prohibits licensed entities from posting cash bail for defendants charged with violent crimes (e.g., murder, sexual assault, armed robbery) and mandates that courts only accept cash bail or GPS services from licensed providers. Existing cash bail and GPS providers have 12 months to obtain licenses, with transitional rules allowing continued operations during this period. The bill aims to regulate these services through standardized licensing, record-keeping, and enforcement penalties for violations.