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 662 proposes a new tax on specific insurance policies for certain for-profit businesses in Louisiana. This tax applies to commercial general liability or dwelling fire insurance policies for single-family rental properties owned by businesses that acquire or own 40 or more such properties in a calendar year. The tax rate is $1,000 per property, but it only applies to properties exceeding the first 39 owned or acquired by the business within that year. The revenue generated from this tax will be dedicated to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program Fund, and the provisions are set to become effective on July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis resolution commends Pastor Damian J. Brown, recognizing his extensive contributions to the Avondale, Louisiana community through his spiritual leadership and dedicated service with various churches and organizations. It highlights his work, including efforts during Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic, and his role in community development.
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 521 makes minor technical corrections to existing unemployment law regarding school employees' eligibility. It corrects a punctuation error (adding a comma) and a typo ("cross" to "crossing") in the statutory language describing eligibility rules. The bill does not change who qualifies for unemployment benefits or create new policy - it only clarifies how the current rule is written. As a procedural amendment, it directly affects the legal text but not the actual eligibility of school employees. The bill was recently referred to the Labor Committee for review.
Maddy summaryHB 536 is a procedural bill that corrects minor formatting errors in existing law regarding judicial elections for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal's first district. It updates section references from "Section One" to "section one" (and similarly for Sections Two and Three) to standardize capitalization in the legal text. The bill does not change voting rules, funding, or affect any specific individuals or groups. It is a technical correction to improve clarity in the current statute, with no new policy provisions. The bill has been referred to committee but has not yet been voted on.
Maddy summaryHB 5 requires Louisiana public school systems to use savings from the Teachers' Retirement System to provide permanent salary increases for teachers and other school employees starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Certificated staff, such as teachers and administrators, must receive at least a $2,000 raise, while non-certificated staff, including aides and clerical workers, must receive at least $1,000. The bill mandates that these salary increases include associated retirement costs and applies to employees on specific leaves, such as military or maternity leave, provided they remain in their approved positions. If a school district does not have enough savings to cover the full amount of these raises, the remaining cost is to be funded through the state's minimum foundation program formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that charter schools participating in the state retirement system must also comply with these salary increase requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 888 is a procedural amendment that removes the word "authorities" from a specific line in the Social Work Licensure Compact legislation. This change does not alter the actual rules or requirements for social workers but serves as a minor text correction within the bill. The amendment affects the legislative record of the compact, which governs how social workers can practice across state lines, but it does not create new obligations or rights for practitioners.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes violence prevention in Louisiana as a public health and safety crisis, requiring the state to address it using data-driven methods. It directs the Louisiana Department of Health to review factors contributing to violence, such as poverty, lack of education, and untreated trauma, while also examining community conditions like the safety of streets, parks, and schools. The department must then submit a report to the legislature by February 1, 2026, outlining current prevention efforts, strategies for conflict resolution, and ways to improve social determinants of safety in high-risk areas. Additionally, the bill allows the department to partner with universities and non-governmental organizations to gather information and develop recommendations for reducing violence.
Maddy summaryThis Louisiana bill adds Tianeptine, a substance increasingly used for its sedative effects, to Schedule I of the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. By placing it in this category, the legislation classifies Tianeptine as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use within the state. The law applies to any material containing Tianeptine, including its salts and isomers, unless it is part of a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consequently, this change subjects the substance to the strictest level of regulation, making possession, distribution, and use subject to criminal penalties similar to those for other Schedule I drugs.
