Rep. Kathy Edmonston

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 31) requests the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) to avoid scheduling games during Easter weekend (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday). It directly addresses the LHSAA, asking them to pause athletic events to allow student athletes and families time for religious observance of the Lenten season's end. The resolution cites that families in Louisiana often observe these days and that athletes deserve uninterrupted family time without choosing between sports and religious traditions. It is a non-binding request, not a law, and does not require the LHSAA to comply.

Maddy summaryHB 695 would require Louisiana businesses to accept gold or silver coins, bullion, or a gold-backed debit card (which converts stored gold into cash) as legal tender for transactions. This directly affects residents and businesses in Louisiana by expanding the forms of payment they must accept, beyond traditional currency. The bill’s key mechanism explicitly lists government-issued gold/silver coins and bullion as valid tender, while introducing a new "gold-backed debit instrument" for converting stored gold into fiat currency. The bill passed the Louisiana House on May 22, 2025, and is now pending in the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 37 requires online platforms to exercise a duty of care when entering binding contracts with minors. This means platforms must take reasonable steps to protect minors during these agreements, such as ensuring terms are understandable and avoiding exploitative practices. The bill directly affects companies offering digital services, apps, or content that contract with users under 18. It recently passed a committee with amendments (11-0) and now has an effective date set for June 1, 2026, after a deadline change from March 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 199 changes how incarcerated individuals pay court filing fees. It requires correctional facilities to forward money from a prisoner's account to the court whenever the balance exceeds $10, continuing until all fees are covered. This directly affects prisoners seeking to file lawsuits or court documents by making fee payments more manageable through regular, smaller transfers instead of requiring large upfront payments. The bill modifies existing procedures to streamline the payment process for in forma pauperis (fee-free) proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 247 is a resolution directing Louisiana's Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs to study two existing programs supporting veterans in the criminal justice system: the Veterans Court Program Treatment Act and the Post-Conviction Veterans Mentor Program. The committee must evaluate these programs to recommend potential revisions that better assist veterans with co-occurring mental health, substance use, and criminal justice challenges. The resolution requires the committee to submit a report to the House Judiciary Committee by March 9, 2026. This is a procedural step focused on program review, not new legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 64 modifies state law regarding settlement agreements involving the Attorney General. It prohibits future settlement terms that require continuing federal court oversight beyond 60 days, making such terms unenforceable against the state government or successor officials. The bill specifically targets agreements creating binding future obligations exceeding this timeframe without requiring consent from the Attorney General or Governor. This change aims to limit long-term federal judicial oversight in state settlements. The bill was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee with a 15-0 vote.

Maddy summaryThis Louisiana legislative resolution (HR 316) urges Congress and the former Trump administration to prevent federal regulators from pressuring banks to cut ties with specific industries. It criticizes past actions like "Operation Choke Point" (targeting gun sellers, payday lenders, and crypto businesses) and regulatory "guidance" on climate policy, arguing such pressure harms free-market access to banking. The resolution demands regulators focus solely on financial crime (money laundering, terrorism financing) and avoid using their authority to advance unrelated policy goals. It calls for greater transparency to balance regulatory oversight with fair access to banking services for law-abiding customers. Note: This is a symbolic state resolution, not a federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 172 extends the exemption period for the Comite River from specific regulatory requirements under Louisiana's Scenic Rivers Act. This bill directly affects the Comite River by maintaining its current status, preventing it from being subject to certain scenic river protections that would otherwise apply after the current exemption expires. The key mechanism involves amending the existing law to extend the duration of the river's exemption, ensuring continued regulatory flexibility for the area. The bill is a technical adjustment to existing law, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 165 removes a specific deadline requiring the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District board to create watershed management regulations. The bill eliminates the existing requirement that the board promulgate these rules "prior to January 1, 2026," meaning the board can now establish such regulations at any time without a fixed deadline. This change directly affects the district board, which manages watershed policies within the Amite River Basin area. The key provision is simply deleting the 2026 deadline from the existing law, leaving the board's regulatory process unchanged except for the removal of the time constraint.

Maddy summaryHB 184 creates a new tax deduction for Louisiana residents diagnosed with a terminal illness (or their spouse in joint returns) who withdraw funds from retirement accounts due to immediate financial need. The bill allows these "qualifying taxpayers" to deduct hardship distributions from their taxable income, as defined in Louisiana law (R.S. 47:297.26). This deduction applies only to withdrawals made because of a terminal illness diagnosis, not general financial hardship. The policy takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026. It directly affects Louisiana taxpayers with terminal illness who access retirement funds early.