Maddy summaryHB 622 creates an advisory board within Louisiana's Department of Insurance to review and recommend approval for new treatments for rare cancers, replacing the original focus on histotripsy coverage. The bill establishes a 14-member board including the insurance commissioner, health department officials, cancer research center directors, and two oncologists specializing in rare cancers. Key provisions require the board to hold quarterly public meetings, submit annual reports to the legislature, and allow the insurance commissioner to create implementing rules. This affects health insurers by mandating their review of new rare cancer treatments through this board, rather than directly requiring coverage for specific procedures. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 496 modifies auto insurance requirements to allow drivers a temporary gap in coverage of up to 90 days without penalty. It directly affects vehicle owners who may experience brief lapses in insurance payments, such as due to payment delays or administrative errors. The bill amends existing law to specify that coverage lapses exceeding 90 days remain subject to standard penalties. The law would take effect on January 1, 2026, or later if vetoed and overridden. This change provides limited flexibility for short-term coverage interruptions while maintaining the core requirement for continuous insurance.
Maddy summaryHB 378 lowers the required ACT score for students completing approved home study programs to qualify for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award. It directly affects students in home study programs who previously needed a higher ACT score for initial TOPS eligibility. The bill amends the program's eligibility criteria by reducing the minimum ACT score threshold for this specific group. The change adjusts the policy without altering the program's core structure or funding amounts.
Maddy summaryHB 533 establishes a tax credit for businesses that hire apprentices, interns, or youth workers, directly benefiting employers in these sectors. The bill sets an annual credit cap starting at $1 million for 2026, increasing by $1 million each year (up to $7.5 million total) if 80% of the prior year’s cap is used. Businesses must apply by February 28 each year for credits earned the previous year, with approvals based on a first-come, first-served system that may involve proportional allocation if demand exceeds available funds. The credit is expected to cost approximately $1.1 million in state funds annually.
Maddy summaryHB 238 creates new tax deductions for Louisiana taxpayers covering education expenses: full tuition deductions for private school (up to $6,000 per child), 50% deductions for home-schooling costs (up to $6,000 per child), and 50% deductions for certain public school expenses (up to $6,000 per child). It directly affects parents who claim children as dependents on federal tax returns and pay for qualifying education. The bill also requires child welfare agencies to annually report adoption details and foster care organization information to the tax department. All deductions are capped at $6,000 per child and tied to federal dependency claims.
Maddy summaryHB 617 updates the legal references within Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) by changing titles and terminology. It replaces terms like "administrator" with "administrator assistant secretary," removes "child welfare" references, and updates them to "Louisiana Works" in multiple sections of the law. The bill has no financial or operational impact on services, as noted in the bill's "EN NO IMPACT" designation. This is purely an administrative adjustment to align legal language with current department structure and program naming.
Maddy summaryHB 358 allows pharmacy technicians to work remotely under specific circumstances, directly affecting pharmacy technicians employed in licensed pharmacies. The bill amends existing law to permit technicians to perform duties from locations outside a physical pharmacy, provided they use secure remote systems. The state board of pharmacy must create implementing rules to govern this remote work arrangement, ensuring compliance with safety and licensing standards. This change modifies current regulations without altering core pharmacy operations or patient care requirements.
Maddy summarySCR 60 is a resolution requesting Louisiana's Department of Insurance to study how 2025 insurance reforms impacted the state's market competitiveness. The study will analyze specific metrics - including carrier applications, rate changes, consumer complaints, and premium trends - for homeowners' and auto insurance from July 2024 through November 2026. It requires comparing data against pre-reform baselines and reporting findings to insurance committees by December 2026, including how each reform affected the market and policy recommendations. This procedural bill does not change laws but seeks data to evaluate recent reforms' effectiveness for consumers and insurers.
Maddy summaryThis is a Louisiana state resolution (not a federal bill), memorializing Congress to take specific actions regarding flood insurance. It requests Congress pass three proposed bills: the Flood Insurance Affordability Act (capping annual premium increases at 9%), the Risk Rating 2.0 Transparency Act (requiring FEMA to publish pricing data), and the Flood Insurance Affordability Tax Credit Act (providing a 33% tax credit for low/middle-income households). The resolution aims to end FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, which homeowners in Louisiana coastal parishes and across the U.S. claim has caused significant premium hikes despite mitigation efforts. It directly affects homeowners facing unaffordable flood insurance costs under the current system.
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.