Rep. Alonzo Knox

Maddy summaryHB 232 updates Louisiana's process for minors (under 18) to obtain employment certificates. It replaces school-based requirements with a standardized digital form, requiring minors to provide parent/guardian consent and age verification (like a birth certificate) through the state department. Employers must keep the certificate for 14 days after a minor’s job ends, and the state can revoke certificates for improper issuance or illegal employment. The bill removes all obligations from schools and school boards regarding these certificates. It takes effect on August 2, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 376, the "Learn and Earn Act," creates a new program allowing Louisiana public high schools to partner with businesses for paid, credit-bearing work-based learning opportunities. It requires school boards to establish career practicums through written agreements with businesses that ensure fair value exchange (e.g., businesses provide equivalent benefit for school resources used) and align with state-approved career pathways. The program directly affects high school students - especially in rural or underserved communities - by offering compensated job training in fields like healthcare or technology while meeting educational requirements. Key provisions mandate that these practicums operate exclusively within defined instructional boundaries, prioritize student safety/supervision, and integrate financial literacy and employability skills.

Maddy summaryHB 367 modifies Louisiana's enforcement process for the Structural Pest Control Commission by requiring the commission to send alleged violators a 30-day certified mail notice before holding an adjudicatory hearing. This applies directly to businesses or individuals operating under structural pest control licenses who face potential penalties, license suspensions, or revocations. The bill does not change penalties or create new rules but standardizes the notification process for hearings under existing enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 629 creates a special Louisiana license plate for the Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, available to any Louisiana resident who applies and pays fees. The plate requires a minimum of 1,000 applicants to be issued, with an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) collected by the state. All $25 fees go directly to the Krewe of Athena to fund scholarships for debutantes, with the plate design including the words "Krewe of Athena" and following state plate regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 346 renames a specific section of U.S. Highway 171 in Florien, Louisiana (from Louisiana Highway 118 to Sandra Lane) as the "Speaker Joe Salter Memorial Highway." The bill directs the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage for this redesignation, provided local or private funds cover the department's actual costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a procedural naming bill with no substantive policy changes affecting residents, programs, or funding. It solely honors Speaker Joe Salter through a highway designation.

Maddy summaryHB 472 authorizes Louisiana municipalities and parishes to adopt rent stabilization ordinances through a majority vote of their governing authority. The bill creates a new legal framework (R.S. 33:9731) allowing local governments to implement rent stabilization measures, directly affecting landlords and tenants in communities that choose to adopt such rules. Key provisions require local elected officials to vote on implementing these measures, without mandating any specific rent limits or timelines. This is a procedural authorization bill that provides municipalities with the option to address housing affordability through local policy, pending future action by individual cities or parishes. The bill remains in early legislative stages with no current implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 111 would allow incarcerated individuals in Louisiana to earn an additional 90 days of credit toward their parole supervision date if they obtain an associate's degree from a regionally accredited, department-approved educational institution while serving their sentence. This policy directly affects people in Louisiana state prisons who complete such a degree program. The key provision adds this specific credit to existing good time calculations under Louisiana law, reducing the time they must serve under parole supervision. The bill does not alter prison sentences but shortens the parole period for eligible individuals who earn the degree.

Maddy summaryHB 615 requires certain public bodies in Louisiana to broadcast their meetings live online or via TV. It directly affects nonelected tax-levying boards, state rule-making commissions, and local governments (parish councils, school boards, city councils) in areas with populations over 25,000 (parishes/schools) or 10,000 (cities). Key provisions mandate live audio/video broadcasting of all public meetings (excluding executive sessions), include broadcast location in meeting notices, and require recordings to be archived online for two years. The bill exempts committee meetings with only volunteer members and does not apply if broadcast failure results from unavoidable technical issues.

Maddy summaryHB 458 modifies Louisiana's work release program rules for inmates, directly affecting incarcerated individuals participating in approved work programs. It requires that inmates pay no more than 33% of their gross wages toward room, board, and basic expenses, with all remaining earnings disbursed in a specific order: first for the inmate's basic needs, then travel and employment costs, dependents' support, court-ordered debts, and finally the leftover balance to the inmate. The bill also clarifies eligibility, allowing certain inmates convicted of serious offenses (like rape, armed robbery, or drug trafficking) to participate only in the final months of their sentences after meeting minimum service requirements. All wages must be paid at standard rates for similar work, and funds are managed by the sheriff with strict disbursement rules.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates Wednesday, April 8, 2026, as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. The measure recognizes the fraternity's 115th anniversary and its history of service and expansion since its founding in 1911. It does not change laws or affect public policy but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the organization's achievements.