Rep. Stephanie Hilferty

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two regions. The commission will be made up of members appointed by the Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor, including representatives from Irish-American communities and universities. Its main tasks are to promote trade, investment, and business exchanges, while also addressing shared policy issues and infrastructure projects. The group must hold its first meeting by October 2024 and submit a written report with recommendations to the governor and legislature by March 2025. Additionally, the bill designates March of each year as Irish-American Heritage Month to honor the state's Irish heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specialty license plate for vehicles in Jefferson Parish to commemorate the area's bicentennial. The plate will be available to any vehicle owner in the parish who wishes to display it on their car. The legislation authorizes the state's governing authority to design and issue these plates, while removing a specific reference to the government in the text. This change is administrative and does not alter existing laws regarding vehicle registration or traffic.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Postpartum Newborn Nurse Home Visiting Task Force to study and recommend policies for expanding the Family Connects model of postpartum nurse home visiting in Louisiana. The task force will be composed of representatives from state health agencies, insurance officials, medical associations, and community organizations to evaluate current programs and how other states fund similar services. Its duties include assessing the impact on health outcomes, determining appropriate Medicaid coverage, and developing reimbursement rates and billing codes for these visits. The group must submit a final report with its findings and policy recommendations to the legislature by the end of February 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commends Crescent City Steakhouse in New Orleans for its 90th anniversary. It recognizes the restaurant's long history, noting that it was founded in 1934 by John Vojkovich and has remained family-owned since then. The document highlights the establishment's role in creating the famous "steaks sizzling in butter" dish and its status as the oldest family-owned steakhouse in the city. The bill serves as a symbolic gesture of gratitude rather than establishing new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the installation and use of newborn safety devices at designated infant relinquishment sites under the state's Safe Haven Law. It directly affects hospitals and other facilities that serve as safe drop-off locations for parents wishing to surrender their newborns anonymously. The legislation allows these sites to use specific safety devices to facilitate the safe transfer of infants to medical professionals. This change aims to provide a secure and standardized method for handling newborn surrenders at these locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative, a state program designed to support pregnant women and newborns. It requires the relevant state department to create specific rules that ensure the program is clinically effective, financially stable, and held to high performance standards. The legislation also mandates that the department report its annual progress to the legislature, including details on oversight and penalties for failing to meet program goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to create a process for doctors to request exceptions when health insurance plans restrict access to certain medications. Specifically, it allows physicians to bypass standard approval steps for drugs used to treat postpartum depression if the medication's specific indication is not yet approved by the FDA. The law requires insurance companies to provide an easy online way for doctors to apply for these overrides and to grant them quickly when supported by sound clinical evidence. Although the bill includes language about this provision, it currently has no impact because it was recalled from committee and did not advance to a vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases survivor benefits for the families of firemen and law enforcement officers in Louisiana who die while performing their official duties. It establishes a base payment of $250,000 for a surviving spouse or, if there is no spouse, for surviving children or a designated beneficiary. Additionally, the law provides an extra $250,000 for each dependent child of the deceased officer or firefighter, with these funds paid from the state's Self-Insurance Fund. The legislation requires all covered employees to complete a beneficiary designation form to ensure the money goes to the intended recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows schools to administer specific medications to students under defined conditions. It requires the state Department of Education to create and share a list of approved medications and permits training for administration to be provided by medical emergency organizations, registered nurses, or licensed physicians. The legislation directly impacts school administrators, staff, and students by establishing a formal process for managing student health needs during the school day.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that formally expresses the condolences of the Louisiana Legislature on the death of James David Cain, a former state representative and senator. The document honors Cain's life and career by detailing his background as a basketball coach, his military service, and his decades of public service in both the House and Senate. It serves as an official acknowledgment of his contributions to the state and extends sympathy to his surviving family members, including his wife, children, and grandchildren.