Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that asks the U.S. Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026, which would directly benefit Louisiana's commercial fishing and seafood processing industries. The proposed act would allow fishermen and processors to access USDA loans and grants currently reserved for farming, enabling them to buy vessels, upgrade facilities, and cover operating costs. It also expands USDA programs to include wild-caught fish and supports businesses that provide services to the fishing industry. As a memorial resolution, this document serves as a formal request from the Louisiana Legislature rather than enacting the policy changes itself.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the licensing requirements for Type III early learning centers in Louisiana. Specifically, it clarifies that the state department cannot require licensing for prekindergarten programs run by public or nonpublic schools that are already approved under existing state laws. The legislation directly affects private and religious schools operating prekindergarten classes, ensuring they are not subject to duplicate licensing rules if they meet current educational standards. By removing the option to license these specific programs, the bill streamlines regulations for schools already operating under a recognized approval process.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana legislature to the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies to speed up research and clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It does not create new laws or change funding directly but instead asks federal officials to prioritize efforts to develop better treatments for this aggressive blood cancer. The resolution also names these proposed research efforts the "Jonas A. Feeley Act" to honor a recent victim of the disease. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture to advocate for increased federal attention on improving survival rates for patients with this condition.
Maddy summaryHB 712 creates fee waivers for Class "E" driver's licenses and state identification cards for homeless individuals in Louisiana. It requires applicants to provide a letter from an approved entity (like a homeless shelter, healthcare provider, or school liaison) confirming homelessness, which includes people living at or below 100% of the federal poverty line. The waiver covers all fees for issuing, renewing, or replacing these credentials, but excludes individuals violating driver's license laws. This bill directly affects homeless residents seeking essential identification without cost.
Maddy summaryHB 515 allows local governments in Louisiana (like cities or parishes) to sell certain adjudicated properties without public bidding under two specific conditions. First, adjacent landowners who maintained the property for one year can buy it at any price set by the local government. Second, properties valued under $50,000 can be sold directly to any buyer at a fixed price set by the local government through a resolution or ordinance. This bill changes the standard requirement for public bidding for these limited property sales, directly affecting local governments and eligible buyers.
Maddy summarySB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.
Maddy summarySB 34, "Bryan's Call," establishes clear rules for missing child alerts in Louisiana. It requires AMBER Alerts for children 17 or younger in immediate danger of serious harm or death, and Level II alerts for other missing children cases that don’t meet AMBER criteria. Local police must assess alert types, but state police make the final decision and provide required training for law enforcement on using these systems. The law also grants legal immunity to broadcasters, cable operators, and law enforcement for actions related to Level II alerts.
Maddy summaryHB 168 establishes a structured transitional reentry program in Louisiana for female parolees, administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. It directly affects women who have served at least five years in prison, have no sex offense convictions, are within six months of release, have no recent disciplinary issues, and voluntarily agree to participate. The program aims to support their safe community reintegration through tailored preparation, requiring parole eligibility and adherence to department-established screening. This policy creates a formal pathway for eligible female parolees to access reentry services before release.
Maddy summarySB 255 requires Medicaid-funded behavioral health providers in Louisiana to ensure staff delivering psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services hold at least a bachelor's degree in specific fields like counseling, social work, or psychology. This affects all licensed providers seeking Medicaid reimbursement for PSR services. The bill mandates these educational qualifications as a condition for continued reimbursement, updating existing Medicaid eligibility rules. The measure is pending legislative review and would not take effect until enacted.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates two specific segments of Louisiana Highway 182 as memorial highways: the portion in Jeanerette between Hubertville Road and Canal Street as the "Berwick 'BJ' LeJeune, Jr. Memorial Highway," and the segment between Jeanerette and Sorrel (from LA 671 to LA 318) as the "Ret. Judge Richard T. 'Dickey' Haik, Sr. Memorial Highway." It requires the Department of Transportation to install signage for these designations, funded entirely by local or private contributions covering costs up to $750 per sign. The bill has no substantive policy changes beyond naming these highway sections and establishing a cost-recovery mechanism for signage.