Rep. Aimee Freeman

Maddy summaryHB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 321 creates legal protections for victims of human trafficking who committed prostitution-related offenses. It establishes an affirmative defense allowing victims (both minors and adults) to avoid prosecution for crimes like prostitution (R.S. 14:82) or solicitation (R.S. 14:83) if those acts resulted directly from trafficking. The bill also presumes children engaged in prostitution are trafficking victims, exempting them from prosecution and requiring referral to specialized services for sexually exploited children. Adults determined to be trafficking victims must be notified about available support services, while children automatically qualify for existing victim assistance programs under Louisiana law.

Maddy summaryHB 584 requires Louisiana's local social services districts to provide foster children aged 14-18 with durable, reusable luggage (such as backpacks, boxes, or suitcases) instead of garbage bags when they move between foster homes. This policy change directly affects youth in foster care by ensuring their belongings are transported safely and with dignity. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of garbage bags for this purpose and defines the responsibility of social services districts to provide the required luggage. It amends Louisiana law to guarantee this specific right for older foster youth during placement transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends surviving spouse benefits to reserve and auxiliary law enforcement officers in Louisiana who die while on duty. It modifies existing law to include these officers under the same eligibility rules as commissioned officers, specifically when they die while: (1) traveling to or from a public safety emergency, or (2) commuting between their residence and work area in a law enforcement vehicle provided by their agency. The policy change directly affects the spouses of reserve and auxiliary officers who qualify under these two scenarios. It expands access to financial security payments previously limited to commissioned officers.

Maddy summaryHB 45 amends Louisiana's Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System to adjust retirement benefit calculations and Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) rules. It increases the retirement benefit rate from 3% to 3.333% of average final salary for service on or after January 1, 2027, for both hazardous and non-hazardous duty subplans. The bill also allows members to purchase higher accrual rates for past service (at their own cost) and requires those electing DROP after July 2026 to waive constitutional guarantees about guaranteed returns or investment methods. This affects current and future municipal police officers in Louisiana participating in this retirement system.

Maddy summaryHB 59 requires East Baton Rouge Parish and its cities to fund specific expenses for the 19th Judicial District Court's public defender office, which serves people who cannot afford legal representation. The bill mandates that local governments cover salaries for staff (including public defenders, clerks, and investigators) and operational costs like supplies, travel, and equipment. Funding responsibility is shared proportionally between the parish and individual cities, as determined by their governing authorities. This complements existing state funding and directly affects the office's ability to provide indigent defense services in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Education to conduct a study on the expenses related to criminal background checks for teachers and other school staff. The study must determine who currently pays these fees, how schools manage the payments, and whether there are methods to reduce the financial burden on employees. The department is required to submit its findings and any legislative recommendations to the House Committee on Education by March 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Louisiana House of Representatives' condolences for Sharon Courtney, who passed away in May 2026. It honors her life and contributions as a government relations expert who worked in Washington, D.C., and later helped rebuild Tulane University and the New Orleans biosciences sector after Hurricane Katrina. The bill serves as a formal tribute to her career and legacy rather than enacting new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Sunday, June 7, 2026, as Reggio Family Clock Donation Day in Louisiana. It directly affects the state's citizens and the Reggio family, who are donating a clock from 1751 to the Cabildo museum in New Orleans. The resolution encourages people to celebrate this occasion while the artifact is added to the museum's permanent collection.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a task force to study the implementation of a proposed requirement for real-time air monitoring systems at Louisiana's largest petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing facilities. The task force, which includes representatives from state agencies, industry groups, and environmental organizations, will evaluate the costs, benefits, and public health impacts of installing these monitoring systems covering seventeen specific pollutants. The group is required to submit a written report with its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment by February 15, 2027. This measure serves as a procedural step to gather data before potentially enacting Senate Bill No. 356, which would mandate the installation of these alert systems.