Rep. Candace Newell

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that asks state agencies and local partners to create and promote apprenticeship programs specifically designed for high school students. It directs the Department of Education and the Workforce Commission to work with school boards and business groups to develop these opportunities, which combine classroom learning with paid on-the-job training. The legislation requires these entities to submit a written report by January 16, 2025, detailing their findings and recommendations for improving how young people access career training.

Maddy summaryHB 578 amends the Back on Track Youth Pilot Program by updating terminology to refer to "children" and "youths" instead of "juveniles" throughout the text. The bill also clarifies that the program falls under the jurisdiction of both the Department of Education and the Louisiana Commission on Children and Youth. Additionally, it defines "youth or youths" as any person who has not yet reached the age of eighteen. These changes are primarily linguistic and definitional, ensuring consistent language across the program's administration.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates specialty license plates in New Orleans dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation efforts. The plates will generate revenue, with the funds specifically designated to provide grants to licensed wildlife rehabilitators and centers through the NOLA Wildlife Center. The legislation also adjusts the number of plates available and clarifies the name of the organization receiving the money.

Maddy summaryHB 541 is a minor technical amendment that changes the word "person's" to "individual's" in the state law regarding the nonconsensual sharing of private images. This specific wording adjustment does not alter the legal requirements or penalties for the crime but updates the terminology within the statute. The bill directly affects the text of the law itself rather than introducing new rules or changing how the offense is prosecuted. By passing through committee and being ordered for a final reading, the bill moves closer to becoming part of the official criminal code.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the criminal penalties for individuals who unlawfully disrupt the operation of a school. It directly affects people charged with interfering with school activities by raising the maximum jail time to six months and increasing the maximum fine to $1,000 for lesser offenses. For more serious disruptions, the bill mandates a prison sentence of at least one year and up to five years, which may include hard labor, in addition to potential fines. These changes apply to anyone convicted of violating the existing laws against school disruption.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a committee to study how certain property taxes are distributed across Louisiana. The committee would include three senators and four representatives appointed by their respective leaders, with a requirement to ensure geographic and population diversity. Additionally, a member would be appointed by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association to represent law enforcement interests. The study aims to examine the current allocation of ad valorem taxes, though the bill currently states it has no direct impact on tax amounts or rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the requirements for notifying voters about changes to polling places by adding a specific condition to the existing law. It mandates that officials must explain the reason for any polling place relocation on their website only if the governing authority has provided the necessary details. The change ensures that public notices include context from the relevant authority before being published online. This adjustment applies to election officials responsible for managing polling locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specialty license plate in Louisiana featuring the text "LSU Baseball National Champions." The legislation directs the Department of Public Safety to design and sell these plates, which will be available to any vehicle owner in the state. By adding this new option to the list of approved specialty plates, the bill allows drivers to display their support for the LSU baseball team on their vehicles. The text of the law is updated to include this specific plate design within the existing regulations governing vehicle license plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools in Louisiana to adopt a single, uniform ten-point grading scale for assigning letter grades. Under the new rules, a score of 90 to 100 earns an A, 80 to 89 earns a B, 70 to 79 earns a C, 60 to 69 earns a D, and 0 to 59 earns an F. While this standard applies to most public schools, it explicitly excludes schools operated by the U.S. Department of Defense on military installations and does not apply to charter schools, which remain exempt from this specific mandate. The legislation also removes the previous requirement for the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to oversee the implementation of a grading scale.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies insurance regulations to prevent health plans from using step therapy or fail-first protocols for prescriptions of certain ventilators. Specifically, it mandates that coverage plans must not require patients to try alternative treatments first if the ventilator needs frequent servicing or if clinical evidence suggests alternatives would be less effective or harmful. The legislation directly affects health insurance companies and patients requiring ventilator support by ensuring these devices are covered without unnecessary hurdles.