Sen. Bob Owen

Maddy summarySCR 12 is a commemorative resolution that officially recognizes and celebrates St. Patrick's Day. It also acknowledges the cultural and historic ties between Ireland and Louisiana, and the establishment of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. The resolution directs that copies be sent to the national co-chairs of the caucus.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 242 transfers the authority for approving water and sewerage rates for the city of New Orleans from the New Orleans City Council to the Public Service Commission. This change directly affects the Public Service Commission, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, and New Orleans residents. The bill also grants the Public Service Commission new powers to examine, audit, and review the financial records and operations of the Sewerage and Water Board, including the ability to issue subpoenas for relevant documents.

Maddy summarySB 124 designates specific waterways in St. Tammany Parish as scenic rivers under Louisiana's existing Scenic Rivers Act. The bill adds seven locations - including Porters River, Friday's Ditch, Mill's Bayou, and others - to the official list of protected scenic waterways. This procedural change directly affects those named waterways by formally including them in the state's scenic river designation program. (1 sentence)

Maddy summaryHB 5 requires Louisiana public school systems to use savings from the Teachers' Retirement System to provide permanent salary increases for teachers and other school employees starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Certificated staff, such as teachers and administrators, must receive at least a $2,000 raise, while non-certificated staff, including aides and clerical workers, must receive at least $1,000. The bill mandates that these salary increases include associated retirement costs and applies to employees on specific leaves, such as military or maternity leave, provided they remain in their approved positions. If a school district does not have enough savings to cover the full amount of these raises, the remaining cost is to be funded through the state's minimum foundation program formula. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that charter schools participating in the state retirement system must also comply with these salary increase requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing laws regarding pharmaceutical reimbursements to apply only to contracted pharmacists or pharmacies that do not own more than five shares or a five percent interest in a pharmaceutical wholesale group purchasing organization or vendor. The key provision restricts the scope of the reimbursement rules to ensure they target independent pharmacies rather than those with significant ownership stakes in drug supply chains. By adding this specific limitation, the legislation clarifies which entities must comply with the current reimbursement requirements without changing the underlying financial mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students in Louisiana who must take physical education for at least two consecutive years to complete their required Health Education course online instead of in person. It modifies state law to ensure that the virtual option is available for these specific students and prevents school officials from enforcing rules that would block this alternative. The change applies only to the Health Education requirement, not to other graduation courses, and takes effect once the governor signs it or the legislative session ends without a veto.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes a minor wording change to the title of the coroner's office in St. Tammany Parish by adding the words "office of the" before "coroner." The amendment does not alter the actual duties, powers, or responsibilities of the coroner or the department itself. It is a purely administrative update to the official name used in state statutes. The change was approved by the Senate and is now moving to the House for further consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the legal timeline for filing lawsuits related to the abuse of minors by removing references to a previous 2021 law. The primary change involves deleting specific citations from the text, which effectively updates how the statute is referenced without altering the core prescriptive period itself. By streamlining the legal language, the bill ensures the current rules for these cases remain clear and consistent with existing statutes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors John Keller as he retires from his role as Sergeant at Arms of the Louisiana Senate. The document recognizes his military service in Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart, and his subsequent community contributions, including coaching football and serving in the state legislature. It formally acknowledges his life achievements and sacrifices without creating any new laws or changing government policies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally commends Sharon Turcan Gahagan for her long-standing contributions to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. It honors the dedication of the Sharon Turcan Gahagan Art Gallery, which was named in her memory after she served as the school's board chair. The document highlights her leadership in overseeing major campus projects, such as the Center for Performance and Technology and the Living and Learning Commons, while acknowledging her extensive career in education and community service. This legislative action serves as an official recognition of her legacy rather than establishing new laws or policies.