Sen. Patrick McMath

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Health to update the Medicaid fee schedule to include payment for all respiratory viral panel tests. Currently, healthcare providers participating in Louisiana Medicaid cannot get reimbursed for these specific tests, which are used to quickly identify various respiratory infections. By requesting this change, the bill aims to ensure hospitals can bill correctly for these diagnostic tools, helping them detect and treat serious illnesses more effectively. The resolution is a formal request rather than a law that directly changes funding rules on its own.

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 bill establishes Louisiana's legal framework for industrial and consumable hemp by defining it as an agricultural commodity and authorizing its cultivation, processing, and handling. It sets strict safety standards requiring that consumable hemp products contain no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC per serving and prohibits the sale of hemp products intended for inhalation, with the exception of rolling papers. The legislation also mandates that processors register with the state and submit lab results proving their products meet these THC limits and labeling requirements. Ultimately, the bill aims to regulate the hemp industry while explicitly banning the production and sale of recreational intoxicating substances derived from hemp.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud, which prohibits anyone from knowingly giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. It also amends existing laws to explicitly classify attempted abortions as a crime and adds the specific act of using drugs to cause an abortion to the state's list of racketeering activities. Under the new provisions, offenders face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years and fines between ten thousand and one hundred thousand dollars, depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy and the risk to the woman's health. The law applies to any person who engages in these actions, not just medical professionals, and ensures that a conviction under this bill does not prevent further prosecution for more serious offenses like murder if the woman is harmed or killed.

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 updates Louisiana laws to restrict how students can use electronic devices like cell phones and pagers in public schools. Starting in the 2003-2004 school year, students were prohibited from using these devices on school property unless the principal gave permission. A new rule beginning in the 2024-2025 school year requires students to either turn off and store their devices or leave them behind for the entire instructional day. The changes apply to all public elementary and secondary schools, including school buses used for student transport.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the Port Development Advisory Commission, a body that previously offered guidance on port-related projects. By removing the commission from state law, the legislation ends its role in advising on economic development initiatives within the port sector. The change is administrative and does not alter existing port operations or funding mechanisms.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automobile insurance companies in Louisiana to offer a 25% discount on liability premiums to active-duty military members, reservists, and National Guard personnel based in the state. To help cover the cost of these discounts, insurers receive a tax credit equal to the amount of the discount they provide, with any unused credit refunded without interest. The state insurance commissioner must create specific rules to define which military personnel qualify and to establish the process for verifying eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies existing rules regarding noncompetition agreements specifically for primary care physicians in Louisiana. It limits the geographic scope of such non-compete clauses to the physician's main practice location and no more than two neighboring parishes where the employer operates. Additionally, the bill caps the duration of these restrictions at two years following the end of employment and clarifies that physicians have the right to challenge these terms. These changes aim to provide greater clarity and protection for primary care doctors by defining the boundaries and time limits of post-employment non-compete clauses.