Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study on the availability and quality of in-home skilled nursing services for medically fragile children and adults. The investigation will examine specific issues such as whether there are enough providers to meet demand, if current pay rates are competitive, and why authorized care hours often go unfilled. Additionally, the study will analyze why some patients end up in more expensive hospital settings instead of receiving care at home and how family caregivers are affected by these gaps. The department is required to consult with various stakeholders, including patients, providers, and advocacy groups, and must submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate by October 2026.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 153 formally recognizes Madison Hogan as the 100th Miss St. Tammany Parish Fair Queen. The resolution highlights her personal achievements, including her education, volunteer work, and role as a spokesperson for the fair. It directs that a copy of the commendation be sent to Madison Hogan.
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to study the D.R.I.V.E. Initiative for improving Interstate 12 and its interchange with Interstate 55. The bill specifically requests an evaluation of shoulder improvements, merging lane safety, and the potential removal of ramp metering devices and surveillance cameras to reduce congestion. It directs the department to create a comprehensive, shovel-ready plan and submit quarterly updates to local legislators, with a final report due by August 1, 2027.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors to rename the LSU Gymnastics Training Center in honor of legendary coach Sara "D-D" Breaux. The bill highlights her four-decade career, during which she transformed the program from a struggling unit into a national powerhouse and built a world-class facility. By formally requesting this name change, the legislature aims to create a permanent tribute to her leadership and legacy within the university community.
Maddy summarySB 404 is a technical amendment bill that makes minor corrections to the text of an existing eye care law. The bill does not introduce new policies or programs but instead fixes specific wording errors in the statute to ensure legal clarity. These changes include correcting pronoun references, removing incomplete sentences, and updating terminology from "agreeance" to "agreement." The legislation directly affects eye care providers by refining the language of regulations they must follow, though it does not alter their obligations or rights.
Maddy summarySB 30 prohibits Louisiana state agencies and licensing boards from banning telehealth services for evaluating, diagnosing, or treating obesity and related metabolic conditions. It directly affects licensed healthcare providers who use telehealth to deliver these services. The bill requires that providers may prescribe FDA-approved or compounded noncontrolled medications via telehealth while operating within their license scope and standard of care. This policy change removes regulatory barriers to telehealth for these specific conditions, without altering existing licensure requirements.
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 84 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover prostate cancer screening for men aged 40-49 (as medically appropriate) and men over 50, following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. It mandates that insurers cover these screenings without any out-of-pocket costs for enrollees, including deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The law applies to new policies starting January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects Louisiana health insurers and their policyholders by guaranteeing no-cost access to recommended prostate cancer screenings.
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 summarySB 219 creates a new "Office of Health and Nutrition" within the Louisiana Department of Health. This office will coordinate existing state programs including the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supplemental nutrition program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and physical fitness initiatives. It establishes an executive director who reports directly to the Health Secretary and outlines the office's duties to lead and develop policy for these nutrition and health programs. The bill amends existing statutes to formally integrate this office into the department's structure without changing eligibility or funding for the programs it coordinates.