Sen. Valarie Hodges

Maddy summarySCR 70 is a symbolic concurrent resolution expressing the Louisiana Legislature's condolences upon the death of retired Supreme Court Justice Harry T. Lemmon. It specifically directs the resolution to be sent to his widow, Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, following his passing on April 18, 2025. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves only as a formal expression of respect for Justice Lemmon's decades-long judicial and educational contributions to Louisiana.

Maddy summarySCR 67 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Louisiana legislature requesting Congress investigate atmospheric geoengineering activities over Louisiana. It asks Congress to examine any intentional chemical dispersal in Louisiana's airspace for weather or climate modification, particularly activities observed as unusual atmospheric trails. The resolution specifically seeks transparency about the substances used, responsible entities, purposes of the activities, and potential environmental and health impacts. This resolution does not create new law but formally urges federal investigation into these concerns raised by Louisiana residents.

Maddy summarySCR 32 is a Louisiana Senate resolution urging Congress to oppose federal Medicaid funding cuts. It emphasizes that over 1.6 million Louisiana residents - including children, seniors, rural healthcare providers, and nursing home residents - depend on Medicaid for essential care, with nearly 70% of nursing home residents relying on it. The resolution requests Congress work with states to strengthen Medicaid instead of implementing cuts that would worsen health outcomes, increase hospital financial strain, and raise costs for all residents. As a procedural resolution (not a law), it does not change policy but formally expresses Louisiana’s position to federal lawmakers.

Maddy summarySCR 9 is a concurrent resolution creating a Task Force on Fatherhood Engagement to study ways Louisiana can increase fathers' involvement in their children's lives. The task force, composed of state agency representatives and community organizations, will research best practices and develop recommendations for agencies like Children and Family Services, Education, and Health by February 2026. It focuses on identifying policy changes, funding opportunities, and programs to support fathers, particularly those in incarcerated populations or seeking employment. The resolution does not enact new laws but directs the task force to report findings to the legislature, aiming to improve father engagement across state systems.

Maddy summarySB 216 is a procedural bill that updates the numbering of sections within the Department of Transportation and Development's bidding process rules. It changes references from "(a)", "(b)", "(c)", and "(d)" to "(1)", "(2)", "(3)", and "(4)" for clarity in administrative documents. This technical amendment does not create new policies or affect any external entities, as noted by its "EN NO IMPACT" designation. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is now moving to the House for consideration.

Maddy summarySCR 68 is a ceremonial resolution commending the LSU Shreveport Pilots Baseball Team for winning the 2025 NAIA Baseball National Championship. It recognizes their historic 59-0 undefeated season, which broke the previous college baseball record and marked the program's first national title. The resolution, passed unanimously by the Louisiana Legislature, formally congratulates the team, coach, and university for their achievements and individual honors. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect or impact on policy, regulations, or any specific individuals beyond the stated recognition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 180) is a ceremonial commendation by the Louisiana Senate honoring Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel, a young man who has battled brain and spinal cancer since age six, and his family. It recognizes DJ's resilience, his dream of becoming a police officer inspired after Hurricane Harvey, and his honorary appointments with over 1,300 law enforcement agencies, including a 2025 swearing-in as a U.S. Secret Service agent. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create any legal obligations or affect policies - it serves solely to publicly acknowledge DJ's story and his family's support.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 175) formally commends five Southern University students - Loren Sullivan, Verbon Muhammad, Sydney Cuillier, Ashley Lovelace, and Erich White, known as "The Dream Team" - for winning an Emmy Award for their documentary *The Hidden Sport*. The film highlights the dedication, cultural significance, and athleticism of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands, specifically Southern University’s Human Jukebox. The resolution recognizes their achievement in the Sports Emmy Awards category and their use of a Coca-Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant to produce the work. It serves as a ceremonial honor, celebrating their national recognition and contributions to elevating HBCU culture.

Maddy summarySB 66 defines "military status" to clarify protections against discrimination in education, employment, public accommodations, and housing. It specifically includes active/reserve U.S. military members and their dependents (with a defined 180-day support requirement) under existing anti-discrimination law. The bill adds this definition to Louisiana Revised Statute 23:322(10), making it explicit who qualifies for these protections. The Senate unanimously passed the bill (39-0) in April 2025, sending it to the House for further consideration.

Maddy summarySB 118 modifies Louisiana's tax code to exclude certain deposits into ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience Accounts) from state income tax. Starting in 2026, account owners can exclude up to $2,400 annually (single filers) or $4,800 (joint filers) per beneficiary for qualified disability expenses, with unused amounts rolling over to future years. This applies only to deposits made for beneficiaries with disabilities, excluding the funds from taxable income calculations. The bill directly affects Louisiana residents using ABLE accounts to save for disability-related expenses. It takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.