Sen. Valarie Hodges

Maddy summarySB 209 modifies Louisiana law to limit recoverable medical expenses for accident victims without health insurance in motor vehicle injury cases. It sets specific caps: 120% of the current Medicare rate (or 170% of the state Medicaid rate for services without a Medicare rate) for past and future medical costs. This directly affects uninsured accident victims seeking compensation from at-fault drivers and medical providers billing for treatment. The law applies only to cases filed after its effective date, does not change health insurance requirements, and restricts jury evidence about prior payments for medical bills.

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 summaryHB 13 is a procedural amendment to an appropriations bill that does not create new spending or change policy. It makes minor wording adjustments to clarify references to the State General Fund and adds the word "care" to a specific line item regarding medical costs. These changes are technical edits intended to ensure the bill's language is precise rather than to alter how money is distributed. The bill directly affects the legislative text of the larger appropriations package but has no independent impact on government operations or citizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules to regulate litigation funding provided by third parties that are foreign persons, states, or sovereign wealth funds. It specifically targets these external entities to ensure they comply with state laws when financing legal disputes within the jurisdiction. The legislation defines the scope of these foreign funders and sets requirements for their operations, while also clarifying that domestic citizens and state entities are not subject to these specific restrictions. By amending existing statutes, the bill aims to create a clear legal framework for oversight of cross-border litigation financing activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts public schools from adopting policies that require staff or students to use pronouns or names inconsistent with their biological sex or legal name. It defines a person's legal name based on their birth certificate and prohibits schools from asking employees or students about their preferred pronouns if those pronouns do not align with their sex. The legislation also empowers parents to seek corrective action if an employee uses incorrect pronouns or names for a minor student, allowing parents to pursue further remedies if the school principal refuses to enforce such corrections. Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals are not required to use pronouns that conflict with a student's sex and establishes that the law's provisions are severable if any part is found invalid.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools in Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom by January 1, 2025. The legislation allows schools to use donated funds or donated physical displays to cover the cost, ensuring no money from public school budgets is spent on the items. Additionally, schools must include a historical statement explaining the long tradition of using the Ten Commandments in American education. While the primary focus is on the Ten Commandments, the bill also permits the display of other historical documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence.

Maddy summaryHB 577 prohibits social media companies from collecting data on minors to use for targeted advertising. The law directly affects children under the age of 18 and the digital platforms that serve them. By restricting how these companies gather and utilize personal information from young users, the bill aims to limit their ability to show ads based on the habits and preferences of minors. This measure represents a concrete change in commercial regulations without speculating on its broader economic or social impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state crime for unlawfully entering or reentering Louisiana as an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States. It defines "alien" to include anyone unlawfully present in the state and specifies that lawful presence covers U.S. citizens, permanent residents, visa holders, and those with asylum status. The legislation establishes penalties for the offense and includes an exemption for aliens who are victims or necessary witnesses to serious crimes such as domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking. Additionally, the bill authorizes the governor to negotiate an interstate compact with other states to deter unlawful entry and reentry.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the effective date for a voter registration law, specifying that it will take effect on January 1, 2025. It includes a provision stating that if the governor vetoes the legislation, the law will only become active after the legislature overrides the veto or on the original January 1 date, whichever occurs later. The text does not describe any new voter registration rules or changes to the voting process itself. Instead, it focuses solely on the timeline for when the existing regulations will begin to apply.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the number of poll watchers allowed at election sites in Louisiana, directly affecting political parties and election officials. It permits state central committees of major political parties to assign additional "super watchers" to each parish based on the number of registered voters, with larger parishes allowed more representatives. The law also introduces new rules for early voting locations, allowing these parties to place watchers at each site where their candidates are running, provided they file the necessary lists by specific deadlines. Additionally, the bill requires that lists of watchers submitted for primary elections can only be reused for general elections if the party chairman notifies election officials in advance.