Maddy summarySB 215 would allow students, faculty, staff, and college/university personnel in Louisiana public education institutions to take up to two mental health days per semester without losing pay or requiring a doctor's note. Students need parental notification 24 hours in advance (or same-day for emergencies), while staff and faculty must notify supervisors 24 hours prior (or same-day for emergencies). The bill defines "mental health days" as time off for stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion - not requiring traditional medical proof - and prohibits using them during exams or deadlines without documented emergencies. All missed work must be completed before the semester ends, and these days cannot be carried over between semesters.
Sponsored 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 888 is a procedural amendment that removes the word "authorities" from a specific line in the Social Work Licensure Compact legislation. This change does not alter the actual rules or requirements for social workers but serves as a minor text correction within the bill. The amendment affects the legislative record of the compact, which governs how social workers can practice across state lines, but it does not create new obligations or rights for practitioners.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes violence prevention in Louisiana as a public health and safety crisis, requiring the state to address it using data-driven methods. It directs the Louisiana Department of Health to review factors contributing to violence, such as poverty, lack of education, and untreated trauma, while also examining community conditions like the safety of streets, parks, and schools. The department must then submit a report to the legislature by February 1, 2026, outlining current prevention efforts, strategies for conflict resolution, and ways to improve social determinants of safety in high-risk areas. Additionally, the bill allows the department to partner with universities and non-governmental organizations to gather information and develop recommendations for reducing violence.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws to limit the liability of the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association and the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in property insurance disputes. Specifically, it prevents these entities from being sued as part of a class action and restricts the amount of damages they can be ordered to pay. Additionally, the legislation mandates that property insurance rates for 2025 and later must be at least ten percent higher than the highest rates charged by other insurers in the same area, with some exceptions for specific zones. These changes aim to shield these two organizations from certain legal penalties and ensure higher insurance premiums for policyholders in the coming years.
Maddy summaryThis Louisiana bill adds Tianeptine, a substance increasingly used for its sedative effects, to Schedule I of the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. By placing it in this category, the legislation classifies Tianeptine as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use within the state. The law applies to any material containing Tianeptine, including its salts and isomers, unless it is part of a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consequently, this change subjects the substance to the strictest level of regulation, making possession, distribution, and use subject to criminal penalties similar to those for other Schedule I drugs.
Maddy summaryHB 644 allows students enrolled in home study programs to join public school activities. The bill removes a specific word from the text to ensure these students can apply for extracurricular programs without unnecessary barriers. This change directly affects families choosing home education by giving their children access to the same school events as traditional students. The legislation focuses on expanding participation opportunities rather than altering the core requirements of home study programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the membership structure of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice by adjusting the representation for Jefferson Parish. Specifically, it changes the requirement so that one member will be selected from Jefferson Parish, while the total number of members from that parish is reduced from two to one. This amendment directly affects the commission's composition by altering how many commissioners represent that specific parish. The change is a procedural adjustment to the committee's makeup rather than a new policy initiative.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing election laws to clarify rules regarding prohibited political materials and establishes specific criminal penalties for violations. It primarily affects media organizations and online service providers by creating exceptions that protect them from liability when they host content without controlling or influencing it. The legislation also defines key terms such as "known candidate," "media entity," and "interactive computer service" to ensure clear application of these new protections. By referencing federal definitions for internet services, the bill aims to align state regulations with established national standards for online content moderation.
Maddy summaryHB 872 is a procedural amendment bill that modifies the text of an existing education-related measure by adding a specific subsection labeled "(D)" to two separate lines. The legislation does not introduce new policies or services but instead updates the structure of a bill concerning behavioral health services for students. Because this is a technical change to the bill's language rather than a standalone policy proposal, it does not directly affect students or schools on its own. The amendment was passed by the committee and is moving through the legislative process to be added to the parent bill.