Sen. Regina Barrow

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to stop using specific children's videos as teaching tools in classrooms. The bill targets content produced by PragerU, a nonprofit organization, which the resolution claims contains discriminatory and anti-Semitic material that contradicts state educational goals. By citing the Louisiana Constitution's requirement for a just and humane learning environment, the measure urges officials to remove these videos from schools rather than adopting them as part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicaid to cover doula services, directly affecting pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in the program. The legislation mandates that healthcare plans providing Medicaid benefits must include these support services, which involve trained professionals assisting with labor, delivery, and recovery. By changing the word "must" to "shall" in the text, the bill clarifies the legal obligation for insurers to offer this coverage. This change ensures that doula care becomes a standard part of Medicaid benefits rather than an optional or uncertain addition.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's condolences to the family and friends of Mayther "Ray" Young, who recently passed away. It honors his life by highlighting his extensive contributions to agriculture, public service, and his community, including his work as a farmer, consultant, and elected official. The resolution formally acknowledges his achievements and transmits a copy to his widow, Dorothy Young, as a gesture of respect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Dual Enrollment Framework Task Force in Louisiana to improve how high school students earn college credit. The task force will include representatives from various educational groups, such as the Louisiana Association for Career and Technical Education, to review current policies and suggest improvements. Its recommendations will focus on ensuring college credits transfer properly, expanding virtual course options, and creating a uniform tuition pricing structure for dual enrollment classes. Additionally, the task force will propose ways to reward schools and colleges that successfully help students earn credits in both academic and technical fields.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that formally recognizes and commends the Teacher of the Year winners from schools within Senate District 15. It honors these educators for their dedication to student success by having them acknowledged at the Louisiana Senate on Teacher of the Year Day. The document lists specific individuals from various elementary, middle, and high schools who received this distinction and directs that copies of the resolution be sent to each honoree.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public and approved nonpublic secondary school in Louisiana to print the number "988" on the back of all student identification cards. The measure also mandates that schools post the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on their websites to ensure easy access to help. Effective July 1, 2024, the law aims to make suicide prevention resources more visible to students and staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires anyone applying for homeowner's insurance or currently holding such a policy in Louisiana to tell their insurer if the property is being used or will be used as a group home. If a person fails to provide this information, the insurance company has the right to cancel the policy or choose not to renew it when the term ends. The law aims to ensure that insurers are aware of the specific use of a home so they can assess risk accurately before issuing or continuing coverage.

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 designates Thursday, May 23, 2024, as Teacher of the Year Day within the Louisiana Senate. The resolution formally recognizes the importance of educators and honors the specific teachers who have received the Teacher of the Year award in Louisiana. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a commemorative measure to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding educators.

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.