Sen. Regina Barrow

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 171 is a non-binding resolution that formally expresses condolences to the family and friends of Troy Carter, the general manager of the Chicken Shack restaurant in Baton Rouge. The bill acknowledges Carter's life and his unique role in sharing inspirational messages with customers for over 17 years, noting his impact on the community and the restaurant staff. This measure serves as an official gesture of respect and appreciation from the Louisiana Senate rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates Friday, May 29, 2026, as Youth Legislature of Louisiana Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. It honors the program for its long-standing role in teaching middle school students about government and public policy through simulated legislative sessions. The bill does not change any laws or require new funding; instead, it serves as a formal acknowledgment of the organization's impact on civic education and youth leadership.

Maddy summaryHB 1253, known as the Gracey Claire Rushing Act, updates Louisiana laws to improve how coroners document and handle human remains and internal organs. The bill requires detailed autopsy reports that include specific personal information, medical findings, and a record of any retained organs, while keeping these reports private except for law enforcement or court orders. Family members and the decedent's physician are granted the right to receive a copy of the report upon request. The legislation is named in memory of a child whose death in 2009 prompted calls for better safeguards in the treatment of remains.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 184 formally commends and congratulates Foster L. Campbell Jr. on completing fifty years of continuous elected service in Louisiana as a state senator and Public Service Commissioner. This procedural resolution honors his long career, which includes authoring significant legislation on rural electric cooperatives, consumer protection, and education funding, as well as his leadership in reforming the Public Service Commission. The bill does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of his contributions to the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Health and commercial health insurers to raise payment rates for behavioral health crisis centers that hold a specific crisis receiving center license. The bill highlights that current Medicaid reimbursement of $549.40 per day is insufficient to cover the actual cost of providing 24-hour care with the required staffing levels, which an independent analysis estimates at $1,163 per day. By urging these payors to adjust rates to reflect true operational costs, the resolution aims to support facilities that offer short-term stabilization services to individuals in mental health crises. This change is intended to help ensure these centers can remain financially viable and continue serving the community, as inadequate funding has currently limited the number of such providers in the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally congratulates Renita Williams Thomas, a pediatric nurse and healthcare executive, for being named the 2026 Executive of the Year by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. The bill recognizes her leadership in founding In Loving Arms Healthcare for Kids, an organization that provides specialized care for medically fragile children and supports their families. It highlights her professional achievements and community service without creating any new laws or changing government policies. The resolution serves solely as an official commendation from the Louisiana Senate to be presented to her.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the legislative auditor to review how fiscal notes are created during the legislative session. The review will compare the state's current process with similar systems used in other states to identify potential improvements. It also requires the auditor to examine the data and information used in these fiscal notes. The changes aim to enhance the evaluation of the legislative fiscal office's work without altering the underlying budgeting laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Congress to take action on lowering insurance rates for Louisiana homeowners who have faced flood risks. It is based on the idea that 50% of the Comite Diversion Canal Project has been completed since 2016, which should help reduce those risks. The measure does not change law directly but serves as a formal request to the federal government to address insurance costs. It is intended to support residents in areas where flood protection infrastructure is partially in place.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that asks the American Sugarcane League, LSU AgCenter, and Southern University Agricultural Center to keep researching new equipment that reduces the need to burn sugarcane fields after harvest. The request specifically targets these organizations and agricultural manufacturers to develop technology that addresses air quality and soil health concerns while maintaining efficient farming practices. As a procedural measure, the resolution does not create new laws or regulations but instead formally encourages ongoing collaborative work on this specific agricultural issue.

Maddy summaryHB 1239 updates Louisiana's child custody laws to establish a general preference for equal physical custody sharing between parents. The bill requires courts to order equal time with both parents unless they determine that such an arrangement is not feasible or would not serve the child's best interests. This change directly affects families involved in custody disputes by setting a new standard that prioritizes shared parenting arrangements over the previous default.