Sen. Ed Price

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally commends Sharon Turcan Gahagan for her long-standing contributions to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. It honors the dedication of the Sharon Turcan Gahagan Art Gallery, which was named in her memory after she served as the school's board chair. The document highlights her leadership in overseeing major campus projects, such as the Center for Performance and Technology and the Living and Learning Commons, while acknowledging her extensive career in education and community service. This legislative action serves as an official recognition of her legacy rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the criminal penalties for individuals who unlawfully disrupt the operation of a school. It directly affects people charged with interfering with school activities by raising the maximum jail time to six months and increasing the maximum fine to $1,000 for lesser offenses. For more serious disruptions, the bill mandates a prison sentence of at least one year and up to five years, which may include hard labor, in addition to potential fines. These changes apply to anyone convicted of violating the existing laws against school disruption.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specialty license plate in Louisiana featuring the text "LSU Baseball National Champions." The legislation directs the Department of Public Safety to design and sell these plates, which will be available to any vehicle owner in the state. By adding this new option to the list of approved specialty plates, the bill allows drivers to display their support for the LSU baseball team on their vehicles. The text of the law is updated to include this specific plate design within the existing regulations governing vehicle license plates.

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 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 changes the legal status of employees working for the White Castle Housing Authority in Iberville Parish. It removes these workers from the state civil service system and clarifies that the authority is not considered a state instrumentality under the Louisiana Constitution. As a result, these employees will no longer be subject to state civil service rules and protections. The change applies specifically to the White Castle Housing Authority and does not affect other public housing agencies or employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired Louisiana sheriff's office employees who left before January 1, 2024, to return to part-time work while still receiving their pension benefits. Under the new rules, these retirees can earn up to 60% of their previous average salary for the first two years of reemployment and 65% thereafter, with their pension payments continuing uninterrupted. Unlike previous temporary provisions, this change requires the sheriff's office to make employer contributions for the retiree's service time, but the employee's own contributions will be refunded without interest if they stop working. The policy applies only to those who retired prior to 2024 and is set to expire on June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to create a process for doctors to request exceptions when health insurance plans restrict access to certain medications. Specifically, it allows physicians to bypass standard approval steps for drugs used to treat postpartum depression if the medication's specific indication is not yet approved by the FDA. The law requires insurance companies to provide an easy online way for doctors to apply for these overrides and to grant them quickly when supported by sound clinical evidence. Although the bill includes language about this provision, it currently has no impact because it was recalled from committee and did not advance to a vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a state statute to require school nurses to receive in-service training on caring for students with sickle cell disease. The change directly affects school nurses by updating the legal reference in the relevant code section from R.S. 17:236.5 to R.S. 17:436.5. While the text indicates the bill has no practical impact, it formally modifies the existing law to ensure the correct citation is used for the training requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that formally expresses the condolences of the Louisiana Legislature on the death of James David Cain, a former state representative and senator. The document honors Cain's life and career by detailing his background as a basketball coach, his military service, and his decades of public service in both the House and Senate. It serves as an official acknowledgment of his contributions to the state and extends sympathy to his surviving family members, including his wife, children, and grandchildren.