Sen. Mark Abraham

Maddy summarySR 50 is a commemorative resolution that officially recognizes Monday, April 28, 2025, as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. This resolution celebrates the contributions and achievements of Louisiana's eight HBCUs.

Maddy summarySCR 10 is a concurrent resolution that expresses the sincere condolences of the Louisiana Legislature on the passing of Daniel Michael "Mike" Danahay Jr. It also recognizes his lifetime of service, faith, and dedication to his family, community, and country.

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 summaryThis bill amends existing laws regarding pharmaceutical reimbursements to apply only to contracted pharmacists or pharmacies that do not own more than five shares or a five percent interest in a pharmaceutical wholesale group purchasing organization or vendor. The key provision restricts the scope of the reimbursement rules to ensure they target independent pharmacies rather than those with significant ownership stakes in drug supply chains. By adding this specific limitation, the legislation clarifies which entities must comply with the current reimbursement requirements without changing the underlying financial mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Louisiana law regarding residential contractor fraud to strengthen penalties and restitution requirements for offenders. It mandates that anyone convicted of this crime must pay full restitution to victims, covering both the cost of repairing fraudulent work and completing unfinished projects. Additionally, the legislation imposes a mandatory prison sentence of up to five years for cases where the victim is sixty-five years of age or older. These changes aim to provide greater financial recovery for victims and ensure stricter consequences for those who commit fraud against senior homeowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public school boards to hire chaplains as paid employees or accept their services as volunteers within school settings. The legislation directly impacts school districts by giving them the authority to bring religious leaders onto campus to serve the community. It does not mandate the presence of chaplains but rather establishes the legal framework for schools to choose whether to utilize this support. The measure focuses on administrative permission rather than changing curriculum or student 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 summaryThis bill provides an additional monthly payment of $600 to sworn, full-time law enforcement officers in specific agencies located in New Orleans and Lake Charles. To qualify for this extra compensation, officers must have at least one year of service and, if hired after March 1986, must have completed a council-certified training program. The state will fund this supplemental pay, which is added to the salary officers currently receive from their employers' own revenues. This change directly affects police officers patrolling public areas like levees, waterways, and bridges in the specified cities.

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.