Sen. Jeremy Stine

Maddy summarySB 198 allows students attending approved nonpublic schools in Louisiana to join public school extracurricular activities or sports if their own school doesn’t offer that specific activity and they live in the public school’s neighborhood district. It requires nonpublic school students to apply through the same process as public school students and meet identical academic and conduct standards, such as maintaining required grades. Students who fail to meet these standards may be removed from the activity, just like public school participants. The bill directly affects nonpublic school students seeking access to activities unavailable at their own school.

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 13 is a procedural amendment to an appropriations bill that does not create new spending or change policy. It makes minor wording adjustments to clarify references to the State General Fund and adds the word "care" to a specific line item regarding medical costs. These changes are technical edits intended to ensure the bill's language is precise rather than to alter how money is distributed. The bill directly affects the legislative text of the larger appropriations package but has no independent impact on government operations or citizens.

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 establishes rules to regulate litigation funding provided by third parties that are foreign persons, states, or sovereign wealth funds. It specifically targets these external entities to ensure they comply with state laws when financing legal disputes within the jurisdiction. The legislation defines the scope of these foreign funders and sets requirements for their operations, while also clarifying that domestic citizens and state entities are not subject to these specific restrictions. By amending existing statutes, the bill aims to create a clear legal framework for oversight of cross-border litigation financing activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates the existing Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles as the state's Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The primary change is adding a new section to the state code to formally recognize this specific location with that official title. The legislation does not alter the physical memorial or its funding, but rather establishes its legal status as the designated memorial for the state.

Maddy summaryHB 874 is a technical amendment bill that modifies the legal penalties associated with violations of electronic monitoring rules in the state. The changes adjust the specific wording of the statute to include potential imprisonment of up to six months and remove the term "civil" from the description of fines. By altering these lines, the bill clarifies the consequences for individuals who fail to comply with electronic monitoring requirements without adding new programs or changing the core purpose of the law. This legislative update focuses strictly on refining the existing text of the corrections code rather than introducing new policy initiatives.

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 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.