Sen. Sidney Barthelemy

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Louisiana Department of Education to study how schools handle students who are marked as nonenrolled due to incarceration or missing status. Currently, these students are counted as enrolled for accountability purposes, which can unfairly lower a school's performance scores. The study will examine how to create a consistent process for verifying a student's actual status and analyzing the impact of current counting methods on school ratings. The department must submit a report with its findings to the Senate Education Committee by February 15, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to study the safety hazards of increased train activity at the Alabo Street Wharf in New Orleans. The study focuses on the Norfolk Southern Railway, which is being used to transport organic grain to a new terminal in the Lower Ninth Ward and surrounding areas. Under the resolution, the department must evaluate risks such as grain dust combustion and train collisions with vehicles, then submit a written report with prevention strategies to the Senate by January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that encourages the state of Louisiana to strengthen economic ties and friendship with Taiwan. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or change government policy, but rather serves as an official expression of support for the relationship. The text includes minor grammatical corrections and clarifications to the original wording regarding the partnership between Louisiana and the United States. Because it is a House Concurrent Resolution, it has no legal effect and does not require the signature of the governor to take action.

Maddy summaryHB 74 proposes creating a "Spectrum Alert" system in Louisiana to assist law enforcement in locating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who go missing. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a public notification system that verifies a child’s missing status, issues community alerts via text/email/flyers, and coordinates with private entities. It also mandates specialized training for officers on ASD responses and de-escalation tactics, while granting legal immunity to participating law enforcement, broadcasters, and others. The bill directly affects children with ASD, their families, and law enforcement agencies across Louisiana.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors to rename the LSU Gymnastics Training Center in honor of legendary coach Sara "D-D" Breaux. The bill highlights her four-decade career, during which she transformed the program from a struggling unit into a national powerhouse and built a world-class facility. By formally requesting this name change, the legislature aims to create a permanent tribute to her leadership and legacy within the university community.

Maddy summarySB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.

Maddy summarySB 34, "Bryan's Call," establishes clear rules for missing child alerts in Louisiana. It requires AMBER Alerts for children 17 or younger in immediate danger of serious harm or death, and Level II alerts for other missing children cases that don’t meet AMBER criteria. Local police must assess alert types, but state police make the final decision and provide required training for law enforcement on using these systems. The law also grants legal immunity to broadcasters, cable operators, and law enforcement for actions related to Level II alerts.

Maddy summaryHB 636, the "Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act," requires Louisiana public colleges and universities to prevent, report, and respond to hazing involving student organizations. It defines hazing broadly (including physical brutality, dangerous activities, or substance consumption) and mandates annual hazing education for all students starting fall 2027, plus specific orientation education for new students. The bill also requires student organizations to report hazing incidents to both law enforcement and their institution, and institutions must document all actions and share full details with law enforcement. These provisions directly affect public postsecondary institutions, their students, and all student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, and clubs.

Maddy summarySB 206 requires all Louisiana public school districts to conduct blood pressure screenings for students during the first semester or within 30 days of enrollment, following the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended schedule. School boards must document results, follow up on abnormal readings within 60 days, and notify parents in writing if issues are found. This applies to public schools but exempts charter schools from the blood pressure screening requirement specifically (while they still follow other health screening rules). The bill aims to identify hypertension early in students through standardized school-based testing.

Maddy summaryHB 801 creates a "Classic Black" specialty license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, available to any Louisiana resident who applies for it. The plate features a black background with white numbers and "LOUISIANA" at the top, and requires a $25 annual fee (plus $3.50 handling) on top of standard license taxes. All fees collected will fund emergency vehicle operations training for local governments at the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Holden. The plate is restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans, but requires at least 1,000 applicants before issuance.