Sen. Stewart Cathey

Maddy summarySB 158 creates the "Communities Aligned to Help Educate Youth Fund" (CATHEY Fund) to dedicate revenue from electronic traffic enforcement fines (like speed cameras and red-light cameras) for juvenile rehabilitation programs. Starting July 1, 2025, monthly deposits of these speeding fine revenues will fund the state treasury account. Beginning fiscal year 2026-2027, parish sheriffs’ offices will receive allocations based on their population share to support local juvenile rehabilitation services. The bill requires all funds to be used exclusively for this purpose and prohibits local ordinances from overriding these provisions.

Maddy summarySB 157 creates a new criminal offense for renters who fail to pay for or return rental equipment as agreed under a rental agreement. It directly affects individuals renting equipment (like tools or furniture) from businesses for short terms (up to 30 days), imposing penalties based on the equipment's value: up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 for items under $1,000, increasing to up to 20 years in prison or $50,000 fines for items over $25,000. The bill also requires convicted individuals to pay daily rental fees as restitution until the equipment is returned. Defenses include returning within 72 hours, being refused return by the rental service, or equipment destruction, but these do not prevent civil lawsuits for damages.

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 requires hospitals to perform drug screenings on minors suspected of overdosing on opioids. It specifically mandates that these screenings be conducted when a minor is brought in for a suspected opioid overdose. The legislation also updates reporting requirements to ensure that information regarding these screenings is properly documented and shared. By focusing on minors, the law aims to improve early detection and response to opioid use among young people in healthcare settings.

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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing law establishing the Department of Economic Development by renumbering its internal sections and making minor text adjustments. The changes involve deleting specific lines and renumbering sections sequentially from Section 2 through Section 8 to correct the bill's structure. These modifications do not alter the department's core functions or funding but serve to organize the legislation for clarity. The bill directly affects the state agency responsible for economic development by updating its statutory framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits candidates, individuals, and political committees from spreading false statements about other election candidates with the intent to mislead voters. The law covers various forms of communication, including oral, written, digital, and visual materials, and applies when the speaker knows the statement is false or should reasonably expect it to be false. Violating this rule would be considered an unethical election practice subject to penalties. The legislation aims to reduce misinformation in campaigns by setting clear boundaries on what claims can be made about opponents.