Sen. Stewart Cathey

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that formally commends John Brady for his induction into the 2026 class of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. It recognizes his distinguished career as a collegiate basketball coach, highlighting his achievements at institutions such as Louisiana State University, where he led the team to the Final Four. The resolution serves as an official acknowledgment of his contributions to the sport and does not alter any laws or policies. Ultimately, the document directs that a copy of the commendation be sent to Coach Brady.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's condolences to the family and friends of Allyce Trapp Alexander, who passed away in September 2025. The document honors her life, career as a government relations advisor, and her service to the state through a series of statements detailing her personal history and achievements. No new laws or policies are created; the resolution serves solely as a formal tribute to be sent to her husband and parents.

Maddy summaryHB 148 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 5 in Logansport (between US Highway 84 and LA Highway 3015 in DeSoto Parish) as the "Eugene Washington Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain appropriate signage for this designation, but only if local or private funds cover the department's costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming a highway segment and implementing signage, with no broader policy changes. It directly affects the local community in Logansport through the highway naming and signage.

Maddy summarySB 376, the "Learn and Earn Act," creates a new program allowing Louisiana public high schools to partner with businesses for paid, credit-bearing work-based learning opportunities. It requires school boards to establish career practicums through written agreements with businesses that ensure fair value exchange (e.g., businesses provide equivalent benefit for school resources used) and align with state-approved career pathways. The program directly affects high school students - especially in rural or underserved communities - by offering compensated job training in fields like healthcare or technology while meeting educational requirements. Key provisions mandate that these practicums operate exclusively within defined instructional boundaries, prioritize student safety/supervision, and integrate financial literacy and employability skills.

Maddy summarySB 503 establishes the Minor Exploitation Prevention Act to regulate how mobile applications are distributed and used by minors in Louisiana. The law requires app stores to verify user ages and allows developers of apps intended for adults to request age signals from these platforms to restrict access to younger users. App developers must also avoid showing personalized ads to minors and provide tools for parents to supervise their children's usage. While the bill places liability on developers for correctly identifying their apps as adult-only, it protects app stores from legal responsibility if they act in good faith regarding age verification.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution from the Louisiana Legislature that formally asks the U.S. Congress to create a law requiring House of Representatives candidates to live in the districts they seek to represent. It addresses the issue of candidates running for office in areas where they do not currently reside, arguing that such practices weaken public trust and disconnect representatives from the communities they serve. The resolution does not directly change any laws but instead urges federal lawmakers to pass legislation or consider a constitutional amendment to establish residency requirements for federal candidates. It specifically calls for candidates to live within their congressional district for a defined period before qualifying for office, similar to residency rules for state and local positions.

Maddy summarySB 244 would establish a new recreational alligator hunting season in Louisiana, separate from existing commercial hunting. It requires hunters to obtain a special alligator hunting license and recreational harvest tags issued by the Louisiana Wildlife Commission, and prohibits hunting outside designated seasons, without proper licenses/tags, or using illegal methods. The bill allows the Commission to set specific seasons, harvest quotas, residency rules, and permitted hunting hours by geographic area. Violations would be classified as a class three violation, with penalties specified in the bill. This directly affects Louisiana residents and visitors seeking to hunt alligators recreationally under new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal resolution expressing the Louisiana Legislature's condolences to the family of Coach Pat Collins, who passed away in February 2026. The document honors his life by briefly outlining his extensive coaching career, which included leading teams to a national championship and serving in various educational and administrative roles. It also acknowledges his personal legacy as a devoted family man and mentor before officially transmitting a copy of the resolution to his family.

Maddy summarySB 350 changes the name of the Louisiana Soybean Association to the Louisiana Soybean Cotton and Grain Association in Louisiana law. This bill amends a statute (R.S. 3:3552(A)) that establishes the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board, updating the reference to the correct name of the organization that nominates soybean producers for board appointments. The bill does not create new policies or funding; it only corrects the statutory reference to match the organization's current name. This is a technical, procedural update affecting how the law references the association.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores Louisiana's Department of Agriculture and Forestry (DAF) and its affiliated agencies, effective June 30, 2026. It sets a fixed termination date of July 1, 2031, after which the department and its related agencies will cease operations unless renewed earlier under existing law. The legislation amends statutes to establish this 5-year renewal window and clarifies that all prior authority for the department’s existence ends on the specified termination date. The change directly affects state agencies operating under the DAF and ensures a defined timeline for their continued function.