Sen. Jay Morris

Maddy summarySenate Bill 183 (SB 183) creates a new crime related to the unlawful acceptance of economic value by legislators. The bill makes it illegal for a sitting member of the Louisiana Legislature, or their spouse, to accept anything of economic value, either directly or indirectly. This prohibition applies specifically when the value comes from a non-governmental organization that receives funds designated by the Louisiana Legislature or a state agency.

Maddy summarySCR 12 is a commemorative resolution that officially recognizes and celebrates St. Patrick's Day. It also acknowledges the cultural and historic ties between Ireland and Louisiana, and the establishment of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus. The resolution directs that copies be sent to the national co-chairs of the caucus.

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 summaryHCR 6 is a concurrent resolution that commends Casey Durand of Central Timber Services for being named the 2024 Outstanding Louisiana Logger by the Louisiana Forestry Association. It recognizes his commitment to safe and efficient logging practices and his contributions to the state's forestry community.

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 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify the rules for transferring juveniles to adult criminal court. It specifically targets individuals under the age of seventeen, allowing them to be prosecuted as adults for certain serious crimes defined by the state legislature. The text changes the language to ensure that only crimes explicitly specified by legislative act, rather than general offenses, are eligible for this transfer process. By making these adjustments, the measure aims to refine the legal framework governing how young offenders are handled in the justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected for newly created court positions and vacancies in California. It removes a requirement that judgeships must be established before elections can be held and sets a specific deadline of March 29, 2025, for implementing these election rules. The measure also excludes courts with limited or specialized jurisdictions from these new election requirements. By altering the state constitution, the bill directly affects the process for filling judicial roles across the state's court system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to expand the definition of who is considered an attorney within the state's legal system. It directly affects individuals who are not currently licensed in the state but practice law or offer legal services there, as well as lawyers specially admitted for specific cases. The key mechanism involves deleting existing text and inserting language that explicitly includes these out-of-state practitioners and specially admitted attorneys in the state's definition of a lawyer. This change aims to clarify the jurisdictional scope of courts regarding legal representation without altering the core structure of court operations.

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 creates a new state crime for unlawfully entering or reentering Louisiana as an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States. It defines "alien" to include anyone unlawfully present in the state and specifies that lawful presence covers U.S. citizens, permanent residents, visa holders, and those with asylum status. The legislation establishes penalties for the offense and includes an exemption for aliens who are victims or necessary witnesses to serious crimes such as domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking. Additionally, the bill authorizes the governor to negotiate an interstate compact with other states to deter unlawful entry and reentry.