Sen. Sam Jenkins

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors John Keller as he retires from his role as Sergeant at Arms of the Louisiana Senate. The document recognizes his military service in Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart, and his subsequent community contributions, including coaching football and serving in the state legislature. It formally acknowledges his life achievements and sacrifices without creating any new laws or changing government policies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally commends Sharon Turcan Gahagan for her long-standing contributions to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. It honors the dedication of the Sharon Turcan Gahagan Art Gallery, which was named in her memory after she served as the school's board chair. The document highlights her leadership in overseeing major campus projects, such as the Center for Performance and Technology and the Living and Learning Commons, while acknowledging her extensive career in education and community service. This legislative action serves as an official recognition of her legacy rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally expresses condolences to the family and friends of William Jefferson Cole following his death on May 24, 2024. It directly affects the survivors of Mr. Cole, including his wife Lisa Harbour Cole, by acknowledging his life and contributions to the community. The resolution highlights his roles as a business leader, farmer, athlete, and devoted family member, and it directs a copy of the document to be sent to his wife. The measure was adopted by the Senate with a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays and was subsequently signed and enrolled.

Maddy summaryHB 315 is a procedural bill that does not create new laws or change existing policies on its own. Instead, it establishes a condition for when a previous set of laws regarding prescription periods for tort actions will officially take effect. The bill specifies that these related laws will only become operative if and when four other specific bills from the 2024 legislative session are passed and enacted. Consequently, the measure directly affects the implementation timeline of those other bills rather than introducing independent legal changes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to stop using specific children's videos as teaching tools in classrooms. The bill targets content produced by PragerU, a nonprofit organization, which the resolution claims contains discriminatory and anti-Semitic material that contradicts state educational goals. By citing the Louisiana Constitution's requirement for a just and humane learning environment, the measure urges officials to remove these videos from schools rather than adopting them as part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Louisiana residents with a valid state driver's license or special identification card to register to vote or update their registration online through the Secretary of State's website. It also ensures that individuals who need internet access or help completing the form can do so in person at their local registrar of voters office. The law amends existing statutes to establish these electronic registration options and related procedures for updating voter information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every public and approved nonpublic secondary school in Louisiana to print the number "988" on the back of all student identification cards. The measure also mandates that schools post the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on their websites to ensure easy access to help. Effective July 1, 2024, the law aims to make suicide prevention resources more visible to students and staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the existing sick leave policy for school employees by adding a specific definition for "disabled" to the law. It directly affects teachers and staff who may need to take leave due to disability, ensuring their eligibility is clearly defined under state regulations. The key change involves inserting a legal reference to a specific statute that outlines what constitutes a disability, thereby clarifying the conditions under which employees can use sick leave. This amendment aims to provide greater clarity and consistency in how sick leave is granted to school workers facing health challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Senate's Education and Finance committees to investigate whether Louisiana should create a state-funded paid parental leave program for K-12 teachers and support staff. The study will examine the costs and benefits of allowing these educators to receive pay while caring for a new child or adopting a family member, rather than using their existing sick or vacation days. If the committees find the idea feasible, they will report their findings to the full Senate to determine if new legislation is needed. The proposal specifically addresses the financial impact on the state, noting that the Department of Education would need to reimburse local school districts for substitute teachers during the leave period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automobile insurance companies in Louisiana to offer a 25% discount on liability premiums to active-duty military members, reservists, and National Guard personnel based in the state. To help cover the cost of these discounts, insurers receive a tax credit equal to the amount of the discount they provide, with any unused credit refunded without interest. The state insurance commissioner must create specific rules to define which military personnel qualify and to establish the process for verifying eligibility.