Sen. Gary Carter

Maddy summarySB 211 creates a process for district attorneys to petition courts to prohibit certain individuals from carrying concealed handguns without a permit if the court finds probable cause they pose an imminent risk of injury to themselves or others. The court must consider factors like past violence, threats, animal cruelty, reckless firearm use, mental health history, or substance abuse before issuing the order. If approved, the order is reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, blocking the person from legally carrying a concealed handgun until the order ends or is modified. The individual can request a hearing to challenge the order or later apply for a permit if they no longer pose a risk.

Maddy summarySB 205 prohibits employers in Louisiana from asking job applicants about their past wages or using that information to decide pay during hiring. It also protects employees who discuss, compare, or inquire about wages with coworkers, making it illegal to retaliate against them for these actions. The law specifically bans employers from screening applicants based on prior pay, relying on wage history when setting salary, or refusing to hire someone who won’t disclose past wages. Employees with job duties involving wage access (like HR staff) are excluded from the wage-discussion protections if they share pay data improperly. This directly affects all employers and employees in Louisiana's workforce.

Maddy summarySB 206 delays the state's scheduled minimum wage increases by one year for specific years (2025, 2027, and 2029). The bill amends the current schedule to move these increases to 2026, 2028, and 2030, respectively. This directly affects low-wage workers and employers subject to the state's minimum wage law. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations after being introduced on April 14, 2025. It does not change the overall wage increase amounts or timelines beyond the specified year adjustments.

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 amends the state's civil procedure laws to clarify which specific sections of an existing statute allow for legislative continuances or extensions of court deadlines. By updating the text of R.S. 13:4163, the legislation ensures that only the introductory paragraph and specific subsections (F)(3), (4), and (5) are recognized as valid grounds for these delays. The changes directly affect judges, attorneys, and court clerks who manage scheduling and deadline extensions in civil cases. Ultimately, the bill refines the legal rules governing when courts can pause proceedings to accommodate legislative actions.

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 officially designates the existing Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles as the state's Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The primary change is adding a new section to the state code to formally recognize this specific location with that official title. The legislation does not alter the physical memorial or its funding, but rather establishes its legal status as the designated memorial for the state.

Maddy summarySB 300 clarifies how health insurance policies must cover pregnancy-related and postpartum care, specifically ensuring these services are treated as preventive benefits under the Affordable Care Act. The bill establishes a specific list of professional certifications for lactation support, including breastfeeding counselors and certified lactation consultants, to define who qualifies as a qualified provider. By updating the definitions of these roles, the legislation aims to standardize the qualifications required for individuals providing breastfeeding counseling and education. This change directly affects insurance plans and healthcare providers by setting clear standards for who can deliver these postpartum services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local public school boards in Louisiana to mandate that school nurses complete at least one hour of training on sickle cell disease. The training must cover symptoms, treatments, and specific accommodations for students, using instructional materials developed by the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission. Additionally, the law extends this mandatory sickle cell training requirement to school nurses employed by charter schools, ensuring consistent education across different types of public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires physicians and physician assistants to complete one hour of continuing education on treating sickle cell disease, a requirement that was originally set at three hours but was reduced by an amendment. The legislation also mandates that the educational materials used for this training be made available on the state board's website for public access. These changes directly affect medical professionals who treat patients with sickle cell disease by updating their training obligations and improving resource availability.