Rep. Jack McFarland

Maddy summaryHB 1 is Louisiana's budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, allocating state funds for the ordinary operating expenses of all state government departments and offices. It specifies funding amounts for departments like the Executive Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of State, and others, covering day-to-day operations such as administrative costs, elections, and state programs. This bill does not create new policies or programs; it directs existing budget resources to maintain current government functions. It directly affects state agencies by providing their operational funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 312 allocates $144 million in supplemental funding from the 2024-2025 state budget surplus to pay down existing pension obligations for Louisiana's state retirement systems. It directly affects retirees covered by the Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, and Teachers' Retirement System. The bill uses specific dollar amounts ($4.8M, $1.8M, $60M, and $77.7M respectively) to cover unpaid pension liabilities for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, drawing solely from the state's surplus funds without new taxes or fees. This is a routine budget adjustment to fulfill existing financial commitments, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases survivor benefits for families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who die while performing their official duties. It establishes a base payment of $350,000 to the surviving spouse, or to the children or estate if no spouse exists, with an additional $50,000 for each dependent child. The law requires officers and firefighters to complete beneficiary designation forms and specifies that payments come from the state's Self-Insurance Fund. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to deaths resulting from injuries sustained while protecting life and property during official activities.

Maddy summaryHB 983 allocates approximately $229.6 million in state funds to cover the operational expenses of Louisiana's judicial system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, and related judicial bodies by providing financial support for salaries, administrative costs, retirement benefits, and specialized programs. Key provisions include funding for judge and staff compensation, the Judicial Administrator's Office, the Judiciary Commission, the Law Library, the Judicial College, and various support services such as the Louisiana Protective Order Registry and the Families in Need of Services Program. The legislation also covers information technology expenses and contributions to judicial retirement and pension systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates approximately $119.6 million in state and self-generated funds to cover the operating expenses of the Louisiana Legislature for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money will pay salaries and allowances for legislators, their staff, and officers, as well as cover costs for office maintenance, technology, printing, and committee expenses. Specific amounts are designated for the House of Representatives and Senate, the Legislative Auditor, and the Louisiana State Law Institute, with remaining unspent funds required to be returned to the state general fund by October 2027. The legislation also authorizes the legislature to accept grants and donations for its operations and establishes a working capital fund for the Legislative Auditor's ancillary enterprises.

Maddy summaryHB 314 defines which local governments and special districts will receive state revenue sharing funds for fiscal year 2026-2027. It specifies eligible entities including parishes, school boards, fire protection districts, and water districts (like Red River Waterway District), while excluding certain levee districts and special taxing areas in specific parishes. The bill establishes that funding amounts will be calculated using population data from Louisiana State University’s annual estimates. This clarifies eligibility and distribution rules for Louisiana’s existing revenue sharing program, affecting hundreds of local taxing bodies across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 383 establishes and manages special "ancillary funds" (like internal service or enterprise funds) for Louisiana state agencies to cover operational costs of services they provide to other state departments, such as IT support or employee benefits. It appropriates $2.17 billion for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, primarily funded by fees and self-generated revenues (e.g., $2.17B for the Office of Group Benefits covering state employee health insurance). Agencies must return unspent funds by August 14, 2027, if not renewed, and larger agencies must implement internal audit oversight. This bill directly affects state agencies managing internal services, not the public, by standardizing how they finance and account for these operational costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Louisiana Clinical Trial Competitiveness and Patient Access Act, aims to support economic development by establishing a framework for clinical trials within the state. It directly affects healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and patients by creating new provisions to enhance the competitiveness of clinical research in Louisiana. The legislation includes specific amendments that clarify the law does not override federal restrictions and expands the scope of protected protocols to include nonpublic ones. By adding these details, the bill seeks to provide clearer guidelines for conducting clinical trials while ensuring compliance with existing federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Louisiana Medicaid to cover FDA-approved weight loss medications for eligible adults over eighteen. To qualify, patients must have a BMI of 30 or higher with at least one related health condition like diabetes or hypertension, or a BMI of 35 or higher without additional conditions. Coverage will require prior authorization limited to verifying these eligibility criteria, with initial approval for six months and continued coverage depending on documented clinical improvement. The bill also prohibits step therapy requirements for these medications and mandates that the Department of Health implement the coverage while maintaining fiscal sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 401 designates the elevated section of U.S. Highway 190 over the Bogue Falaya River in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, as the "Corporal Justin D. McLeese Memorial Bridge" to honor a military corporal. The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting this name, using local or private funds to cover costs up to $2,250 per sign. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no substantive policy changes, solely commemorating an individual through a public infrastructure designation.