Rep. Jeff Wiley

Maddy summarySB 54 defines "esthetics" in Louisiana law to clarify which cosmetic services estheticians may perform. The bill specifies that esthetics includes practices like facial massages, eyebrow tinting, lash enhancements, waxing, and skin treatments using approved equipment, but explicitly excludes diagnosing or treating skin conditions and hair removal via electrolysis. This definition directly affects licensed estheticians by setting clear boundaries for their permitted services. The bill is a technical amendment to existing law, not a new policy requiring funding or enforcement changes. It does not alter current licensing requirements but provides a precise legal description of the profession's scope.

Maddy summaryHB 143 increases the daily payment rate Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections pays to parish sheriffs for housing state inmates in local jails when the state cannot accept them. The bill sets specific rates: $25.39 per day for FY 2019-2020, $26.39 per day for FY 2020-2021 through FY 2026-2027, and $29.39 per day starting FY 2027-2028. It also requires the department to collaborate with sheriffs to update jail guidelines by December 2020, including treatment and educational programming for inmates. The bill directly affects parish sheriffs, local jails, and the state’s correctional budget.

Maddy summaryHB 609 prohibits healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana from charging fees for medical records when veterans request them specifically to apply for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. It applies only once per veteran for the purpose of a disability claim, requiring providers to verify veteran status and the claim's purpose before waiving fees. The law exempts costs for preparing, reproducing, handling, or transmitting records under this specific circumstance. This directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and healthcare entities handling such record requests.

Maddy summaryHB 427, the "Kids Online Protection and Anti-Grooming Act," requires online platforms (like social media and video games) that contract with minors under 16 in Louisiana to prioritize minors' privacy. It mandates two key changes: setting minor accounts to private by default (visible only to connected users) and alerting legal guardians if minors encounter sexually explicit material. The bill directly affects platforms operating in Louisiana with minor users, defining "minor" as anyone under 16 not emancipated or married. These provisions aim to reduce exposure to harmful content and strengthen parental oversight through default settings and notification systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal resolution expressing the Louisiana Legislature's condolences to the family of former State Senator Louis J. Lambert Jr. following his death. It honors his extensive public service career, which included roles as a Senate leader, Public Service Commission member, and gubernatorial candidate. The resolution also records the state's gratitude for his contributions and directs a copy of the document to be sent to his family.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Louisiana legislature to the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies to speed up research and clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It does not create new laws or change funding directly but instead asks federal officials to prioritize efforts to develop better treatments for this aggressive blood cancer. The resolution also names these proposed research efforts the "Jonas A. Feeley Act" to honor a recent victim of the disease. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture to advocate for increased federal attention on improving survival rates for patients with this condition.

Maddy summaryHB 74 proposes creating a "Spectrum Alert" system in Louisiana to assist law enforcement in locating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who go missing. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a public notification system that verifies a child’s missing status, issues community alerts via text/email/flyers, and coordinates with private entities. It also mandates specialized training for officers on ASD responses and de-escalation tactics, while granting legal immunity to participating law enforcement, broadcasters, and others. The bill directly affects children with ASD, their families, and law enforcement agencies across Louisiana.

Maddy summarySB 404 is a technical amendment bill that makes minor corrections to the text of an existing eye care law. The bill does not introduce new policies or programs but instead fixes specific wording errors in the statute to ensure legal clarity. These changes include correcting pronoun references, removing incomplete sentences, and updating terminology from "agreeance" to "agreement." The legislation directly affects eye care providers by refining the language of regulations they must follow, though it does not alter their obligations or rights.

Maddy summarySB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.

Maddy summarySB 84 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover prostate cancer screening for men aged 40-49 (as medically appropriate) and men over 50, following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. It mandates that insurers cover these screenings without any out-of-pocket costs for enrollees, including deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The law applies to new policies starting January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects Louisiana health insurers and their policyholders by guaranteeing no-cost access to recommended prostate cancer screenings.