Maddy summarySB 43 establishes Louisiana's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Program within the Department of Health to fund clinical studies using psychedelic medications (like psilocybin) for treating opioid use disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant mental health conditions. The program requires academic health centers to meet strict federal and state compliance standards - including FDA approval, safety protocols, and therapist qualifications - to conduct these studies. Eligible patients, including those with the specified conditions, may participate, and parishes can use opioid settlement funds to enroll residents. The bill mandates annual progress reports from participating centers and requires coordination with other states conducting similar research. This is a research-focused program, not a policy allowing general therapeutic use.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 723 allows motorcycle, moped, trimobile, bicycle, or electric bicycle riders to proceed through a steady red light at intersections with vehicle-actuated traffic signals (those controlled by sensors detecting traffic). To do so, riders must first stop completely for two full signal cycles or two minutes (whichever comes first), treat the light as a stop sign, confirm it is safe, and yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. The bill specifically applies to intersections with sensor-based traffic control systems and does not change existing penalties for violations that cause injury or death, which include fines and possible license suspension. This policy directly affects cyclists and motorcyclists navigating intersections where traffic signals fail to detect their smaller vehicles.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the text of a Senate resolution regarding the removal of judges for serious offenses like malfeasance or incompetence. The changes involve correcting a spelling error in the word "canons" and adding the preposition "of" to clarify the reference to United States laws. These adjustments do not alter the substantive policy or the process for addressing judicial misconduct but ensure the legislative document is accurate. The bill is currently in the final stages of passage after being referred to a committee and amended.
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 933 creates commemorative birth certificates for display, available for a $50 fee paid to the state. The state registrar keeps $20 for administration, and $30 goes to the Office on Women’s Health and Community Health. These certificates must include security features to prevent fraud and carry the same legal weight as certified birth records. The bill directly affects individuals seeking commemorative documents and state offices managing vital records.
Maddy summarySB 42 amends Louisiana law to explicitly prohibit using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials, directly affecting individuals or entities generating such content through AI. The bill updates definitions to include "digitally generated, including by artificial intelligence" under "child sexual abuse materials" and expands "produce" to cover causing AI-generated content. It makes it illegal to create, distribute, or solicit child sexual abuse materials using AI tools, aligning with existing prohibitions on physical or non-AI generated materials. The law applies to all such content involving children under 17, treating AI-generated depictions as equally prohibited as traditional media. This is a substantive policy change adding AI to existing legal frameworks without altering enforcement mechanisms.
Maddy summaryHB 775 modifies Louisiana law to expand when minors can consent to medical care without parental permission. It allows minors aged 13-17 to consent to treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance misuse, and certain emergencies (like abuse or neglect), while requiring parental access to medical records. The bill also prohibits schools or facilities from providing preventive care to minors without parental consent and shields healthcare providers from liability for following these rules. It repeals prior provisions that permitted broader minor consent or school-based care without parental involvement. This directly affects minors, parents/guardians, healthcare providers, and schools in Louisiana.
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.
Maddy summaryHB 590 creates two new programs to improve communication during traffic stops for drivers with specific conditions. The Green Envelope Program provides specially designed green envelopes (for drivers with mental health conditions or their guardians) and the Blue Envelope Program provides blue envelopes (for drivers with autism spectrum disorder or their guardians). Each envelope includes exterior communication guidelines for law enforcement and can hold essential documents like licenses, registrations, and medical information, with no medical documentation required to request either envelope. The programs aim to help officers interact more effectively during stops, directly affecting drivers with these conditions and their families.
Maddy summaryHB 578, the "Restoring Biological Truth Act," amends Louisiana statutes to replace the term "gender" with "sex" in all legal references, defining "sex" as an individual's biological sex at birth (male or female). The bill specifically requires that "sex" be used instead of "gender" in civil codes, court documents, workforce reporting (e.g., R.S. 4:158.2), child custody forms (e.g., R.S. 13:1856), and diversity language for boards (e.g., R.S. 3:1493), while clarifying that gender identity cannot substitute for biological sex. It directly affects state agencies, courts, and organizations collecting demographic data or drafting legal documents. The bill does not create new restrictions but changes terminology across 50+ statutes to align with the defined biological sex standard.