Rep. Marcus Bryant

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new licensing requirements for freshwater charter boat fishing guides operating in Louisiana. It mandates that guides must hold a valid state license, carry commercial marine insurance, and possess a recreational fishing license while on the water. The legislation allows guides to operate without a current license if they held one within the previous thirty days, provided they have not yet renewed it. Additionally, guides operating on federal waters within the state must also hold a valid United States Coast Guard captain's license.

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.

Maddy summarySB 268 requires Louisiana municipalities to follow specific procedures when replacing lead water pipes connecting public mains to buildings (called "service lines"). It allows municipal water systems to enter properties for this work after providing property owners and residents with at least seven days' notice - via in-person contact first, then certified mail or posted notice - detailing the work schedule, water disruption, and nearby water distribution points. After replacement, municipalities must send a follow-up letter summarizing the work. The bill directly affects property owners in municipalities with lead service lines and governs how municipal water systems (like water districts or utilities) must conduct these replacements.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 amends the Healthy Food Retail Act to require the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center to work with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This collaboration aims to gather data, conduct research, and share technical information to identify and map food deserts across the state. The bill directly affects these two state agencies by mandating their joint efforts to address food access issues. It does not create new funding or alter existing programs but focuses on improving data collection regarding where residents lack access to healthy food options.

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 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 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 579 in Louisiana establishes specific rights for sexual assault survivors by amending the state's Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights. It requires that unreported sexual assault evidence collection kits be preserved without cost for at least 20 years (or longer per state policy), ensures survivors are notified of all their rights under the law, and confirms survivors retain any additional rights granted by other Louisiana laws. The bill directly affects individuals who have experienced sexual assault in Louisiana, focusing on preserving evidence and ensuring awareness of legal protections. These provisions aim to strengthen support systems for survivors through concrete policy changes in evidence handling and rights communication.

Maddy summaryHB 552 amends Louisiana's DWI laws to explicitly include "impaired" driving alongside "intoxicated" driving, expanding the scope of the offense to cover impairment from alcohol or drugs. It clarifies that city and municipal courts can handle first and second DWI offenses (with penalties matching state law), but third or subsequent offenses must be tried in district court with a jury. The bill also requires courts to assess additional costs when alcohol was a factor in any offense, and makes intoxilyzer test results automatically admissible as evidence in DWI cases. These changes directly affect drivers facing DWI charges, local courts handling such cases, and prosecutors presenting evidence.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the United States Congress to collaborate on finding a cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting children. The resolution calls for legislative action and support rather than establishing new funding or regulatory requirements. It was recently passed by the House of Representatives with unanimous support. The primary effect is a formal statement of intent to address this specific medical condition.