First Extraordinary Session through Jul. 4, 2020

The 2020 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature came to a close this past week, really just extending the regular session a month after that effort lost essentially 45 days to inactivity over the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. As such, the 2020 scorecard will include legislation from both and be computed once all relevant bills have been dealt with.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 55 was concurred in and was sent to the governor; HB 57 conference report was approved by the Senate, was recommitted to conference, had conference report approved by House and Senate, and was sent to the governor; SB 12 was filed with the secretary of state.

SCORECARD:

First Extraordinary Session through Jun. 27, 2020

Bill introduction has ceased. HB 66 was struck from the list of good bills because of an added amendment that would have the effect of raising personal vehicle insurance rates across the board.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 41 with major amendment passed the House; HB 44 with major amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; HB 50 passed Senate committee; HB 55 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 57 with major amendment passed the Senate and concurrence was rejected by the House; SB 9 passed House committee and the House and was sent to the governor; SB 12 with minor amendment passed the Senate, passed House committee, passed the House and was concurred in; SB 16 passed House committee and the House and was sent to the governor; SB 18 with minor amendment passed the Senate, with minor amendment passed House committee, passed the House, and was concurred in.

SCORECARD:

First Extraordinary Session through Jun. 20, 2020

Bills continue to trickle in and a few are making progress, with ten days left in the session.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 14 was discharged from committee; HB 23 was discharged from committee; HB 28 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 36 passed the House; HB 41 failed to pass the House; HB 44 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 50 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 54 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 55 passed the House; HB 57 with minor amendment passed the House and with major amendment passed Senate committee; HB 60 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 66 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 9 passed House committee; SB 16 with minor amendment passed the Senate.

Regular legislative session through Jun. 20, 2020

The governor has dealt with all of the good and bad bills identified for this session, so all that remains is the computation of the scorecard.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 140 was signed by the governor; HB 690 was signed by the governor; HB 746 was signed by the governor; SB 166 was signed by the governor; SB 231 was signed by the governor; SB 351 was signed by the governor; SB 423 was signed by the governor; SB 461 was signed by the governor; SB 491 was signed by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 676 was signed by the governor; HB 763 was signed by the governor; HB 819 was signed by the governor; SB 437 was signed by the governor.

First Extraordinary Session through Jun. 13, 2020

The special session nears its halfway point, with many bills still coming in even though others have made considerable legislative progress.

THE GOOD: HB 49 by Rep. Barry Ivey would amend the Constitution to allow for payment in lieu of property taxes (similar bill: HB 50); HB 54 by Ivey would create greater flexibility in granting tax abatements for capital projects; HB 55 by Rep. Mike Johnson would encourage greater seat belt use and lower insurance rates (similar bills: HB 57, HB 60, HB 66, SB 16); SB 18 by Sen. Big Mike Fesi would increase the ability to pay out unclaimed property funds in a more timely fashion.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 14 passed House committee; HB 23 passed House committee; HB 26 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 28 passed House committee; HB 36 passed House committee; HB 41 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 42 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 43 passed with minor amendment House committee; HB 44 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 50 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 54 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 57 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 9 with major amendment passed Senate committee and with major amendment passed the Senate; SB 12 passed Senate committee; SB 18 passed Senate committee.