Regular legislative session through Apr. 20, 2019

The Louisiana Legislature had another week light on business, this time because it adjourned the week early after inclement weather. Nonetheless, the window for introducing bills remained open.

THE GOOD: HB 588 by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty essentially redirects a percent of the hotel occupancy tax to New Orleans and cuts a tax on food and beverage sales; HB 594 by Rep. Mark Wright would flatten and simplify income taxes (similar bill: HB 608); HB 599 by Rep. Lance Harris would cut sales taxes.

THE BAD: HB 589 by Rep. Walt Leger would continue indefinitely superfluous taxes going to tourism activities; HB 601 by Rep. Larry Bagley largely subverts consumer savings from his HB 546; HB 610 by Rep. Blake Miguez would intensify the elevated amount of revenue sharing by the state by retaining a higher sales tax; SB 237 by Sen. Yvonne Colomb would create duplicative governmental units.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 372 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 425 passed House committee; SB 221 with minor amendments passed Senate committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: SB 58 passed Senate committee.

SCORECARD:

Total number of bills, House: 610; total number of bills, Senate: 237.

Total number of good bills, House: 31; total number of good bills, Senate: 10.

Total number of bad bills, House: 29; total number of bad bills, Senate: 17.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 3; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 2.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 1; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 2.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 2; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 1.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 0; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 0.

Total House good bills approved by House: 0; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 0.

Total House bad bills approved by House: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by Senate: 0.

Total House good bills heard in Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills heard in House committee: 0.

Total House bad bills heard in Senate committee: 0; total Senate bad bills heard in House committee: 0.

Total House good bills approved by Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills approved by House committee: 0.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate committee: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by House committee: 0.

Total House good bills approved by Senate: 0; total Senate good bills approved by House: 0.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate: 0; total Senate bad bills approved by House: 0.

Total House good bills going to governor: 0; total Senate good bills going to governor: 0.

Total House bad bills going to governor: 0; total Senate bad bills going to governor: 0.

Total House good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0; total Senate good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0.

Total House bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0; total Senate bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0.