First Extraordinary Session through Jun. 6, 2020

The 2020 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature kicked off this week, in partial response to the month-and-a-half layoff during the regular session taken because of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. Let’s see what good and bad offerings have surfaced, none of which moved this week:

THE GOOD: HB 14 by Speaker Clay Schexnayder would amend the Constitution to allow for centralized sales tax collection; HB 20 by Rep. Debbie Villio would create managed care for Medicaid long-term care; HB 23 by Rep. Stephen Dwight would amend the Constitution to allow for payment in lieu of property taxes (similar bills: HB 28, HB 33, HB 38, HB 41); HB 26 by Rep. Zee Zeringue would extend self-autonomy powers of higher education institutions; HB 36 by Rep. Barry Ivey would amend the Constitution to bring uniformity to property tax exemptions;  SB 1 by Sen. Patrick Connick would change vehicle insurance laws as compared to present law to a form in states with lower insurance rates (similar bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 9, HB 42, HB 43, HB 44); SB 12 by Sen. Big Mike Fesi would amend the Constitution to increase the ability of the state to pay out unclaimed funds in a timely fashion.

THE BAD: HB 10 by Rep. Cedric Glover would decrease the state’s ability to leverage highway construction dollars; HB 24 by Rep. Ted James would impose an unnecessary level of legislative intervention into executive branch decision-making; HB 30 by James would introduce arbitrary elements into vehicle insurance rate determinations (similar bills: HB 31, HB 32).

Regular legislative session through Jun. 6, 2020

Even as a special session sprints from the gate, the 2020 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature comes down the homestretch, with matters now in the hands of the governor (and Legislature, should it choose to override any vetoes).

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 140 had conference report passed by the House and the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 334 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 445 failed to pass the Senate; HB 690 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 746 was sent to the governor; SB 75 had conference report passed by the House and the Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 157 was sent to the governor; SB 166 was sent to the governor; SB 231 was sent to the governor; SB 351 was concurred in and sent to the governor; SB 418 had conference report passed by the House and Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 423 was concurred in and sent to the governor; SB 461 was concurred in and sent to the governor; SB 491 was sent to the governor; SB 498 was sent to and assigned by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 97 was sent to and signed by the governor; HB 241 was sent to and signed by the governor; HB 328 was sent to the governor; HB 676 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 763 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 819 was concurred in and sent to the governor; SB 437 was sent to the governor.

Regular legislative session through May 30, 2020

We enter the final days of the 2020 Regular Session, but, if your favorite bill didn’t make it, fear not; a special session is on the way which might allow for a mulligan.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 140 passed Senate committee and passed the Senate with minor amendment; HB 334 passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 445 passed Senate committee; HB 689 passed Senate committee; HB 690 passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 746 passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; HB 868 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 75 passed House committee and with minor amendment passed the House; SB 157 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 166 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 231 passed House committee and passed the House; SB 351 passed House committee and with minor amendment passed the House; SB 418 with minor amendment passed House committee and passed the House; SB 423 passed House committee and with minor amendment passed the House; SB 461 with minor amendment passed House committee and with minor amendment passed the House; SB 491 passed House committee and passed the House; SB 498 passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 97 passed the Senate; HB 241 passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; HB 328 passed the Senate; HB 676 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 763 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 819 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 437 passed House committee and passed the House.

Regular legislative session through May 23, 2020

The Legislature entered the turn to home this week. If anything would move outside of a special session, which seems extremely likely, it had to start the process this week, if not clear its chamber of origin. HB 866 was removed from the list of good bills as its emendation narrowed its focus drastically. Also, HB 344 was removed from the list of bad bills as its emendation made it benign.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 140 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 334 passed the House; HB 445 passed the House; HB 497 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 690 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 746 passed the House; SB 157 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 166 with minor amendment passed the Senate and with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 231 passed the Senate; SB 418 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 423 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 491 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 498 with minor amendment passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 97 passed Senate committee; HB 188 passed House committee; HB 241 passed the House; HB 328 passed Senate committee; HB 419 was deferred involuntarily; HB 763 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 814 passed the House; HB 819 passed Senate committee; SB 347 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 486 was deferred involuntarily.

Regular legislative session through May 16, 2020

With the Legislature working five days a week (gasp!), members are plowing through a fair number of bills.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 9 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 118 passed the House; HB 140 passed House committee; HB 242 passed the House; HB 334 passed House committee; HB 689 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 690 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 703 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 746 passed House committee; HB 850 passed House committee; SB 75 passed the Senate; SB 157 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 231 passed Senate committee; SB 351 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 418 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 461 passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 97 passed the House; HB 158 passed House committee; HB 328 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 344 passed House committee; HB 625 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 676 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 763 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 814 passed House committee; HB 819 passed the House; SB 293 passed Senate committee; SB 437 passed Senate committee.