Second Extraordinary Session through Oct. 3, 2020

The threat materialized, and so Louisianans will have to endure the 2020 Second Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature, to last potentially through Oct. 27. As always, bills introduced are good or bad for the state.

THE GOOD: HB 3 by Rep. Jack McFarland would require vetting of a governor’s public health emergency declaration (similar bills: HB 4, HB 15, HB 17, HB 19, HB 23, HB 57, HB 60, HB 61, HB 68, SB 43, SB 48); HB 7 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier would improve the capital outlay process; HB 9 by Rep. Danny McCormick would strengthen religious liberty protections (similar bill: HB 71); HB 11 by Rep. Thomas Pressly would clarify the public health emergency powers of the governor; HB 20 by Rep. Rick Edmonds would aid families who spent extra on children’s education as a result of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic; HB 31 by Rep. Zee Zeringue would reestablish higher education autonomy measures (similar bill, SB 32); HB 38 by Rep. Lance Harris would maintain adequate funding of police departments (similar bill: HB 67); HB 51 by Rep. Blake Miguez would reduce opportunities for voting fraud; HB 66 by Rep. Beau Beaullieu would reduce improper unemployment benefits payouts; SB 12 by Sen. Robert Mills would reduce personal isolation during public health emergencies (similar bills: HB 33, HB 43); SB 20 by Sen. Sharon Hewitt would improve the emergency election procedure process.

In its original form, SB 29 by Pres. Page Cortez had a neutral rating. But after the legislative process in both houses, it has been upgraded to a good bill.

Legislative regular session-plus scores, 2020

With everything dealt with, the Louisiana Legislature log presents its 2020 Louisiana Legislature scorecard. In a first, it actually will combine both Regular and First Extraordinary Session votes to compile this since the latter really acted as an appendage to the former.

Thirteen bills were selected and weighed for computation. These were chosen mainly from the watch list compiled throughout the session. For a bill’s vote(s) to be selected, in one chamber there had to be more than one legislator not voting for the winning or losing side.

Being that passage of bills depends upon the seated membership of a body, not voting is counted as a negative vote. However, if a legislator had a leave of absence granted for that day, his absent votes weren’t counted for bills voted on that day and the score adjusted to take that into account. The governor wasn’t scored on two items because they were constitutional amendments.

First Extraordinary Session through Jul. 18. 2020

After days of inactivity relative to good bills of the special session, the governor acted on the remainder, choosing not to let all of these become law without his signature. The next edition of the Log will feature the scorecard, with bills from both the regular and special sessions.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 57 was signed by the governor; SB 9 was signed by the governor; SB 16 was signed by the governor; SB 18 was signed by the governor.

SCORECARD:

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: