Regular legislative session through May 19, 2018

Perhaps an even more hectic finish than typical came to the 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Now its matters rest in the hands of the governor, even as a(nother) special session begins in a few days.

The final days saw the gutting of HB 602, so it was removed from the list of good bills.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 30 was signed by the governor; HB 78 was concurred in; HB 88 was passed by the Senate and concurred in; HB 281 with major amendment passed the Senate and was concurred in; HB 321 passed the Senate, was concurred in, and was sent to the governor; HB 793 with minor amendment passed the Senate and was concurred in; HB 830 was not concurred in and had the House and Senate adopt a conference report; HB 891 was concurred in; SB 31 was passed by the House and concurred in; SB 42 was sent to the governor; SB 50 was sent to the governor; SB 119 passed the House and was concurred in; SB 319 passed the House, was not concurred in, and had the House and Senate adopt a conference report; SB 325 passed the House and was sent to the governor; SB 347 passed House committee and the House; SB 364 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in; SB 452 passed the House; SB 462 passed the House; SB 534 with minor amendment passed the House.

Regular legislative session through May 12, 2018

HB 748 has been removed form the list of good bills after its gutting by a Senate committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 54 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 88 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 321 passed Senate committee; HB 480 passed the House; HB 723 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 793 passed House committee; HB 830 with major amendment passed Senate committee; HB 891 with major amendment passed the Senate; SB 31 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 42 passed the House;  SB 50 passed the House; SB 319 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 325 passed House committee; SB 452 passed House committee; SB 462 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 534 with minor amendment passed House committee.

THIS WEK FOR THE BAD: HB 265 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 399 failed to pass the House; HB 579 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 823 passed the Senate; SB 331 passed the House and was sent to the governor; SB 558 passed the House.

Committee action, May 9: SB 365

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 365 by Sen. Rick Ward would impose regulations on the short-term loan industry in response to federal regulations changing in Aug., 2019 that otherwise might wipe out the industry. He told the House Commerce Committee it imposed reasonable restrictions on the industry. He offered some clarifying amendments that set the following rules: 3-12 months, $500-875 in amount, 9 percent simple interest rate monthly, grace periods for payments (10 days) and default (61 days), and 30 days between loans, among other things. Even so, the bill would cause significant shrinkage of the industry.

Rep. Rodney Lyons asked whether the bill would affect anybody outside the industry, and was told it would not. Rep. Edmond Jordan said the bill’s terms still weren’t good enough, calling it “predatory.” Ward said, without the bill’s terms, the product hardly would exist, and demonstrated as such by noting lower-priced products don’t currently exist. He also said the rule could be repealed by Congress, but was told that seemed unrealistic and ignored business realities. Jordan also went over what seemed a checklist of opponents’ objections and received answers which contradicted the assertions.

Rep. Patrick Jefferson asked how it would it impact current consumers. Ward said it provided help for those without any other recourse, and about 20,000 currently took advantage of that. About a quarter defaulted, but that was the nature of lending to high-risk consumers. Without the bill, the number served would plummet.

Regular legislative session through May 5, 2018

HB 399 has joined the list of bad bills after it has percolated through the legislative process. It would dilute even further the weak merit-based principle behind the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 30 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 54 passed Senate committee; HB 78 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 163 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 321 passed the House; HB 480 passed the House; HB 602 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 723 passed Senate Committee; HB 793 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 31 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 119 with major amendment passed House committee; SB 325 passed the Senate; SB 364 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 452 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 534 with minor amendment passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 399 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 579 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 823 with major amendment passed Senate committee; SB 380 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 558 with minor amendment passed House committee.

Committee action, May 2: SB 380, HB 628, HB 723, SB 364

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 380 by Sen. Wesley Bishop would give public money to low-performing students who improve their performance. He told the House Education Committee it addressed students who scored low (17, 18, 19) on the American College Test who maintained at least a 3.2 grade point average through their first 60 hours, with an amendment that was adopted, where they could have the last 60 hours qualify for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. They number 47 across the state. He said it was a more expansive version of SB 394 by Sen. Bodi White, which applied to community college graduates.

Rep. Pat Smith said this would be great for students, even class valedictorians, that she knew of in this situation. She moved to report it, and it advanced without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 628 by Rep. Marcus Hunter said his slimmed-down bill would allow children 13 to 18 to accompany parents into the voting booth. He told the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee this was an educational opportunity.