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Gov. John Bel Edwards issues emergency declaration ahead of Hurricane Zeta landfall
Tropical Storm Zeta strengthened into a hurricane Monday and is expected to hit the Gulf Coast Wednesday as a Category 1 storm somewhere between Southeast Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle. Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an emergency declaration on Oct. 26 and advised Louisianians to get ready once again. “At this time, the hurricane is […]
Louisiana lawmakers want greater internet access for the state
Before their special session ended, the Louisiana Legislature approved measures that will create an office of broadband connectivity and “to connect as many Louisianans as possible and close the digital divide.” Rep. Daryl Deshotel’s House Bill 74 would create the office of broadband and connectivity. The office would be required to report to the governor […]
Medical marijuana won’t be allowed in Louisiana schools anytime soon
A bill that would have required BESE to study the feasibility of allowing medical marijuana to be provided at schools and prescribe rules and regulations died in the Louisiana House Friday. Between its introduction and the end of session,the bill was changed from one that would allow students with a prescription to receive medical marijuana […]
State health department ordered to write guidelines for nursing home visitation
A bill that was originally written to give nursing home residents an unquestioned right to receive visitors — even in the midst of a pandemic — was gutted and rewritten to order the state health department to create rules that govern visitation, with the caveat that those rules can be trumped by federal law. House […]
Louisiana high school football stadiums can now seat fans at 50 percent capacity
High school sports stadiums in some parishes can operate at 50 percent capacity starting Friday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a Thursday afternoon press conference. The new order applies only to stadiums in parishes that have had a 5 percent or less positivity rate for COVID-19 infection for the previous two weeks. As of […]
House passes bill that would codify clergy’s right to visit nursing homes
The Louisiana House passed a bill Wednesday morning that would prevent the state health department from restricting members of the clergy from visiting patients in nursing homes and other healthcare facilities during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the clergy have been able to visit nursing homes since the early days […]
Virtual school discipline bill sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk
A bill that would require school districts to write disciplinary policies for online learning and to give families more options to appeal expulsion recommendations was sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk Wednesday. The “Ku’Mauri Harrison Act” would give students who’ve been recommended for expulsion, even if the punishment is later was reduced to a […]
Legislator defers bill that would prohibit schools from giving names of contagious students to health department
Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Houma, withdrew a bill that would have blocked schools from sending the names of students with infectious diseases to the Louisiana Department of Health. Amedée voluntarily deferred her bill after it was brought up by the House Health and Welfare Committee Tuesday morning. “At this time, because of the shortness and quickness […]
Bill addressing discipline in virtual classrooms is changed to cover only students who’ve been recommended for expulsion
A bill that would have given the right to a hearing to all Louisiana students who are suspended or recommended for expulsion for an alleged virtual classroom infraction was amended Monday to include only students who’ve been recommended for expulsion. Students who’ve had recommendations for expulsion reduced to a suspension would also be covered, which […]
House committee approves bill that would stop parishes from limiting alcohol sales
The Louisiana House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill Thursday morning that would prevent a parish from stopping businesses from selling alcohol. That law would be in effect until one year past the point of the end of the COVID-19 public emergency. “This allows bars to operate without limit on their operation to try to […]
Louisiana lawmakers poised to give themselves seats on high school athletics board
The Louisiana House Education Committee approved a bill that would put two lawmakers on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s executive committee. The LHSAA is a nonprofit organization that serves as the governing authority for high school athletics across the state. The association receives no money from the state and has been deemed a private […]
House committee passes bills to expand visitation rights in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities
The Louisiana House Health and Welfare committee unanimously advanced a bill that would allow close family to visit their family members with disabilities in intermediate care facilities — preventing the Louisiana Department of Health from making rules that prohibit visitation. The committee also unanimously approved a bill that would expand nursing home visitation rights for […]