Author
Louisiana Legislature signs off on tiered system for convicted juveniles
The Legislature passed a bill that would sort juveniles convicted of crimes into risk categories that could be used to segregate high-risk youth in secure facilities. Senate Bill 323, sponsored by state Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, would require the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections to adopt rules that would sort juveniles into […]
Louisiana House approves harsher criminal penalties for abortion providers
The Louisiana House of Representatives gave final passage Thursday to bills that would enhance criminal penalties for abortion providers and make it a crime for out-of-state companies to supply abortion pills to Louisiana residents by mail. Senate Bill 342, sponsored by Sen. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, would increase criminal penalties for abortion providers under Louisiana’s trigger […]
For state employees who use medical marijuana, job protection within reach
The Louisiana Senate gave final passage to a bill Wednesday that would protect state employees who legally use medical marijuana. House Bill 988, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, protects state employees from negative consequences if they are diagnosed with conditions for which a doctor recommends medical marijuana used in accordance with state law. […]
Louisiana lawmakers consider gun ban for convicted juveniles until age 24
The House voted 59-39 Tuesday to pass a bill that would prohibit young people convicted of crimes from possessing firearms until they are 24 years old. Senate Bill 379, sponsored by Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, would prohibit juveniles with violent criminal convictions from possessing firearms until then. The House amended the bill, which was […]
Bill to improve housing access for Louisiana’s formerly incarcerated fails in committee
A Louisiana Senate committee shot down a bill Wednesday that would have made it easier for formerly incarcerated people to access housing. House Bill 1063, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans, would have amended the Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act to require housing providers to disclose whether criminal history is considered as a basis […]
Louisiana lawmakers approve study of university tenure policy
The House gave final passage Monday to a resolution to study tenure policies at universities in Louisiana. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, sponsored by Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, creates the Task Force on Tenure in Postsecondary Education. The task force would report back to lawmakers with suggestions on changing tenure policies in the state. The resolution […]
Proposal would shield Louisiana’s state employees who use medical marijuana
The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that would protect Louisiana’s state employees who are legally treated with medical marijuana. House Bill 988, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, protects state employees from negative consequences if they are diagnosed with a condition for which their doctor recommends medical […]
Transgender athlete ban approved in Louisiana House
The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity. Senate Bill 44, sponsored by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, is titled the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” It would require athletes from the elementary through college level to compete based on their sex at […]
Louisiana Legislature advances two abortion restriction bills
The House Committee on Health and Welfare Tuesday approved two anti-abortion bills in bipartisan votes. Senate Bill 342, sponsored by Sen. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, would increase criminal penalties for abortion providers under Louisiana’s trigger laws. Louisiana is one of 13 states with trigger laws that go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe […]
Bill prohibiting vaccine discrimination advances
The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure advanced a bill Monday that would prohibit discrimination in Louisiana over vaccination or immunity status. House Bill 253, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Edmonston, R-Gonzales, would amend several existing discrimination statutes, adding vaccination or immunity status as a protected class. In most statutes, protected classes include race, sex, […]
Louisiana House committee advances bill to ban hair discrimination
The Louisiana House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure advanced a bill Monday that would prohibit discrimination based on certain hairstyles. House Bill 41, sponsored by Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, would amend discrimination law to include “natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle.” That would include afros, locs, braids, and other styles with cultural significance or […]
Behavioral assessments before a student is expelled, suspended under consideration
The House Committee on Education advanced a bill Tuesday that would require behavioral assessments before students could be expelled, placed in an alternative school or suspended. House Bill 222, sponsored by Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, would require that a student be administered an assessment chosen by the Louisiana Department of Health before being […]