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Louisiana House advances bill to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine requirement for schools
The Louisiana House of Representatives gave final passage to a bill that would prohibit schools from requiring students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a requirement for attendance. House Bill 182, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Edmonston, R-Gonzales, would apply to both public and private schools from the K-12 to university level. No public K-12 schools […]
Louisiana governor says anti-LGBTQ+ bills will increase trans suicides
Gov. John Bel Edwards raised concerns that a recent onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation would have a negative impact on the already high suicide rate for transgender Louisianians. “Members of this community believe they’re being attacked for who they are,” Edwards said. “Members of the the trans community are much more likely than other young people […]
Bill to allow library board members to be fired without cause killed in committee
A Louisiana legislative committee killed a controversial bill that would have allowed parish library board members to be dismissed without cause. House Bill 25, sponsored by Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Covington, sought to codify an opinion Attorney General Jeff Landry issued that posited members of parish library boards could be fired at the will of the […]
TikTok could soon be banned on college campus WiFi in Louisiana
TikTok could soon be expelled from Louisiana’s colleges and universities under a bill advancing through the legislature. House Bill 361, sponsored by Rep. Daryl Deshotel, R-Marksville, would ban the app on all state-owned devices and state administered networks, meaning the popular video sharing app could soon be inaccessible on university WiFi. Deshotel has pitched the […]
Book highlights Huey Long’s patronage of LSU, legacy of purple & gold politics
Huey Long’s presence is palpable at LSU. An average Saturday night during football season will tell you as much. A stroll across campus will take you past the fieldhouse named in his honor and to the Greek theater, where the marching band he led so often rehearses the songs he helped write on the stage […]
Controversial library bill advances from Louisiana Senate committee – again
After approving a bill without hearing from the opposition a week ago – a violation of the Louisiana Legislature’s norms – the Senate Education Committee was required to reconsider the proposal Thursday to restrict children’s access to content deemed sexually explicit. Once again, members advanced it. Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, […]
Higher ed leaders fight back on attempts to curb diversity measures on campus
Louisiana higher education leaders are preparing to go on defense to protect diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures opposed by Republicans. Discussion of such diversity measures on campus received renewed attention when the Republican State Central Committee met last month to pass a resolution calling for the legislature to ban on DEI measures on college […]
Ban on trans healthcare for minors advances from Louisiana House committee
After nearly five hours of emotional testimony, a Louisiana legislative committee advanced a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors Tuesday. The House Health and Welfare Committee advanced House Bill 463, by Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, on a 14-3 vote. Democratic Reps. Jason Hughes of New Orleans and Larry Selders of Baton Rouge and Republican […]
Kim Mulkey scores again: State funds may be on the way for PMAC renovation
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey’s wish for a stadium renovation may be coming true this year, legislative leaders said Monday. House Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, confirmed in an interview that lawmakers are considering appropriating state funds for renovations to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, saying there’s a “50-50 chance” the money […]
St. Tammany library signs off on policy to relieve burden of book challenges
The St. Tammany Library Board has approved policy that would prevent books from being removed from shelves when multiple and subsequent challenges are filed for the same title. The library board has received an unprecedented 203 complaints since August 2022, with most challenges coming from the same handful of conservative activists with the St. Tammany […]
Stefanski hinges attorney general campaign on fentanyl crackdown
State Rep. John Stefanski, running to be the “tough on crime” attorney general, wants to put people in prison permanently for fentanyl possession, but critics are concerned his proposal will do more harm than good. Stefanski’s legislation, House Bill 90, received near-unanimous approval Tuesday from the House Criminal Justice Committee. The bill would send individuals […]
Louisiana House passes bills to address post-Roe Louisiana
The Louisiana House of Representatives unanimously passed two bills to address the expected increase in births following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, would allow a parent to sue the biological father of their child for out-of-pocket pregnancy-related expenses. “In the light of […]