By Samuel Carter Karlin
BATON ROUGE — A bill to penalize those under 18 for drinking at a private residence failed to pass out of House Criminal Justice Committee Tuesday after lengthy debate.
Under current law, those younger than 21 years old can drink for religious or medical reasons, when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or if they are in a private residence.
By Jack Richards
BATON ROUGE — A Senate committee Tuesday sent to the full chamber a bill that would add protected classes of people to the state’s non-discrimination laws.
Senate Bill 332 by Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, would amend existing non-discrimination statutes to include age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression and sex.
By Samuel Carter Karlin
The state’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 began its tumultuous journey through the Legislature Monday with large-scale changes made by House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, in large part to fund TOPS, the state’s popular tuition-paying program.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ budget recommendation cut TOPS by roughly 80 percent, but he said he will call the Legislature into a second special session in June to raise revenue to fund the program.
By Justin DiCharia and Samuel Carter Karlin
BATON ROUGE – More than a quarter of a billion dollars in eliminations and reductions to Louisiana’s capital outlay projects for the fiscal year beginning July 1 were dispatched to the full House on a unanimous vote Monday in the Ways and Means Committee following the introduction of 375 amendments to House Bill 2.
The measure axes approximately $330 million in state funded projects around the state as a result of the dwindling funds for those projects, and prioritizes projects that have already started.
By Jack Richards
BATON ROUGE — The House Monday unanimously passed a resolution by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, to urge the Department of Health and Hospitals to study the viability of a controversial procedure to reverse an abortion induced by the drug mifepristone.
By Quint Forgey
BATON ROUGE — A measure requiring Louisiana’s exotic dancers to be at least 21 years old sailed through the House Judiciary committee without opposition on Thursday.
By Quint Forgey
BATON ROUGE — Following the uncontested approval of Senate Bill 320 in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, domestic violence victims are another step closer to having special seating — separate from alleged abusers — in state courtrooms.
By Jack Richards
BATON ROUGE Â The Senate Committee on Transportation and Public Works Thursday voted 3-1 to prevent localities from establishing a 50 percent local-hire quota on contracts for public works projects.
By Quint Forgey
BATON ROUGE — A measure that would have rewarded state higher education institutions for improving their graduation rates by granting limited tuition autonomy failed in the full House chamber on Thursday.
Opponents were concerned over increasing college costs for Louisiana’s students.
By Samuel Carter Karlin
BATON ROUGE — A higher minimum wage in Louisiana may run into trouble in the Legislature as the state grapples with a $600 million shortfall and an expected special session to raise more revenue approaches. The Senate Finance Committtee was scheduled to take up the bill Monday, but passed over it and may consider it next week.
LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau 