By Paul Braun
The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would restrict prisoners convicted of 1st-degree murder from seeking medical furloughs.
The bill would significantly weaken one part of the broad changes in the criminal justice system that the Legislature approved last summer to reduce the number of inmates and cut prison costs.
Read the story in KALB-TV/kalb.com.
Kaylee Poche and Ryan Noonan
It was standing room only Tuesday as the House Appropriations Committee discussed the impact of a potential $2.3 billion cut to the state’s health care budget. The proposed cuts would drastically affect the elderly and the disabled, many of whom rely on government programs to receive proper care.
Read the story in The Shreveport Times.
By Drew White
Convicted felons who are back in their communities are one step closer toward having their voting rights restored under a bill that passed a House committee on Wednesday.
Read the story in The Daily Advertiser.
By Joby Richard
The House Education Committee on Wednesday (April 11) unanimously approved three bills that would tell students on how to report dangerous social media posts, align nutrition rules for school snacks with federal standards, and let schools administer opioid antidotes to overdose victims.
Read the story in The Times-Picayune/nola.com.
By Tryfon Boukouvidis
After a Senate panel voted Tuesday to ban the death penalty in Louisiana, a House committee rejected a similar bill 10-8 Wednesday at a tense hearing in which both sides quoted the Bible to make their points.
Read the story in FOX 8/fox8live.com.
By Devon Sanders
The Legislature on Tuesday continued a pattern of mixed action on proposals to combat gun violence, as the Senate rejected a bill to raise the legal age of assault weapons while a Senate committee approved a bill to ban bump stocks on semi-automatic weapons.
Read the story in KALB-TV/kalb.com.
Paul Braun and Devon Sanders
A Senate judiciary committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana effective Aug. 1.
Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, authored the bill, reasoning that the death penalty is an outdated and costly means of punishment.
Read the story in The Daily Advertiser.
By Tryfon Boukouvidis and Ashley Wolf
The Senate on Monday passed two bills that would create new TOPS awards, giving students a second chance to receive the popular scholarships. The bills are consistent with recommendations by the TOPS Task Force.
Read the story in The Advocate.
By Drew White
In the latest effort to fortify schools, Louisiana children may be able to start wearing bulletproof backpacks.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Monday that would let students wear body armor on school grounds or buses. The bill, which passed 34-2, now heads to the House.
Read the story in FOX 8 News/fox8live.com.
By Tryfon Boukouvidis
The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill Monday that would ensure that the state funds full-time students who are in foster care until they complete high school or turn 21.
Currently, Louisiana supports foster children until they reach 18 without taking into consideration whether they have completed high school by that age.
Read the story in KALB-TV/kalb.com.
LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau 