LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau

By William Taylor Potter

Gov. John Bel Edwards had a message for Republicans opposing his plans for tax reform: Chart a new path.

The call to action came during his State of the State address — the second of Edwards’ tenure – that opened the 60-day Louisiana State Legislature’s 2017 regular session. Much of the speech centered on the governor’s proposals for tax reform, which includes eliminating one penny of the five-cent sales tax and implementing a commercial activity tax (CAT) for businesses.

Read the story in bestofneworleans.com/Gambit

By Laryssa Bonacquisti

During his address to the legislature on opening day of the 2017 Regular Legislative Session, Gov. John Bel Edwards called for unity and asked that legislators not act like those in Washington. The continuation of the budget crisis looms over Louisianians, and many hope this session might bring about permanent positive change.

via NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune YouTube.com channel

By Matt Houston

The 2017 legislative session opens with Gov. John Bel Edwards imploring lawmakers to face up to the state’s problems.

By Sam Karlin

BATON ROUGE — When state lawmakers ended their work last year, having passed a host of temporary tax increases to help fill a looming budget hole, many shrugged off the fact they did not make significant long-term changes to a tax code widely considered broken.

After all, the temporary taxes, most notably a one-cent increase to the sales tax, would roll off in 2018, putting pressure on the Legislature this year to make bold changes to the tax code and budget.

Read the story in The Town Talk

By Carrie Grace Henderson and Tryfon Boukouvidis

The joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works set the tone for what is expected to be a raucous debate in the 2017 Legislative session that opened Monday over the proposal to raise the gas tax.

The committee approved the Highway Priority Construction Program for the next fiscal year, but stripped it of its provisions that would take effect if the state came into more state or federal money.

Read the story in The News Star

By Sarah Gamard

BATON ROUGE –- The National Conference of State Legislatures’ list of states ranked by percentage of women in the state legislature shows Louisiana has improved to 44th place after being dead last in 2015.

That year, Louisiana had 13 women in the House and four in the Senate. In 2016, those numbers had increased to 17 and five, respectively. The 22 women represent 15 percent of the total delegates.

Read the story in houmatoday.com/The Courier

By Rose Velazquez

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana students, technically as young as kindergarteners, who bring toy guns to school could face criminal penalties under a proposal state lawmakers will consider during a session that begins Monday.

House Bill 43, by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, would ban the possession of “imitation firearms, projectiles or ammunition” in Louisiana schools, at school-sponsored events or within 1,000 feet of campuses.

Read the story at WWLTV.com

By Rose Velazquez

BATON ROUGE — Rather than facing suffocating fines or the possibility of jail time, Louisiana residents who violate parish ordinances may be sentenced in the alternative to up to 200 hours of community service if House Bill 19 by Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, is approved in the 2017 legislative session.

The current law sets the penalty for those who violate a parish ordinance at a maximum $500 fine and 30 days in a parish jail. HB19 would allow judges to use community service in place of – or in addition to — traditional penalties.

Read the story in The Shreveport Times

By Sarah Gamard and Rose Velazquez

BATON ROUGE — State lawmakers are again aiming to close the pay gap between men and women in Louisiana, something a new poll indicates has wide support among residents.

Louisiana ranks second in the nation for greatest wage gap between men and women, 32 cents less per dollar of wages than men.

Read the story in houmatoday.com/The Courier

By Rose Velazquez

BATON ROUGE — A Houma lawmaker has proposed a measure that would give judges a new option in sentencing people who violate parish ordinances.

Current law sets the penalty at a maximum $500 fine and 30 days in a parish jail.

House Bill 19, by state Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, would allow judges to give a sentence of up to 200 hours of community service in place of – or in addition to — traditional penalties.

Read the story in houmatoday.com/The Courier