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2 days ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
The Louisiana Legislature could soon overhaul campaign finance laws for public officials, setting up new rules for political committees, raising the limit for which contributions have to be reported, and setting stricter rules for when campaign finance violations can be investigated. Supporters say the legislation will “modernize” Louisiana’s Campaign Finance Disclosure Act so that it more closely aligns with federal rules.
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2 days ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
Louisiana may finally be on track to replace its decades-old voting machines, after years of controversies over how to do so. The Louisiana Legislature gave the Secretary of State the green light to use a new bidding process to pick a company that will replace the more than 10,000 machines that officials say are increasingly difficult to keep functioning.
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4 days ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
With hurricane season underway, and an above average number of storms in the forecast, Gov. Jeff Landry said Tuesday that "preparation starts with the individual."Coming up on the August anniversaries of Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, Landry said the two storms have forever changed the mindset of people across the state and nation. "Those storms tested Louisiana in unimaginable ways," he said.
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1 week ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
A bill that would put new restrictions on the board that investigates alleged ethics violations by Louisiana public officials is one step closer to becoming law after a Senate committee passed it unanimously with a few tweaks. House Bill 674, sponsored by Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, has faced little opposition from lawmakers of either party.
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1 week ago | 
theadvocate.com | Alyse Pfeil
An effort to end the fluoridation of public water systems across Louisiana met defeat Wednesday after the House Health and Welfare Committee decided against advancing the legislation on a 5-10 vote. Senate Bill 2 would have outlawed fluoridation of Louisiana’s public water systems, although it would have given residents serviced by local water systems the option to petition and hold an election to opt-in to fluoridation. Bill sponsor Sen.
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1 week ago | 
theadvocate.com | Alyse Pfeil |Sophie Kasakove
Less than a year after Louisiana agreed to let people carry concealed weapons in public without a permit, bills are now moving through the state Legislature to allow more people to have concealed guns close to schools and along parade routes. On the Fourth of July, constitutional carry — a term favored by gun rights advocates referring to the Second Amendment right to bear arms — became law in Louisiana.
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1 week ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil |Sophie Kasakove
Less than a year after Louisiana agreed to let people conceal their weapons without a permit, state lawmakers are weighing whether to allow permitless concealed guns near schools and on parade routes, sparking fresh criticism in New Orleans. Senate Bill 101, by state Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, would allow anyone legally permitted to carry a gun to tote their weapon up to a school’s property line. That includes people without permits. Another bill, House Bill 393, would allow guns at parades.
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2 weeks ago | 
theadvocate.com | Alyse Pfeil
Pregnant women in Louisiana and some of their family members would be allowed to sue anyone who helps provide drugs meant to induce an abortion under a proposal being considered by the Legislature. It’s part of a larger effort by anti-abortion lawmakers to limit the use of drugs such as mifepristone and misoprostol for abortions in Louisiana. Supporters say the legislation would provide more tools to pursue out-of-state doctors who prescribe drugs for abortion, which is illegal in Louisiana.
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3 weeks ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
The Louisiana Legislature is considering new rules for how the state ethics board handles allegations of misconduct by public officials, including requiring the panel to disclose the identity of anyone who files a complaint and placing stricter limits on when the board can launch investigations. The ethics board would be blocked from investigating potential ethics-law violations unless it receives a formal complaint under the version of the bill.
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3 weeks ago | 
nola.com | Alyse Pfeil
State lawmakers honored Caleb Wilson’s parents and family in the chamber of the Louisiana House of Representatives on Wednesday, presenting a resolution expressing condolences at Wilson’s death. “The profound pain and suffering by his mom and dad, as well as the entire Wilson family is shared and felt by all the citizens of Kenner, the parish of Jefferson, and quite frankly, all of us in this state,” said Rep. Joe Stagni, R-Kenner, one of the resolution’s authors.
