Brooke Thorington

4 days ago | wwno.org | Brooke Thorington

A bill to allow for exceptions to the state’s abortion law in cases when children younger than 17 become pregnant as a result of rape or incest failed to advance from the House Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday. The legislation is Rep. Delisha Boyd's (D-New Orleans) third attempt to create exceptions to Louisiana’s strict abortion ban. “I think it should be left up to the family,” said Boyd. “What I’m asking is to give them the ability to make that choice.”The bill is personal for Boyd.

5 days ago | wrkf.org | Brooke Thorington

A bill supported by Gov. Jeff Landry advanced from the House Ways and Means Committee and is now due to be considered by lawmakers in the House. The proposal, from state Sen. Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge), would give homeowners a $10,000 tax credit for retrofitting their home with a fortified roof. If Louisiana can increase the number of homes with fortified roofs, Talbot said, property owners across the state could see lower home insurance rates.

5 days ago | wwno.org | Brooke Thorington

As another Atlantic hurricane season begins, homeowners across Louisiana are struggling to afford fast-rising insurance rates. The problem has left lawmakers scrambling to find solutions. One approach has been to provide financial assistance to help homeowners fortify their roofs. The idea behind the Fortify Homes Program is that when houses are better prepared to weather storms, insurance companies make fewer payouts, and rates remain lower for everyone as a result.

1 week ago | wrkf.org | Brooke Thorington

A House bill requiring college students to complete additional anti-hazing education advanced from the Senate Education Committee on Thursday and will now head to the full Senate. The bill’s lead author, Rep. Delisha Boyd of New Orleans, said it was the recent hazing death of Southern University student and band member Caleb Wilson that inspired her to carry HB 279.

1 week ago | wwno.org | Brooke Thorington

Although Gov. Jeff Landry signed six insurance reform bills into law on Wednesday, four House insurance reform bills were killed in committee later on in the day. Since the upper chamber went into session, the Senate Judiciary A Committee had to adjourn before those bills could be heard. Committee Chair Gregory Miller (R-Norco) told the lawmakers who sponsored the four bills that the meeting would resume after they adjourned.