Update: HB 648, banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, sterilization procedures, and gender-mutilation surgeries on minors to treat gender-dysphoria was overridden. The other 27 dies a sad death along with their 70-soemthing brethren from 2020-22.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Here we go again. In a repeat of last year, our legislators have called for another veto override session. Will this time be any different than the last one? Will the Republicans finally stand up to Governor Edwards? Is there enough real opposition in the “opposition” party?
In the last couple of years, Republicans have failed to override vetoes on bills stopping the unpopular, ineffective, and unconstitutional COVID policies and vaccine mandates. They failed despite having veto-proof votes and near universal public support. In fact, there has been only 1 override in the last 31 years; the congressional redistricting bill in 2022, because of course politicians protect their power instead of the people.
However, that override was rendered moot by the recent SCOTUS decision in Allen v. Milligan and denial of appeal from Louisiana.
That brings us to zero overrides in 31 years. Odds-makers aren’t taking bets, but maybe that changes.
28 Bills are up for veto override, many passed with veto-proof votes. I would encourage you to look at each, as well as the Governor’s letter for each veto. Contact your Representative and Senator and tell them how you would like them to vote.
HB 1 budget bill by Representative Zeringue contains vetoes to cuts to LDH and other programs.
HB 2 budget bill by Representative Bishop contains 18 line-item vetoes.
HB 81 by Representatives Crews, Amedee, And Garofalo. This bill would prohibit school employees from using the names of a student that are not their legal name or pronouns that do not coincide with their biological sex without written permission from the parents. It also provides legal protection for employees who have personal or religious objections to using alternate names or pronouns. The mandatory language of the early parts of the bill is concerning because it could be argued they compel speech, but the protections from retaliation against school employees who have religious or conscious objections to using alternate gender names (not nicknames) or pronouns not consistent with biological sex are very much needed. A compromise could have been a line-item veto of lines 22-26 on page 2.
HB 85 by Representative Mike Johnson would create a misdemeanor punishable by fine and incarceration if a “person shall knowingly or intentionally approach within twenty-five feet of a law enforcement officer who is lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties after the law enforcement officer has ordered the person to stop approaching or to retreat.”
HB 91 by Representative Jonathan Goudeau would allow courts to force persons convicted of vehicular homicide to pay child support to minor children of the victims of the crime. Louisiana law RS 14:32.1 defines the vehicular homicide as being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving.
HB 125 by Representative Michael Echols would prohibit purchase and ownership of agricultural (farm) land by foreign adversaries of the United States. This would include foreign individuals, governments, and corporations and it specifically names “People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Republic of Cuba, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and Venezuela under the leadership of Nicolas Maduro.”
HB 166 by Representative Tony Bacala requires revenue forecasts to include the current year and the next three years.
HB 182 by Representative Kathy Edmonston bans the requirement of COVID 19 vaccines/experimental gene therapy to attend schools.
HB 188 by Representative Larry Frieman would allow denial of parole for “dangerous offenders” convicted of crimes of violence, sex offenders, racketeering, terrorism, and dealing of drugs other than marijuana.
HB 205 by Representative Marcus Bryant would increase teacher pay by requiring compensation for planning time and work beyond the scope of their normal duties. This includes participation in after-school activities.
HB 260 by Representative Beau Beaullieu prevents implementation of federal guidance or directives, not laws, about elections without the express consent of State House and Senate Governmental Affairs committees. This reinforces that the Article I Constitutional power to control elections belongs to the state legislature.
HB 309 by Representative Ray Garofalo calls for insurance discounts for buildings that meet certain standards.
HB 399 by Representative Kathy Edmonston would prohibit requiring immunization (vaccine or natural) or proof of immunization for enrollment in schools or entry into schools or events on campuses.
HB 415 by Representative Beryl Amedee would essentially prohibit Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Louisiana as it specifically exempts it from being a “deposit account” under LA R.R. 10:9-102.
HB 466 by Representative Dodie Horton is a companion bill to HB 81. It would ban discussion of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity outside of official curriculum. It also bans forcing students, teachers, and other school personnel to use certain names or pronouns for a given student.
HB 504by Representative Alan Seabaugh repeals LA R.S. 42:31 which required unclassified employees of the state making $100,000 or more to have Louisiana driver’s license and have all their vehicles registered in Louisiana or be fired. Why was this a law in the first place? Seriously?
HB 560 by Representative Jerome Zeringue is a supplemental appropriations bill with 19 line-item vetoes.
HB 585 by Representative Michael Echols would create a new Council for Economic prosperity and sets its goals and parameters. Do we really need more advisory councils to come up with ineffective plans that never get implemented?
HB 646 by Representative Les Farnum would require an annual canvas of all registered voters before June 13th of each year. This process is expected to aid in removal of inaccurate or inactive registrations from the rolls.
HB 648 by Representative Gabe Firment would ban the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, sterilization procedures, and gender-reassignment surgeries on minors. Using some of these drugs and procedures to treat biological issues, such as early puberty or breast cancer, would still be allowed, but all use to create appearance of a different sex would be banned. We try to be objective here, but if this veto isn’t overridden, do not vote for any of these politicians ever again. “DO NO HARM.”
HB 658 by Representative Raymond Crews requires Louisiana providers and insurers to follow Federal price transparency laws. Despite passing over 10 years ago, these Obamacare requirements are still not implemented or enforced.
HB 659 by Representative Troy D. Romero is a similar bill to SB 217 by Senator Henry requiring the creation and maintenance of a registry database for child abuse, neglect and other violence against minors. Vetoed due to repetitive nature with SB 217.
HB 661 by Representative Nicholas Muscarello provides for various changes to the Louisiana Supreme Court Judiciary Commission including publication of the members on their website as well as changes to the committee submitting recommendations to the legislature for the creation or removal of judgeships.
S B1 by Senator R. L. Bret Allain, II would phase out the corporate franchise tax from 2025-2029 at 25% per year.
S B6 by Senator R. L. Bret Allain, II provides for changes to the Quality Jobs incentive tax rebates in proportion to provisions of SB 1 or other reductions in the corporate franchise tax. Yay tax code…
SB 123 by Senator Cameron Henry makes changes to the requirements of recall petitions including making the petitions public record 90 days after the first signature.
SB 159 by Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. allows 17 year olds convicted of crimes of violence to be housed with adults in prison.
SB 196 by Senator Barrow Peacock creates requirements that third-party funding of lawsuits be reported and available to litigants.
Will the Republicans stand up? Or will they cave again? We will know in a couple of days.