The Republican-controlled House approved a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing gender transition procedures on minors. Gender transition procedures include hormone treatments, gender reassignment surgery, or puberty blockers. Bill author Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says these types of treatments can lead to sterilization and loss of sexual function…

Cut 5 (07) “…experimental procedures.”

But Gretna Representative Joe Marino says this legislation actually harms transgender youth…

Cut 6 (12)  “…they are loved” 

Firment’s “Stop Harming Our Kids Act” was approved on 71-24 vote mainly along party lines. It’s one of four major anti-LGBTQ bills moving through the Legislature.

The House Criminal Justice Committee advances a bill to allow Louisiana adults to conceal carry a firearm.  Bill author Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick says the Second Amendment gives law-abiding citizens the right to do so. But Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police Fabian Blache believes it will escalate the already existing problem of illegal gun violence.

Cut 8 (07)  “…officer safety.” 

The legislation would also bypass background check requirements to carry a concealed weapon.

Despite pushback from Black lawmakers, the Louisiana House approved a bill that would hold back third graders who fail multiple literacy tests. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s measure is modeled after a policy Mississippi is using. But New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd is not impressed…

Cut 15 (06)  “…scoring 45th.”
But Nelson says Mississippi’s reading scores have improved since the program was enacted in 2013.

House Criminal Justice advances a bill on an 8-1 vote to expand gun rights and allow Louisiana adults 18 and older to carry handguns without permits or training. Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick says the Second Amendment gives law-abiding citizens the right to do so.

Cut 7 (13)  “…same age.” 

Among the law enforcement organizations who oppose the bill is the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police.

The House approves a bill to hold third graders back if they fail to pass a literacy competency test multiple times. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s measure gives students three opportunities to pass the test…

Cut 14 (11)  “…requirements.”
The heads to the Senate.

A House-approved bill to allow a mother to recover 50% of their out-of-pocket expenses for pregnancy-related medical costs from the father advances from a Senate Committee.

Cut 1 (32)  “I’m Teiko Foxx.”

New Orleans is the center for the national debate over the access of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone . A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear arguments today on a federal judge’s decision in Texas to revoke the FDA’s approval of the drug which occurred over two decades ago. The case is expected to go before the U-S Supreme Court.

The Republican-controlled House approved a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing gender transition procedures on minors. Pollock Representative Gabe Firment says several surrounding states have passed similar bans and several European countries also restrict gender-affirming care for minors…

Cut 3 (12) “…surgeries”

But the American Academy of Pediatrics supports gender-affirming healthcare.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to hold third graders back if they fail to pass a literacy competency test advances from the full House bill.

Cut  16 (08)  “…another solution.” 

New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd argued that it isn’t the child who should be punished and held back, it’s the teachers who are failing the students. The bill advances to a Senate committee.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted against two measures that sought to clarify medical exceptions to the state’s abortion ban. Among the lawmakers who rejected legislation, Haughton Representative Dodie Horton…

Cut 10 (07) “…and what’s needed.” 
None of the bills aimed at softening the state’s abortion ban have made out of committee this session.

House-approved legislation to allow a pregnant mother of a child to recover half the out-of-pocket, pregnancy-related medical expenses from the biological father was approved by a Senate Committee. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says he’s trying to protect pregnant women.

Cut 4 (05)  “… the father.”
After the baby is born, the mother would have two years to recover these expenses. The bill also states the mother can only recuperate monies if the paternity of the child has been proven. Utah also has a similar bill that was passed in 2021. The measure heads to the Senate floor.

The Louisiana House approves a bill to hold third graders back if they are unable to read at grade level. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State police are investigating a physical confrontation between two House staff members that happened outside of the capitol Tuesday. One staffer from House Sergeant at Arms was reportedly carrying a firearm before the incident. Only law enforcement is allowed to carry a weapon inside the Capitol. No other details are available.

A House-approved bill that would allow a pregnant mother to recover 50 percent of the out-of-pocket cost for pregnancy-related medical expenses from the biological father of the child was approved by Senate Committee.  President of STAR, Morgan Lamandre raised concern that the bill’s preemptive period was not long enough.

Cut 6 (13)  “…year period.”

After the baby is born, the mother would have two years to recover these expenses.

Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services was awarded Code for America’s inaugural Government Changemaker Award – for its outstanding commitment to leveraging technology to better serve Louisiana households at a summit in Washington D.C., DCFS Secretary Terri Ricks says the LA’Message pilot made a difference in their use of technology and using text messages was an important tool during the pandemic.

Cut 12 (13)    “…the pandemic” 

Louisiana was among one the first states chosen last year to participate in Code for America’s Safety Net Innovation Lab.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted against two measures that sought to clarify medical exceptions to the state’s abortion ban. One of the bills is sponsored by state representative Mary Dubuisson, a Republican from Slidell, who says there is vague, non-medical language in the state’s abortion ban that gets in the way of OBGYNs treating their patients who have complicated pregnancies. Pro-choice attorney Gwyneth O’ Neal….
cut 9 (15) “….these complications”
Several lawmakers rejected the idea that the state’s abortion ban language is vague or unclear. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton….
Cut 10 (07) “…and what’s needed.”
So none of the bills aimed at softening the state’s abortion ban will make out of committee this session.

House-approved legislation that would allow the pregnant mother of a child to recover half the out-of-pocket, pregnancy-related medical expenses from the biological father was approved by a Senate Committee. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says he’s trying to protect pregnant women.
Cut 4 (05) “… the father.”
After the baby is born, the mother would have two years to recover these expenses. The measure heads to the Senate floor.

The state Department of Children and Family Services has received its share of criticism for the handling of child welfare cases, but the state agency has won the Government Changemaker award for how it uses technology to keep families who are receiving benefits informed. DCFS Secretary Terri Ricks….
cut 13 (13) “…..national news”
Ricks says they used text messaging to inform SNAP recipients about a tax credit that resulted in over four-thousand Louisianans claiming over four million in tax credits.

Lawmakers defer two pro-choice bills aimed at making the state’s all-out ban on abortions less onerous. House Criminal Justice chose to shelve HB 598, which would have clarified that non-viable ectopic pregnancies can be treated through surgery. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell (New-ELL)argued her bill is a pathway to saving a mother’s life from a problem pregnancy…:
Cut 7 (15) “…to their patients.”
Louisiana Right to Life director Ben Clapper told panel members HB 598 is unnecessary…:
Cut 8 (11) “…pregnancies and more.”
The House Criminal Justice Committee also voted against a bill that would have exempted miscarriages from the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Despite pushback from Black lawmakers, the Louisiana House approved a bill that would hold back third graders who fail multiple literacy tests. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s measure is modeled after a policy Mississippi is using. But New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd is not impressed…
cut 15 (06) “……scoring 45th”
But Nelson says Mississippi’s reading scores have improved since the program was enacted in 2013.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has won an award. The nonprofit organization, Code for America, has awarded DCFS with its Government Changemaker Award. Secretary Terri Ricks says in 2019 the state partnered with Code for America and launched a one-way text messaging service that helps recipients at critical times…
cut 11 (12) “…be helpful”
Ricks says they also use text messaging to keep SNAP recipients informed.

Two bills aimed at clarifying the state’s all-out ban on abortions meet defeat in a House committee. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

New Orleans is the center for the national debate over the access of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone. A federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear arguments today on a federal judge’s decision in Texas to revoke the FDA’s approval of the drug which occurred over two decades ago. The case is expected to end up before the U-S Supreme Court.

A bill that would allow a pregnant mother to recover half of the out of pocket medical expenses of the pregnancy from the biological father continues to move through the legislative process. The House approved legislation has received approval from a Senate committee…
cut 5 (05) “…real issue”
That’s Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud. The bill heads next to the Senate floor.

The Louisiana House approves a bill to hold third graders back if they fail to pass a literacy competency test multiple times. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s measure gives students three opportunities to pass the test…
Cut 14 (11) “…requirements.”
The proposal passed on a 88-15 vote and heads to the Senate.

Two bills aimed at softening the state’s all-out ban on abortions meet defeat in a House committee. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State police are investigating a physical confrontation between two House staff members that happened outside of the capitol Tuesday. One staffer from House Sergeant at Arms was reportedly carrying a firearm before the incident. Only law enforcement is allowed to carry a weapon inside the Capitol. No other details are available.

House-approved legislation that would allow the pregnant mother of a child to recover half the out-of-pocket, pregnancy-related medical expenses from the biological father was approved by Senate Judiciary A. Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman says the bill was created to protect pregnant women.

Cut 4 (08)  “… the father.”

The bill heads to the Senate floor.

A bill to hold third graders back if they fail to pass a literacy competency test advances from the full House. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill failed the final days of the session last year. He says this bill gives students three opportunities to pass the test…

Cut 11 (11)  “…requirements.”

Students who fail the test would receive intensive instruction and two additional opportunities to pass the test. The bill will be heard in a Senate committee next.

At the State Capitol, the House rejects two bills that would have curtailed carbon capture projects planned for Lake Maurepas in southeast Louisiana. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says the legislation threatens 21-billion dollars in industrial projects…:

CUT 09(12)      “…somewhere else.”

Residents who live near Lake Maurepas are concerned about carbon capture’s effect on the ecosystem. Nevertheless, those bills are defeated.

A bill that would let property insurers raise rates without the approval of the insurance commissioner has passed the full House and heads now to the Senate. New Orleans Rep. Mandie Landry says she is skeptical of the bill, though…:

CUT 07(12)      “…more irate.”

Supporters say it will lead to more competition.

A truck theft in Slidell Monday led to a fiery crash, a big manhunt and an attack by angry hornets that sent two cops and a K-9 officer to the hospital. Slidell PD’s Office Dan Suzeneau says the suspect rolled the stolen truck over, which burst into flames. He then fled into a nearby swap and that’s where cops encountered the hornets’ nest…:

CUT 14(10)      “…of hornets.”

The suspect managed to get away, but Suzeneau says they’ll catch him another day. The two officers and the K-9 were treated for multiple stings and released.

Congratulations to Kenneth Colona, of Tangipahoa Parish, who just graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond…at age 85. Colona walked the stage and collected his Bachelor of Science in Sociology; making him the oldest person to ever earn a degree from SLU. He says it proves you are never too old to reach for your dreams.

A truck theft in Slidell Monday involved a flipped truck going up in flames, a massive manhunt, and a hornet’s nest…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Senator John Kennedy incurred the anger of the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. when he recently said without American help, (quote) “Mexico – figuratively speaking – would be eating cat food from a can while living in a tent behind an Outback.” The ambassador says that’s vulgar and racists. So far, no comment from Mr. Kennedy.

The state is reaching out to anyone who sustained damage from the hurricanes of 2020 and ’21, who may be eligible for reimbursement from the Restore Louisiana Program. State Office of Community Development director Pat Forbes says there could be reasons why these individuals are not applying for assistance at “restore.la.gov”…:

CUT 03(12)      “…some assistance.”

If you had repairs totaling $5k or more, check to see of you have help coming to you.

A bill to remove approval from the Insurance Commissioner for property insurance rate changes passes in the full House. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says some people think allowing the commissioner to control rates is a good thing…:

CUT 06(10)      “…goes up.”

Outgoing Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon opposes the legislation. Nevertheless, it moves now to the Senate for Insurance Committee review. Remember, the legislature must conclude its business by June 8^th.