House and Senate leaders are facing criticism for cutting 100-million dollars from the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says L-D-H’s budget is over 15-billion dollars and a majority of the Legislature believes they can handle the cut.
Among bills passed last week, was a measure to give a $500 tax credit to Louisiana gun owners toward purchases of safes, locks, and other gun storage devices. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says her legislation mirrors a Virginia bill passed earlier this year.
Gun owners should keep receipts of their purchase to receive a tax credit through the Department of Revenue.
The Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) releases its assessment of the 2023 state legislative. PAR President Steven Procopio says overall lawmakers did a responsible job with $2-billion in surplus but what was accomplished may be overshadowed by the chaotic ending of the session over the state’s budget.
Cut 6 (12) “…problem for transparency.”
Legislation to remove application fees and improve communication between various agencies when one applies for expungement passed in the session. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis says once upgrades to computer systems are complete it will streamline the process.
Duplessis expects the process with be up and running in 18 months.