At the Capitol, the House approves legislation to ban gender reassignment procedures for minors…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Shreveport Police seek your help finding a runaway teen; 17-year-old Madalyn Reiland who was last seen May 12^th at her home. She is Caucasian, 5’ 3”, 180 pounds, with long brown hair. If you think you’ve seen her call SPD at 318-673-73-hundred.

Also at the Capitol, a bill aimed at giving women who are imprisoned for murdering their alleged abuser a chance to be released passes the full Senate. Baton Rouge senator Franklin Foil offered an amendment to clear up some tricky language concerning retroaction. He says a prisoner COULD say they were abused as a child…:

CUT 12(08)      “…overturned.”

As amended the bill passed and moves now to the House.

A House committee moves forward a bill setting up a process by which CITIZENS could get an initiative on a ballot, despite concerns from Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey…who worries about making laws without elected officials input…:

CUT 16(11)      “…should maintain.”

Lawmakers must wrap up their business this year by June 8^th.

The House Governmental Affairs Committee rejected a proposal that would set up process for citizens to be able to put an issue on the ballot for a statewide vote. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voted against it over concerns of putting an issue before voters that is not vetted by state lawmakers…:

CUT 14(12)      “…certain decision.”

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry authored the legislation. She believes her ballot initiative process would give voters an opportunity to put important issues up for a referendum vote…:

CUT 15(06)      “…on the ballot.”

Defeated by the committee, that bill is seemingly done for this year.

New Orleans Police are struggling with an explosion of car thefts and carjackings; nearly 3000 so far this year. That’s nearly 1 every hour. The thefts are driving up auto insurance rates for everyone, and often the perpetrators are never caught.

The House Criminal Justice Committee sends a bill to the House floor that would allow adults over 18 without a criminal background to conceal carry a firearm without a permit or training…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

The New Orleans Saints have finalized their pre-season schedule. It features just three games; Kansas City in the Dome on August 13^th, IN L.A. against the Chargers on August 290^th and wrapping up with Houston in the Caesar’s Superdome on August 27^th.

The so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill wins approval in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill would allow anyone over 18 with a clean criminal record to conceal a weapon without getting a permit or the training required to have one. 25 other states have similar laws, and McCormick says he has no issue with weapons training, but what kind of training is the question…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…to carry.”

Opponents say it will lead to more gun violence. A similar bill reached the Governor’s desk in 2021, and he vetoed it.

A bill that would assure churches are never forced to close due to a health emergency – as they were ordered to during the pandemic – has cleared a Senate committee and will be debated soon on the Senate floor. An East Baton Rouge pastor was jailed for having services, and later released and exonerated. If approved it will appear on a fall ballot as a Constitutional Amendment.

The House approves a bill to prohibit doctors from performing gender reassignment surgeries on minors. Opposing the bill, New Orleans Democrat Rep. Mandie Landry says the procedures can be life-saving for persons with gender dysphoria…:

CUT 04  (06)        “…you know that?”

Bill sponsor and Pollock Republican Gabe Firment counters they can also lead to premature sterility and loss of sexual function…:

CUT 05  (07)        “…experimental procedures.”

The bill passes by a 71-24 vote and heads over to the Senate for committee review.

The New Iberia Arby’s employee found dead last Thursday in a walk-in freezer has been identified as 63-year-old Nguyet Le of Texas. No other information was provided by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Police do not suspect foul play in her death.

The Louisiana House approves legislation to ban gender affirming medical care for minors. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo

The Arby’s employee found dead last Thursday in a walk-in freezer has been identified, 63-year-old Nguyet Le of Texas. No other information was provided by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Police said that foul play is not suspected in his death.

A bill aimed at giving women who are imprisoned for murdering their alleged abuser a chance to be released was heavily amended in the Senate. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the bill provides a justification defense for victims who end up killing their abuser, either through domestic violence, sexual abuse, or trafficking.
Cut 11 (12) “…to a judge.”
The amended bill removes the possibility of retroactive relief for those who are serving a prison sentence.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approved legislation that would allow those 18 and older to conceal carry without the need of a permit. The Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Louisiana Municipal Association spoke against it. Karen White with the L-M-A says the legislation could lead to increased violence…
cut 9 (13) “…..nine percent”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

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.