The Public Affairs Research Council is out with its guide to the 2026 Constitutional amendments. Andre Champagne takes a look at the one that’s getting the most attention, Amendment 3.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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The effort to eliminate the need of an inspection for most passenger vehicles receives overwhelming support in the Louisiana House. Andrew Greenstein has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The Senate Commerce Committee passes legislation that would require representative or agent to be registered with the state before negotiating an NIL deal on behalf of a college or high school athlete. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is out with its guide to the 2026 Constitutional Amendments. The one getting the most attention is Amendment 3, the one that would make a two-thousand-dollar pay raise for teachers permanent. PAR President and CEO Steven Procopio says they would be paid through funds that exist in the constitution.
Cut 4 (11) “…the pay raises.”
The plan would involve retiring three trusts funds – funds that Procopio says currently go towards education.
Cut 5 (10) “…teacher pay raise.”
Procopio says based on data by the Department of Revenue and the Teachers Retirement System, schools will largely come out on top.
Cut 6 (11) “…is to spend.”
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A bill that would give incarcerated people another mechanism to shorten their prison sentences is now just one vote away from landing on Governor Landry’s desk. Mandie Landry presented her House Bill 111 to the Senate Judiciary C Committee.
Cut 7 (05) “…days of credit.”
Landry pointed out that this is actually nothing groundbreaking – it simply adds on to an existing law giving inmates an opportunity to shorten their sentences by 90 days.
Cut 8 (05) “…degree to it.”
Landry’s bill has so far sailed through the legislature, passing every step of the way without a single “no” vote. Landry especially took note when Committee Chairman Jay Morris listed some of the organizations that supported the bill, and they covered the entire partisan spectrum.
Cut 9 (02) “…there you go.”
The bill now goes to the full Senate before it heads to Landry’s desk for his signature.
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The Louisiana House has approved a bill that would eliminate the inspection sticker requirement for most drivers. DeSoto Parish Representative Larry Bagley has been pushing this bill for a number of years, because he looks at the inspection sticker as an outdated burden for drivers.
Cut 10 (06) “…of those things?”
An inspection sticker costs ten dollars for one year or 18 dollars for two years. For vehicle owners in the Baton Rouge area who do not drive an E-V, it costs 18 dollars a year because an emissions test is required. Revenue from inspection stickers goes to State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Instead of an inspection sticker, Bagley is proposing a Q-R code sticker that would cost six dollars.
Cut 11 (08) “…ticket for that.”
The Q-R code would contain the VIN, the color, the make and model. The bill passed the House on an 86-to-7 vote. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman voted no and had concerns about the Q-R code.
Cut 12 (11) “…bad actors here.”
Governor Landry supports the bill and said “great news” in an X post after the measure passed the House. It still needs Senate approval.
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Agents who negotiate NIL deals for college and high school athletes would have to be registered with the state under legislation approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. Assistant Attorney General Oliva Nuss says this legislation modernizes student-agent laws to address the rapid growth of NIL endorsement deals.
Cut 13 (12) “…really no knowledge.”
The bill ensures that “agents” who represent student athletes are registered with the state, undergo a background check and provide full disclosure of fees and compensation. Legendary high school football coach J.T. Curtis of John Curtis High School agrees that individuals representing college and high school athletes should be registered.
Cut 14 (09) “…has some qualification.”
The measure also creates civil remedies for athletes harmed by unethical individuals who negotiate an NIL deal. Curtis says he’s seen athletes who were taken advantage by people they thought were looking out for their best interests while negotiating NIL deals.
Cut 15 (11) “…with understanding contract.”
The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.
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The LSU baseball team suffered its fourth midweek loss of the season Tuesday, falling 10-7 to Bethune-Cookman. Senior Seth Dardar exited late with an ankle injury, while Chris Stanfield reaggravated a previous hand injury. Head coach Jay Johnson said their status for this weekend’s series against Ole Miss is up in the air.
Cut 16 (15) “…the two instances.”
Johnson also says junior pitcher Cooper Moore has started throwing and hopes to have him back by next week.
After that midweek loss, the Tigers will need to keep winning in conference play to have any chance of hosting an NCAA Regional in June. The challenge doesn’t get any easier, as LSU travels to Oxford to face Ole Miss this weekend. Johnson says the Rebels’ lineup is one of the toughest in the SEC.
Cut 17 (15) “…trying to execute.”
Senior first baseman Zach Yorke did not play against Bethune-Cookman following his recent struggles. Johnson says for Yorke to remain in the lineup and contribute consistently, he needs to improve in two specific areas moving forward.
Cut 18 (15) “…something from it.”