Legislation is nearing final legislative passage that would repeal what is known as the three-year rule. Currently, insurance companies can not drop a policyholder after they’ve been a customer for three years. Consumer advocacy group, Real Reform Louisiana, opposes the bill.

Ben Riggs says the bill would allow carriers to cancel up to five percent of their three-year protected policies without cause and the option to cancel more with permission from the insurance commissioner and those requests would not be subject to public disclosure.
Cut 10 (07) “…at risk.”
But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the three-year rule is not enticing new insurers to come to the state, it’s merely a deterrent.
Cut 9 (09) “…the same.”
Final legislative passage to end the three-year rule could come this week.

The House Transportation Committee approves a bill that would prohibit drivers from touching their cell phones while driving. The proposed law would be a secondary offense, but would be a primary offense in school and construction zones. Port Allen motorcyclist Anthony Summers was involved in a wreck involving a driver who was distracted by their phone…
cut 3 (12) “…safe manner”
The Senate-approved legislation heads to the House floor.

In Washington D-C, the House has sent the Senate a 95-billion dollar foreign aid package that includes 60-billion dollars for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton…
cut 8 (07) “…our troops”
Hard right Republicans oppose sending money to Ukraine before approving new border security and immigration policies and they are calling for Johnson to resign.

Two bills are going through the legislature to repeal the three-year rule where insurers can’t drop policyholders after three years of coverage.
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

House Transportation approved legislation today that would prohibit handheld cellphone use while driving. The proposal would make it a secondary offense, except in school and construction zones, where it would be a primary offense. The bill has already received Senate approval.

The U-S House has sent to the Senate a 95-billion dollar foreign aid package that includes aid for Ukraine. Speaker Mike Johnson of Benton needed help from Democrats to pass the aid bill for Ukraine and that puts his job as speaker in jeopardy…
cut 6 (12) “….chips fall where they may’
Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene leads a group of hard-right Republicans who believe Johnson should be fired as Speaker because the House approved billions in foreign aid over new border security and immigration policies.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields would like to see every school bus in Louisiana have heating and air conditioning by August 1, 2025. David Claxton, who is also the president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, says many school districts are already transitioning to climate-controlled buses, but getting it all done by the 2025-26 school year might be difficult…
Cut 15 (08) “…own ours”
The bill is awaiting a vote in Senate Finance.

Louisiana is making some progress in both attracting and holding on to teachers but there are still shortages. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Jenna Chaisson, says the Bayou State added nearly 18-hundred additional educators during the 2022-23 school year…
cut 12 (08) “.,..as teachers”
Chaisson says the number of teachers of color also grew by two percent.

The Baker School System has approved a unique policy to reward juniors and seniors at Baker High School who are going to school, performing well in the classroom and have no discipline issues. Starting next school year, these students can have Friday off. Baker Superintendent J-T Stroder says since the pandemic, it’s been a challenge to get students to focus…
cut 6 (10) “….little deeper”
The new incentive will got into effect this fall.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields would like to see every school bus in Louisiana have heating and air conditioning by August 1, 2025. Fields says it’s hard to learn after sweating on the ride to school…
Cut 14 (12) “… unconscionable.”
Jackson Parish Superintendent David Claxton, who is also the president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, says many school districts are already transitioning to climate-controlled buses, but getting it all done by the 2025-26 school year might be difficult…
Cut 15 (08) “…own ours”
The bill is awaiting a vote in Senate Finance.

Today the House Transportation Committee is expected to vote on a Senate approved bill that would prohibit the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving.

Legislation to end the three-year rule is closing in on final legislative passage. The proposal would repeal the prohibition against the dropping of homeowners insurance policyholders if they’ve been with an insurer for three or more years. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple wants to reduce regulations on insurance companies which he says will lead to more insurers writing policies in Louisiana
cut 7 (08) “…which is choice”
Opponents of the legislation say the state is doing away with a great consumer protection policy.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields has a bill that would require all school buses to have air conditioning and heating by July 1st, 2025. The legislation is awaiting a vote in Senate Finance as school systems have expressed concerns over how to fund such a mandate. Fields says he may change the wording of his bill to give school systems more time…
cut 16 (13) “….our intent”

Baker High School juniors and seniors who keep their grades up and have acceptable conduct in school will be rewarded with a four-day school week. Superintendent J.T. Stroder says instead of negative reinforcement for students he suggested one with a positive twist.
Cut 4 (12) “…an option.”
For students who don’t make the grade, Stroder says Fridays will be dedicated to helping them work on subjects where they are struggling.

A new report shows Louisiana added 18-hundred additional educators during the 2022-23 school year and the retention rate was 85-percent. Jenna Chaisson, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning with the Department of Education, says it’s a positive sign. Chaisson says school systems have used COVID relief funding to hire more support staff, but that money has run out…
cut 13 (10) “…support staff”

Two bills are going through the legislature to repeal the three-year rule where insurers can’t drop policyholders after three years of coverage.
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to resign after the House approved a 95-billion dollar foreign aid package that includes aid for Ukraine. But support for Johnson to resign does not seem strong enough to force a leadership change.

Louisiana is making progress in attracting and holding on to teachers but there are still shortages. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Jenna Chaisson says there is still ground to make up…
Cut 11 (11) “…88 percent.”
Chaisson says the retention rate has increased for those who have just entered the teaching profession and veteran teachers, but not those with 11 to 20 years of experience.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields would like to see every school bus in Louisiana to have heating and air conditioning by August 1, 2025. Fields says it’s hard to learn after sweating on the ride to school…
Cut 14 (12) “… unconscionable.”
The bill is awaiting a hearing in Senate Finance.

Legislation is nearing final legislative passage that would repeal what is known as the three-year rule. Currently, insurance companies can not drop a policyholder after they’ve been a customer for three years. Consumer advocacy group, Real Reform Louisiana, opposes the bill.

Ben Riggs says the bill would allow carriers to cancel up to five percent of their three-year protected policies without cause and the option to cancel more with permission from the insurance commissioner and those requests would not be subject to public disclosure.
Cut 10 (07) “…at risk.”
But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the three-year rule is not enticing new insurers to come to the state, it’s merely a deterrent.
Cut 9 (09) “…the same.”
Final legislative passage to end the three-year could come this week.

A Louisiana school system will give high school juniors and seniors the option of a four-day school week, if they are performing well in the classroom. Brooke Thorington has more on this new approach Baker High School is taking.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The LSU gymnastics team received a heroes welcome on Sunday as they returned home from Fort Worth, Texas with a national championship trophy. It’s the first national title for the 50-year-old program.