Members of the House Transportation Committee let the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles know about complaints they are hearing from their constituents. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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A bill to give lawmakers a significant pay raise next year has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more.
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State lawmakers grilled leaders of the state Office of Motor Vehicles during a legislative hearing about poor customer service complaints. Legislators have heard allegations of staffers responding poorly to customer questions and being told they need to make an appointment. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton…
The requirement to make an OMV appointment was put in place during the COVID-era. The policy ended a year ago, but word of the change has apparently not made it to some of their offices. Pollock Representative Gage Firment says he’s hearing from his constituents about the lack of customer service at his local office…
O-M-V Deputy Commissioner Staci Hoyt says they working on the issues. She says they are facing two issues, not enough workers and an outdated computer system
Hoyt says they will work to improve their interaction with the public…
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Louisiana lawmakers would receive a $43,000 pay raise if Gretna Representative Joseph Marino’s bill passes. The current salary for legislators has been $16,800 since 1980. Marino says when you compare salaries from 40 years ago, it would average more than $60 thousand today for the part-time position.
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Marino says he’s not filing the legislation to line his own pockets because he wouldn’t even be eligible for the pay increase due to term limits. He says he’s doing it to encourage more qualified individuals to run for office.
In addition to the annual regular legislative session, lawmakers are also required to come to the capitol for special sessions. Since being elected in 2016, Marino says he’s been called to Baton Rouge 19 times. He says it’s a part-time job that not everyone can fiscally perform due to the demands.
If passed the pay raise would go into effect in January 2024.
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A new conservation funding initiative – known as the Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program – providing matching resources to governmental agencies and municipalities is currently taking pre-applications. LDWF Undersecretary Bryan McClinton says the program will help in conserving “Sportman’s Paradise”
The $10 million dollar appropriation from the State General Fund was approved through House Bill 406. These projects will expand the footprint of conservation in the state, restore valuable habitat, provide for land management, and enhance public access. McClinton says although there are a number of resources available – this will help state projects be more competitive.
The program will help fund projects that protect drinking water supplies, conserve wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities in urban and rural areas, sustain working farms and forests, and much more. McClinton believes this effort will help preserve the state’s natural resources and increase quality of life for Louisianans.
Visit wlf.louisiana.gov for applications. The deadline to apply is midnight May 19.