This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Jeanne Burns…
State Representative Larry Bagley is once again pushing legislation to eliminate the need for passenger vehicles to have an up-to-date inspection sticker. It’s the DeSoto Parish Republican’s fourth attempt. Bagley has confidence he can get legislative approval this year, because he has the support of key players.
State Police opposed Bagley’s bill in the past because they would lose funding if motorists did not have to pay for an inspection sticker. Bagley addressed this by proposing a $10 annual increase to vehicle registration fees, maintaining funding without the need for inspection stickers.
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1st. Only 13 states require annual inspections, with six, including Louisiana, requiring them every other year.
There’s an effort in the legislative session to increase the award amounts for TOPS recipients. It’s held steady since the 2016-17 school year. Ruston Representative Christopher Turner’s bill would increase state funding for the TOPS scholarship program by 50 million dollars. Turner says the scholarship amount needs to be increased, because college costs a lot more than it did when he went to school…
But Lake Charles Representative Phillip Tarver is against Turner’s proposal because he wants to reduce state spending….
The House Education Committee has approved the bill. It still needs to be reviewed by Appropriations before it gets a vote on the House floor.
I’m Jeanne Burns with the Legislative Report on the Louisiana Radio Network.