The Legislative season will continue into June as lawmakers take the unusual step of calling, on their own, for a special session to begin immediately after the regular session ends June 1st.
Lawmakers laid out 41 items they plan to tackle during the period, nearly all dealing with the budget and other fiscal matters.
Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the COVID-19 shutdown and oil price collapse created serious uncertainty about the state’s finances for the next fiscal year starting July 1st. Pinsonat says the additional time may give them a clearer picture of just how bad the hit to state revenue will be.
Lawmakers must pass a balanced budget by July 1st.
While the agenda currently only pertains to fiscal items Pinsonat says it could be used as an opportunity to override a potential gubernatorial veto of items like tort reform aimed at lowering auto insurance rates, assuming that legislation can pass the House.
Fantasy sports taxation and fees for higher education will also be considered.
The House also passes several controversial gun rights bills, one of them allowing concealed carry in a house of worship without the congregation’s permission.
The House passed an amendment onto the state budget banning funding for any contact tracing that mandates citizen participation, but Governor Edwards says concern over contact tracing is unfounded. He told lawmakers the program will not be mandatory, and it is not like Louisiana hasn’t done contact tracing programs before…