US Senator John Kennedy urges Louisiana lawmakers to pass House Bill 12. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

There’s been a lot of bills filed in the Legislature this year aimed at having better and cheaper auto and home insurance. How are they coming along? Kevin Gallagher takes a look…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

_______________________________________________

The House and Senate have three weeks to reach an agreement on funding teacher pay raises. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

_____________________________________________

US Senator John Kennedy took to the floor in DC urging state senators in Baton Rouge to pass legislation to hold back third graders who are unable to read on grade level.

Cut 4 (11)  “…that attention.”

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill will give students intensive reading instruction and three opportunities to pass the literacy exam before advancing to third grade.

Kennedy says the legislation is modeled after one Mississippi and a similar program in Florida has shown promising results.

Cut 5 (11)   “…it will.”

The legislation passed in the House last year and failed to garner enough votes in the Senate. So far this session it has advanced from the House and Kennedy pleaded with state senators to help the bill cross the finish line this year.

Cut 6 (08)  “…pass this bill.”

If enacted the program would begin implementation in the 2024-2025 school year.

_____________________________________________

With just three weeks remaining in the legislative session, how are bills aimed at improving Louisiana’s property insurance environment for consumers coming along? Benjamin Riggs is Executive Director of Real Reform Louisiana; an insurance consumer advocacy group. He says RRL supports House Bill 252, sponsored by Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Robby Carter, which recently cleared committee review…:

Cut 7 (09) “…Louisiana policyholders.”

Riggs says insurance companies make billions and they do not need to pass advertising costs on to their customers. Another bill favored by RRL is Senate Bill 11, from Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau, which Riggs says provides relief on car insurance costs…:

Cut 8 (09) “…insurance rates.”

Riggs says his group is worried that some bills will have a detrimental effect on consumers if they pass. He cites SB 96, from Jefferson Parish Senator Kirk Talbot as one that seems intended to help the state-run insurer of last resort, but could easily hurt the insured…:

Cut 9 (12)  “…insurance corporation.”

Riggs is concerned there may not be enough time remaining to get real beneficial insurance reforms to final passage, before the session ends June 8^th.

________________________________________

State lawmakers have three weeks left to decide how they want to spend two-point-two billion dollars in surplus money. Republican House leaders would like to use 950 million dollars to pay down pension debt. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder

Cut 10 (15) “…next legislature” 

House leaders say by paying down debt in the teacher retirement system it would free up cash for local school systems to give teachers a meaningful pay raise.

But Governor Edwards says there are 296-million dollars available to give teachers a three-thousand dollar pay raise. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state also has the opportunity also has to make a significant investment toward other priorities…

Cut 11 (07)  “…needed.”

In order to fund teacher pay raises and spend hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure projects. The Legislature would have to raise the spending cap. It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. Senate President Page Cortez says raising the spending cap, the state can put significant dollars toward some major projects…

Cut 12 (09)    “..pay a toll.” 

Right now the House is reluctant to raise the spending cap. Schexnayder says there’s still plenty of time to negotiate with the Senate…

Cut 13 (12) “Always done”  

The legislative session must conclude on June 8th at 6 PM.

_____________________________________________________________

A federal judge in New Orleans has ordered former LSU football coach Les Miles will need to give a deposition in Sharon Lewis’ lawsuit against the LSU Board of Supervisors. Lewis is a former associate athletic director and claims LSU created a hostile work environment and retaliated against her after she tried to report Miles sexually harassed a student. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says the judge also ordered LSU to provide a bunch of documents that were previously withheld…

Cut 14 (06)  “…more information”

Miles has been out of the public eye since 2021 when it became public knowledge that Miles was investigated for sexual harassment in 2013 while he was still the coach at LSU. Horne says LSU has to be uneasy about Miles answering questions under oath from Lewis’ defense team…

Cut 15 (05)  “..court setting”

Eight current and former LSU Board of Supervisor members have also been ordered to give depositions. Horne says the U-S District Judge Susie Morgan also pushed the trial date back from May to December…

Cut  16 (13)  “..three weeks.” 

_________________________________________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns softball team is heading to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2016 as they rallied back to beat LSU 9-8 in the championship game of the Baton Rouge Regional. UL-Lafayette scored two runs in the seventh inning to win the game. Karly Heath homered in the fifth inning to make it a one-run game and scored the winning run in the seventh…

Cut 17 (17) “…college softball”

UL-Lafayette beat LSU twice on Sunday to advance to the super regionals. In the first game, three different players hit home runs and Sam Landry pitched five shutout innings of relief in a seven-to-four win. In game two, Jourdyn Campbell had 5 RBIs and Chloe Riassetto had three shutout innings of relief to get the win. Coach Gerry Glasco says everyone chipped in…

Cut 18 (17) “…team is”

It’s a disappointing finish for the 11th ranked LSU softball team who went 42-17, but for the second consecutive season lost in the regionals. Coach Beth Torinia could not hide the tears…

Cut 19 (18) “….all they had” 

Legislation to set minimum bail amounts for crimes of violence and or the use of a firearm advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

______________________________________

After a catastrophic computer systems failure, the state Office of Motor Vehicles remains closed statewide today. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (29)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

______________________________________

Legislation that would require public schools statewide to schedule at least 15 minutes of supervised, unstructured free play time of recess for grades kindergarten through fifth was approved by the House in a 66 to 28 vote. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says under this legislation no special accommodations are required.

Cut 3 (12) “…funded mandate.”

A recent study finds 89 percent of schools in Louisiana currently have recess and 56 percent offer more than 15 minutes of recess for students according to The Status of Health and Physical Education in Louisiana Public. Amedee says the numbers are encouraging, however…

Cut 4 (08)  “…of schools.” 

The bill would allow recess not to be counted toward the minimum of 360 instructional minutes required each school day. Amedee says recess time would be beneficial for their social and emotional well-being.

Cut 5 (08) “…learn better.”

The bill heads to the Senate.

__________________________________________________

Legislation to set minimum bail amounts for crimes of violence and or the use of a firearm advances from House Criminal Justice. Crowley Representative John Stefanski’s bill would set a minimum bail of $50,000 for a violent crime and $100,000 for one that involves the use of a firearm.

Cut 6 (10)  “…did that.” 

Michael Calhoun with the Promise of Justice Initiative spoke in opposition to the bill. He says it’s often family members of the accused who have to pay the bond or place their homes or assets at risk so the accused can prepare for trial.

Cut 7 (09)  “…their income.” 

Stefanski says the majority of the time Judges set bonds accordingly, but this is his attempt to make Louisiana safer.

Cut 8 (11)  “…the crime.” 

The bill passed favorably in committee heads to the House floor.

_________________________________________________

Louisiana ranks the fourth unhealthiest state for adults 65 and older for the second year according to the United Health Foundation’s 11^th America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Chief Medical Officer for the Medicare and Retirement Division Dr. Phillip Painter says there are a number of challenges that weigh against seniors living in the Bayou State.

Cut 9 (12) “…should be”

The report covers 52 measures providing insights into many of the strengths and areas of improvement in the health of seniors nationally and state-wide. Poverty among seniors statewide rose by 14 percent from 12 percent to 14 percent between 2018 – 2021. Painter says additional funding from the local government could help raise the state ranking.

Cut 10 (10) “…stay healthy.”

Access to healthcare, physical environment, social and economic factors, and healthy behaviors play a vital role in the ranking. Painter says there’s still hope for improvement for Louisiana seniors.

Cut 11 (12)  “…or exercise”

Louisiana falls below Mississippi which is the unhealthiest state in the nation.

____________________________________________________

A bill to ban social media platforms from allowing minors to have their own account without parental consent passed in the Senate but it would only go into effect if funds are allocated for enforcement.  Bill author, Covington Senator Patrick McMath…

Cut 12 (11) “…health crisis.” 

Minors in the bill are defined as ages 15 and younger.

If enacted, McMath says the Attorney General’s Office would be tasked with investigating and enforcing Senate Bill 162, and…

Cut 13 (12) “…this law” 

McMath says Utah and Arkansas have passed similar legislation and so far it appears that some of the larger social media outlets are agreeable to such changes.

Cut 14 (08)  “…is going.”

The Senate passed the bill on a 37-0 vote and it advances to the lower chamber.