Legislation to ban the handheld use of cellphones while behind the wheel is dead for the session. This is the second year Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has pursued the measure. Huval says the bill has built momentum, but met it’s fate when Senator Regina Barrow changed her vote, now moving to defer the bill, which had no objection.
Cut 13 (09) “…the bill favorably.”
Huval says he will continue with the efforts next year.
An attempt to pull a bill out of House Appropriations that would have paved the way for sports betting legalization failed in the House on a 41 to 48 vote, but it’s not the end of the line for the increasingly controversial topic. The House will take up a vote on a combined fantasy sports/sports betting bill Wednesday. If that legislation fails to get the votes, it will head into a conference committee with a looming 6pm Thursday deadline for the session approaching.
Final legislative approval came on Monday for a measure to give a pay raise of $1000 to teachers, $500 to school support workers, and $39 million in block grant funding for school districts. President of the Louisiana Association of Educators Debbie Meaux says while it is a modest amount, teachers are ecstatic that lawmakers recognize the importance of the raise.
Cut 6 (10) “…southern regional average.”
The legislative instrument results in a $140 million increase to annual school spending.
A bill that would direct 700 million dollars in BP oil spill settlement money to road projects gains final passage. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the money will find it’s way to every corner of the state, and target projects with the greatest economic impacts.