Online fantasy sports played for cash prizes are one step closer to reality in 47 parishes that approved the activity as a House committee easily clears a bill setting the tax structure for it. The final fiscal note on it shows it won’t be generating much revenue, roughly 365,000 dollars a year, but supporters are happy that meager amount will at least be dedicated to early childhood education. Bill sponsor Crowley Representative John Stefanski says it’s not much, but every little bit helps.

Cut 17  (07) “…forward”  AM 6-12

If this tax plan were to be signed into law by Governor Edwards online fantasy sports gaming could be up and running in the state for the coming football season.

Lawmakers approve a 34 billion dollar budget that uses federal money to avoid having to make deep budget cuts despite the decline in state revenue. The budget was stitched together with those federal funds, so if the state were to see a mid-year revenue shortfall could that be remedied with another round of help from D.C.? House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue…

Cut 12 (10) “…unlikely” AM 6-11

Despite that federal assistance, there will be some budget cuts including 21 million dollars to higher education. For now, the budget heads to the Senate for more debate.

Governor Edwards signs legislation approving laxer laws for alcohol delivery in the state. Under the new law contract workers operating under third party deliverers like Uber Eats and Waitr can make deliveries of sealed beer or wine, and deliverers working for grocery stores can deliver any sealed booze.

Edwards also signs into law legislation that was set to be brought by the late Representative Reggie Bagala OKing the creation of an LSU license plate. Bagala, a freshman, never had a chance to move the bill himself due to his COVID-19 related death before the session began.