An auto insurance reform bill advances to the full House, with the support of the governor and despite the opposition of the insurance commissioner. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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The House National Resources Committee approves legislation that would make it a crime to intentionally release balloons into the air. Sean Richardson has more on the bill that’s heading to the House floor…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
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Louisiana lawmakers will reconsider New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd’s bill, which would allow abortion exceptions for minors under 17 who become pregnant due to certain sex crimes. Boyd says the bill includes offenses such as rape, sexual battery, and molestation.
Cut 3 (04) “…young as 9-yeas-old”
Boyd narrowed the scope of this year’s proposal after a similar bill failed in 2024. Currently, Louisiana’s abortion law only allows exceptions for fatal fetal abnormalities or serious health risks to the pregnant person. Boyd says this is a personal journey for her, referencing her mother being a victim of sexual abuse at the age of 15.
Cu 4 (11) “…before she was 30-years-old”
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Governor Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple are on opposite sides of an auto insurance reform bill proposed by a Democratic representative that has advanced to the full House. HB 576 by Robby Carter of Amite would give the insurance commissioner the power to reject auto insurance rates that he believes to be unreasonable. Following debate, the House Insurance Committee advanced it on a vote of 13-to-4. Landry testified before the committee in support of the bill, saying insurance companies are charging exorbitant premiums despite taking in 1.4-billion dollars more than they pay in claims. Because of this, Landry says the insurance commissioner should have the ability to clamp down on those premiums.
Cut 5 (14) “…here in Louisiana.”
Landry says since auto insurance is a mandated purchase, free market principles should not apply; and giving the insurance commissioner the ability to reject rates regardless of market conditions should provide relief to policyholders.
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, also a Republican, testified against the bill, urging the committee to reject it because it would undo all the progress that he’s made with insurance carriers over the last year.
Cut 7 (06) “…direction of California.”
Temple says there is too much of a good thing, and insurance commissioners having too much power over insurance carriers will drive them out of the state.
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The House Natural Resources Committee approves a bill banning the release of balloons outdoors, fining violators up to 150-dollars for a first offense. The bill’s author Harahan Representative John Illg says balloons are a source of litter and can cause problems for wildlife.
Cut 9 (07) “…released into the air.”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says animals can become entangled in balloon strings or ingest balloons, mistaking them for food, which can lead to death. They hope the bill will pass, helping raise awareness of the environmental damage balloon releases cause.
Cut 10 (06) “…but with balloons.”
Nungesser admitted that the law would be difficult to enforce, but they are hoping that having the law will encourage people to change the culture in the state.
Cut 11 (12) “…won’t release them.”
The bill was presented to the Natural Resources Committee this morning.
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LSU pitcher Gavin Guidry will not pitch this season as he’ll undergo back surgery on Friday. Coach Jay Johnson made the announcement following the team’s ten to three win over McNeese last night. Johnson says they wanted to get the junior right-hander on the mound this season, but at least he should be ready for 2026.
Guidry has the most experience on LSU’s staff pitching in SEC games, so he was an important piece to this season. But the Lake Charles native never pitched this season after sustaining an back injury in February. Johnson says despite treatments and medicine, they could not get him healthy enough to pitch…
LSU will begin an SEC series tomorrow night against Alabama.