Republican members of the state House are generally satisfied with what was accomplished in the Regular Legislative Session that wrapped up yesterday. House GOP Delegation chairman and Acadiana Representative Blake Miguez says the session was unusual in that there were billions of dollars in one-time federal money – from the pandemic and three hurricanes – that flowed into the state..
“So a lot of that money got spent on one-time expenditures. Paying down the debt, putting money in our “rainy day” savings account…and, most importantly for a lot of constituents living across Louisiana, a lot of large investments in the infrastructure” says Miguez.
One the social side of things, some bills won final passage, while others didn’t make it. A bill to allow concealed gun carry without a permit was amended into an entirely different function. A bill forbidding teachers from discussing sexual or gender preference with students also stalled out. Miguez say one pretty controversial bill has been passed and sent to the Governor…
“Biological males who decide to switch their gender cannot compete in female sports. That bill passed with overwhelming support, with a small amendment which I think gets it some extra support. Which would make, basically, a veto-proof super-majority in both the House and the Senate.”
And what about things that did NOT get addressed this year? Miguez says he’s disappointed more wasn’t done to help lower the tax burden for the average Louisiana. He feels that was short-sighted.
“We’re facing a potential shortfall in 2025, and we have a 45% sales tax that’s going to roll off the books. I would have preferred to see some of that phase off each year before we got there, so the Legislature can learn how to live without that money,” says Miguez.
Miguez says there was a huge and diverse number of issues tackled by legislators in this, the first post-pandemic session in Baton Rouge.