2013 Session Summary

The 2013 Regular Session of the Louisiana State Legislature ended last night at 6pm. Thankfully, all of our efforts to help the LSU AgCenter’s budget proved successful. We fought many different battles on a daily basis to promote and protect agriculture and rural Louisiana. The Farm Bureau membership played an active role in contacting legislators and other elected officials when called upon. Huge thanks to our volunteer leaders and staff for helping layout the groundwork before the session ever started. Everyone’s hard work paid off to assist in keeping Louisiana agriculture strong and competitive in the world market.

HB 72 by Rep. Hensgens provides with respect to the impoundment of livestock found at large. This bill was not heard by the House Agriculture Committee.

HB 100 by Rep. Harrison provides with respect to gaming proceeds payable to the horse racing industry. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 166 by Rep. Anders provides relative to determining the market value of trees, timber and pulpwood for purposes of levying the severance taxes. This House concurred on Senate amendments on this bill and it is now enrolled.

HB 182 by Rep. Anders provides relative to the promulgation of guidelines for determining the definition of “sale at retail” for purposes of the exemption from the sales tax and use tax for certain agricultural commodities utilized in preparing crops or animals for market. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 1 and is now enrolled.

HB 202 by Rep. Anders provides with respect to the applications for licenses, permits, or certificates issued by the Department of Ag & Forestry. This bill was signed by the governor and will go into effect August 1, 2013.

HB 208 by Rep. Pylant exempts certain wells from the requirement for a certified water well driller. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee.

HB 215 by Rep. Hensgens prohibits hunting or outlaw quadrupeds while animal is swimming or the hunter is in a vessel. This bill was withdrawn.

HB 223 by Rep. Burns provides relative to the timely payment of royalties to a mineral lease. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Civil Law Committee.

HB 236 by Rep. Leopold increases penalties for certain oyster harvesting violations. This bill passed was signed by the Governor and goes into effect August 1, 2013.

HB 271 by Rep. Greene provides for a 10-year phase out of the state tax levied on the net income of individuals beginning January 1, 2014. This bill was not heard by the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 345 by Rep. Garofalo extends the oyster seed ground vessel permit program. This bill was signed by the Governor and will take effect on August 1, 2013.

HB 406 by Rep. Gaines provides for placement of warning signs on ethanol gas pumps. This bill was voluntarily deferred in the House Agriculture Committee.

HB 438 by Rep. Robideaux is a Constitutional Amendment that removes the prohibition of the state levying sales and use taxes on gasoline and certain motor fuels. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 470 by Rep. Willmott prohibits the transportation of dogs in pickup truck beds and utility trailers on certain roadways unless safely crated. This bill failed to pass and was not taken up for final vote.

HB 473 by Rep. Pugh provides relative to the frequency of meetings of the Louisiana Agricultural Commodities Commission. This bill was signed by the Governor and goes into effect August 1, 2013.

HB 491 by Rep. Pylant permits the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development to issue permits to vehicles hauling hay during times of disaster. This bill was signed by the Governor and went into effect May 23, 2013.

HB 502 by Rep. Burford allows night hunting of nuisance animals year-round on private property. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Natural Resources Committee.

HB 510 by Rep. Chaney provides relative to the Louisiana Board of Health. This bill passed the House by a vote of 95 to 0 and is now enrolled.

HB 517 by Rep. Broadwater provides with respect to ad valorem taxes for heavy equipment rental property. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 590 by Rep. Hunter provides an agricultural initiative for veterans. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Agriculture Committee.

HB 627 by Rep. Pierre changes the name of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and provides relative to membership on the board. This bill was involuntarily referred by the House Natural Resources Committee.

HB 633 by Rep. LeBas provides relative to preventing the spread of disease through the unlawful transportation of diseased animals, livestock or adulterated meat. This bill was signed by the Governor and will take effect on August 1, 2013.

HB 639 by Rep. Robideaux repeals the state tax levied on the taxable income of individuals. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 664 by Rep. Landry provides relative to the sweet potato industry. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 39 to 0.

SB 20 by Sen. Allain provides certain requirements for meetings at which consideration of or action upon proposals by political subdivision to levy, increase, renew, or continue property or sales taxes, or to hold elections for approval of such by voters. The Senate concurred on House amendments by a vote of 35 to 0 and the bill is now enrolled.

SB 58 by Sen. Buffington allows certain meats and fish to be received or used by not-for-profit entity charitable organization. This bill passed the House by a vote of 97 to 0 and is now enrolled.

SB 168 by Sen. Thompson provides for the merger of the Feed, Fertilizer, and Agricultural Liming Commission and the Seed Commission and creates the Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission. This bill was signed by the Governor and went into effect on May 23, 2013.

SB 187 by Sen. Thompson provides relative to veterinarians and the Prescription Monitoring Program. This bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee. This bill was signed by the Governor and went into effect on May 23, 2013.

SB 203 by Sen. Claitor establishes withdrawal limit on the use of groundwater. This bill was voluntarily deferred in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

SB 211 by Sen. Long provides income tax credits under the Beginning Farmer and Fishermen Income Tax Credit Program. This bill was voluntarily deferred in Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee.

SB 233 by Sen. Riser creates the Uniform Sales and Use Tax Commission. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.