Session Update - March 29, 2024
The regular session of the Louisiana State Legislature convened on Monday, March 11. Following is a list of the Bills we will track throughout the session. You will receive an updated report each Friday during the session.
**The bills in bold either had action taken this week or are scheduled to be heard next week.**
HB 1 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. This bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 91 by Rep. Tony Bacala provides relative to the crime of criminal trespass on running waters of the state. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice.
HB 97 by Rep. Dixon McMakin provides relative to the crime of solicitation on certain highways and streets. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice.
HB 118 by Rep. Candace Newell provides relative to certain pre-dispute arbitration agreements in the workplace. This bill was referred to the House Labor Committee.
HB 119 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the duration of unemployment compensation benefits and provides for extended benefits. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Labor and Industrial Relations.
HB 134 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the regulation of fuel used in agricultural machinery. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 150 by Rep. C. Travis Johnson provides relative to the Delta Agriculture Research and Sustainability District.
HB 160 by Rep. Larry Bagley authorizes manufacturers and wine producers to sell and ship sparkling or still wine directly to retail dealers. This bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
HB 169 by Rep. Robby Carter provides relative to liability and damages resulting from carbon sequestration. This bill was referred to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee.
HB 224 by Rep. Timothy Kerner prohibits ownership of any animal by a person who has been convicted of cruelty to animals. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice.
HB 238 by Rep. Michael Echols provides relative to agriculture land protection against foreign adversaries. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday, March 28, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 3.
HB 240 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the Louisiana Weights and Measures Law. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 276 by Rep. Robby Carter requires that carbon dioxide sequestration activity comply with local land use planning. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 279 by Rep. Danny McCormick provides relative to the boundaries of the Caddo-Bossier Port. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation Committee on March 14, but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 284 by Rep. Chris Turner provides relative to the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 290 by Rep. C. Denise Marcelle establishes a state minimum wage rate. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Labor and Industrial Relations.
HB 327 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to timber harvesting operations. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 342 by Rep. Jerome (Zee) Zeringue prohibits holding or storing oysters in containers in unapproved of closed areas. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 345 by Rep. Delisha Boyd requires a license plate on the front of a motor vehicle for identification purposes. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 346 by Rep. Rhonda Butler provides relative to arboricultural and utility arboricultural examination and license renewal requirements. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday, March 28, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 3.
HB 349 by Rep. Danny McCormick removes the need for a hunting license for the taking of outlaw quadrupeds, nutria, and beavers, and removes the requirement to contact the sheriff’s office in relation to the taking of an outlaw quadruped, nutria, or beaver. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 350 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron authorizes the use of state property for seafood research. This bill passed favorably from the House Transportation Committee and then passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0. It is now set on the Senate orders.
HB 370 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron allows any wine producer or manufacturer to sell sparkling and still wine on or off premises and ship directly to a consumer. This bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
HB 409 by Rep. Gabe Firment provides relative to harassment of hunters, trappers, and fishermen on lands and waters managed by the state. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment on Thursday, March 21, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 4.
HB 431 by Rep. Delisha Boyd provides relative to the state minimum wage. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Labor & Industrial Relations.
HB 467 by Rep. Kim Landry Coates provides relative to the sale of raw milk. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 474 by Rep. Kim Landry Coates prohibits the use of natural wetlands as tertiary treatment in wastewater assimilation projects. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 487 by Rep. Candance Newell provides relative to surcharges for credit and debit card use. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Commerce Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 492 by Rep. Brett Geymann provides relative to eminent domain. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 516 by Rep. Shane Mack provides relative to carbon dioxide sequestration. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 529 by Rep. Raymond Crews provides relative to the determination of the average weekly wage. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Labor and Industrial Relations.
HB 532 by Rep. Bryan Fontenot provides relative to the seizure of animals by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 584 by Rep. Timothy Kerner prohibits the sale of farm-raised shrimp in Louisiana. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Health & Welfare.
HB 587 by Rep. Marcus Bryant provides relative to liability insurance for arborists. This bill was referred to the House Insurance Committee.
HB 612 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides a voluntary process for pipeline crossing disputes. This bill was reported favorably by the House Transportation Committee, set on the House orders, but was returned to the calendar – subject to call.
HB 617 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel provides relative to broadband. This bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee.
HB 625 by Rep. Rodney Lyons limits certain actions taken by governmental entities on private property owners. This House Committee on House Civil Law.
HB 670 by Rep. Edmond Jordan provides relative to the Healthy Food Retail Act. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
HB 686 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to pipeline servitudes. This bill was reported favorably the House Committee on House Civil Law, set on the House orders, but was returned to the calendar - subject to call.
HB 696 by Rep. Brett Geymann authorized unitization for carbon dioxide sequestration. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 700 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel provides relative to broadband. This bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee.
SB 37 by Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter provides for feral hog hunting. This bill was reported favorably from the Senate Committee on Senate Natural Resources and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 40 by Sen. Robert Allain provides relative to seafood safety. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Health & Welfare.
SB 51 by Sen. Jay Morris extends applicability of both aggravated and simple obstruction of a highway of commerce to state waters. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary C on March 19.
SB 64 by Sen. Mike Reese provides for changes to the Water Sector Program. This bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
SB 65 by Sen. Bob Hensgens recreates the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. This bill passed favorably from the Senate Committee on Senate Natural Resources, then passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0. It is now set on the House orders.
SB 81 by Sen. Robert Allain provides for prescribed burning by non-certified prescribed burn managers. This bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
SB 82 by Sen. Robert Allain provides relative to the state chemist. This bill passed favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 93 by Sen. Valarie Hodges prohibits commercial motor vehicles from driving on Louisiana Highway 1019 between Louisiana Highway 16 and Louisiana Highway 64. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 20.
SB 104 by Sen. Bill Wheat, Jr. provides relative to livestock found at large. This bill passed favorably by the Senate Agriculture Committee as amended and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 108 by Sen. Alan Seabaugh provides relative to expropriation. This bill passed favorably as amended by the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary A and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 114 by Sen. Stewart Cathey, Jr. provides relative to meat and poultry inspection. This bill passed favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee as amended and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 117 by Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews creates the Agricultural Meteorology Program. This bill passed favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 166 by Sen. Patrick Connick provides relative to the seafood safety. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Health & Welfare.
SB 173 by Sen. Gary Carter provides relative to the state minimum wage. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations.
SB 180 by Sen. Regina Barrow is a constitutional amendment to establish a state minimum wage. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations.
SB 229 by Sen. Robert Allain provides relative to management of alligator populations. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
SB 230 by Sen. Royce Duplessis provides for microbrewery retail sales on or off premises. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary B.
SB 235 by Sen. Bob Hensgens provides relative to the regulation of sports wagering. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary B.
SB 237 by Sen. Thomas Pressly provides relative to industrial hemp. This bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
SB 238 by Sen. Alan Seabaugh provides relative to pipeline crossings. This bill passed favorably as amended by the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary A and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 249 by Sen. Steward Cathey, Jr. provides relative to the Louisiana Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission. This bill passed favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 260 by Sen. Heather Cloud provides for transfer of commercial truck permits from truck to truck within the same company. This bill was reported favorably as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 282 by Sen. Beth Mizell provides relative to broadband. This bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.
SB 287 by Sen. Royce Duplessis provides relative to the Healthy Foods Retail Act. This bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
SB 290 by Sen. Beth Mizell provides relative to the sale of dairy products. This bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
SB 298 by Sen. Heather Cloud removes penalties on truckers for going over axle weight if they are under gross weight. This bill was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.
SB 302 by Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr. prohibits issuing traffic violation citations in certain circumstances. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 20.
SB 326 by Sen. Mike Reese provides for training and education on post traumatic stress and emotion support for certain fighters. This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.
SB 328 by Sen. Mike Reese provides relative to training for volunteer firefighters on forest fire and wildfire suppression. This bill was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, set on the Senate orders, and recommitted to the Senate Finance Committee.
SB 360 by Sen. Heather Cloud restricts issuance of speeding tickets in certain circumstances. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee on March 20.
SB 366 by Sen. Jeremy Stine provides relative to the workers’ compensation weekly wage. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations.