Session Update - May 10, 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 reported favorably by the House Appropriations Committee, passed the House by a vote of 104 to 0, and then referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

HB 91 by Rep. Tony Bacala provides relative to the crime of criminal trespass on running waters of the state.  This bill was heard by the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice but failed to pass out of committee.

HB 97 by Rep. Dixon McMakin provides relative to the crime of solicitation on certain highways and streets.  This bill was reported favorably by House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice, passed the House by a vote of 94 to 9, was reported favorably from Senate Judiciary C as amended, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 118 by Rep. Candace Newell provides relative to certain pre-dispute arbitration agreements in the workplace.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 61 to 26 and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations.

HB 119 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the duration of unemployment compensation benefits and provides for extended benefits.  This bill passed favorably out of the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 134 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the regulation of fuel used in agricultural machinery.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate Orders.

HB 150 by Rep. C. Travis Johnson provides relative to the Delta Agriculture Research and Sustainability District.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 98 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

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 scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, April 18, but was removed from the hearing. 

HB 169 by Rep. Robby Carter provides relative to liability and damages resulting from carbon sequestration.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 96 to 2 and was then referred to the Senate committee on Senate Natural Resources.

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 reported favorably by the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice, passed the House by a vote of 99 to 0, and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary C.

HB 238 by Rep. Michael Echols provides relative to agriculture land protection against foreign adversaries.  This bill passed the House as amended by a vote of 89 to 7, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 240 by Rep. Troy Romero provides relative to the Louisiana Weights and Measures Law.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 98 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 276 by Rep. Robby Carter requires that carbon dioxide sequestration activity comply with local land use planning.  This bill was rescheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday, April 17, but was voluntarily deferred in committee.

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 passed the House by a vote of 98 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 290 by Rep. C. Denise Marcelle establishes a state minimum wage rate.  This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Committee on House Labor and Industrial Relations.

HB 327 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to timber harvesting operations.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

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 and was voluntarily deferred in committee.

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 passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

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 heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment but failed to pass out of committee.

HB 350 by Rep. Joseph Orgeron authorizes the use of state property for seafood research.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0 and is now waiting for the Governor’s signature.

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 scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, April 18, but was voluntarily deferred in 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 passed the House by a vote of 104 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Natural Resources Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 431 by Rep. Delisha Boyd provides relative to the state minimum wage.  This bill as voluntarily deferred in 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 passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate 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 reported favorably by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment, passed the House by a vote of 98 to 1, and was then referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

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 passed the House by a vote of 94 to 4, was reported favorably as amended from the Senate Natural Resources Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 516 by Rep. Shane Mack provides relative to carbon dioxide sequestration.  This bill reported favorably by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment, passed the House by a vote of 95 to 0, and was then referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

HB 529 by Rep. Raymond Crews provides relative to the determination of the average weekly wage.  This bill passed the house by a vote of 63 to 34 and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate 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 reported favorably from the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment, set on the House orders, and then returned to the calendar – subject to call.

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 reported favorably from the House Agriculture Committee as substituted and is now set on the House orders.

HB 612 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides a voluntary process for pipeline crossing disputes.  This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Transportation Committee as amended and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 617 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel provides relative to broadband.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Commerce Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 625 by Rep. Rodney Lyons limits certain actions taken by governmental entities on private property owners.  This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Civil Law on Monday, April 15, but was voluntarily deferred in committee.

HB 670 by Rep. Edmond Jordan provides relative to the Healthy Food Retail Act.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 85 to 11, was reported favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the Senate orders.

HB 686 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to pipeline servitudes.  This bill  passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0, and was then reported favorably from the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary A.

HB 696 by Rep. Brett Geymann authorized unitization for carbon dioxide sequestration.  This bill was reported favorably as substituted by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.  The substitute bill is House bill 966.

HB 700 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel provides relative to broadband.  This bill was reported favorably as amended from the House Commerce Committee, passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0, but was then voluntarily deferred by the Senate Commerce Committee.

HB 716 by Rep. Charles Owen provides for universal recognition of occupational licenses.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 96 to 8 was reported favorably from the Senate Commerce Committee as amended, and is now set on the Senate orders.

SB 37 by Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter provides for feral hog hunting.  This bill was reported favorably from  the Senate Committee on Senate Natural Resources, set on the Senate orders, and then returned to the calendar – subject to call.

SB 40 by Sen. Robert Allain provides relative to seafood safety.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0, passed favorably from the House Committee on House Health and Welfare, and is now set on the House orders.

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 but was voluntarily deferred in committee.

SB 60 by Sen. Thomas Pressly provides relative to occupational licenses.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 1, was reported favorably from the House Commerce Committee, and is now set on the House orders.

SB 64 by Sen. Mike Reese provides for changes to the Water Sector Program.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 35 to 0 and is now scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 5.

SB 65 by Sen. Bob Hensgens recreates the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0 and then passed the House by a vote of 96 to 0.  It is now on the Governor’s desk for signature.

SB 81 by Sen. Robert Allain provides for prescribed burning by non-certified prescribed burn managers.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0, passed favorably from the House Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the House orders.

SB 82 by Sen. Robert Allain provides relative to the state chemist.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 0, passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0, and is now on the Governor’s desk for signature.

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 April 3.

SB 104 by Sen. Bill Wheat, Jr. provides relative to livestock found at large.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, passed the House by a vote of 38 to 0, and is now enrolled.

SB 108 by Sen. Alan Seabaugh provides relative to expropriation.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 1, was reported favorably by the House Committee on House Civil Law and is now set on the House orders.

SB 114 by Sen. Stewart Cathey, Jr. provides relative to meat and poultry inspection.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0, passed the House by a vote of 99 to 0, and is now on the Governor’s desk for signature.

SB 117 by Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews creates the Agricultural Meteorology Program.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, passed the House by a vote of 90 to 8, and is now on the Governor’s desk for signature.

SB 166 by Sen. Patrick Connick provides relative to the seafood safety.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, was reported favorably by the House Committee on House Health & Welfare, and is now set on the House orders.

SB 173 by Sen. Gary Carter provides relative to the state minimum wage.  This bill was heard by the Senate Committee on Senate Labor and Industrial Relations but the vote failed in committee.

SB 180 by Sen. Regina Barrow is a constitutional amendment to establish a state minimum wage.  This bill was voluntarily deferred by 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 scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday, April 17, but was removed from the hearing.

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 passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 0, was reported favorably from the House Administration of Criminal Justice, and was recommitted to House Appropriations.

SB 237 by Sen. Thomas Pressly provides relative to industrial hemp.  This bill passed favorably from the Senate Agriculture Committee, passed the Senate by a vote of 27 to 9, and is schedule to be heard by the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice on Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 6.

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 the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0 and then passed the House by a vote of 97 to 0.

SB 260 by Sen. Heather Cloud provides for transfer of commercial truck permits from truck to truck within the same company.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0, then passed the House by a vote of 94 to 0, and is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature.

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 passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 1, was reported favorably by the House Agriculture Committee, and was then set on the House orders.

SB 290 by Sen. Beth Mizell provides relative to the sale of dairy products.  This bill was voluntarily deferred by 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 passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0, was reported favorably by the House Transportation Committee, and is now set on the House orders.

SB 326 by Sen. Mike Reese provides for training and education on post traumatic stress and emotion support for certain fighters.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, was reported favorably by the House Agriculture Committee, and is now set on the House orders.

SB 328 by Sen. Mike Reese provides relative to training for volunteer firefighters on forest fire and wildfire suppression.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 39 to 0 and then passed favorably from the House Agriculture Committee.

SB 360 by Sen. Heather Cloud restricts issuance of speeding tickets in certain circumstances. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Transportation Committee.

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.