Latest Louisiana state government News

As end of session nears, Louisiana lawmakers advance controversial LGBTQ+-related bills

Jun. 02, 2023 18:31 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As Louisiana’s legislative session nears adjournment, lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature pushed forward controversial LGBTQ+-related bills, including advancing a resurrected ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths Friday. ...

Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

May. 26, 2023 16:32 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state. State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press...

Editorial Roundup: Louisiana

May. 25, 2023 07:13 AM EDT

The Advocate. May 24, 2023. Editorial: What’s the real answer to abused children in Louisiana? Louisiana has a Children’s Cabinet and an inspector general, an auditor’s office and other agencies. Is there a need for a specific “state child ombudsman” as...

Louisiana lawmakers reject bill to abolish death penalty

May. 24, 2023 20:30 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — For the fifth time in six years, Louisiana lawmakers have blocked attempts to abolish the state’s death penalty. Despite a new push by Democratic Gov. John Bel and testimony of proponents from all walks of life — exonerated death row inmates, religious...

Republican-controlled committee rejects Louisiana bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors

May. 24, 2023 19:01 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Bucking the trend of other reliably red states adopting restrictions on young transgender people, a Republican-controlled Louisiana legislative committee voted Wednesday to a kill a bill that would have banned gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. ...

Rep. Carter, White House budget director Young to address Xavier graduates

May. 24, 2023 18:56 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Rep. Troy Carter returns to the university where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science for a commencement address on Saturday in New Orleans, Carter will speak during the midday commencement ceremony for Xavier University’s College of Arts...

How to spend Louisiana's better-than-expected revenue forecast remains up for debate

May. 18, 2023 19:17 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers received a revised sunny revenue forecast Thursday, with economists saying hundreds of millions of dollars in additional surplus funds are available to spend for this year's budget. Despite the better-than-expected revised forecast, how...

Editorial Roundup: Louisiana

May. 18, 2023 12:33 PM EDT

The Advocate. May 16, 2023. Editorial: A state agency’s leadership called into question The good news is that a veteran of Louisiana State Police is restoring order to a state agency that has racked up a pile of credible reports of mismanagement and poor judgment on...

Louisiana House passes bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors

May. 16, 2023 18:48 PM EDT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Following suit with other Republican-controlled statehouses in the country, lawmakers in the Louisiana House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban gender-affirming medical care to minors, advancing the legislation to the Senate for further debate. The bill...

Advocates say parole is not enough for those convicted by juries that are not unanimous

May. 11, 2023 16:53 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — People convicted of felonies years ago by nonunanimous juries in Louisiana would have a chance for parole under a measure advanced at the Legislature on Thursday — over the objections of criminal justice advocates who said it doesn't go far enough to right a historic, racist...