Abortion, insurance coverage, LGBTQ points high Louisiana state agenda

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s funds and payments about abortion entry, the state insurance coverage disaster, instructor pay and LGBTQ rights will high the state legislative agenda when lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday.

The state Constitution requires the two-month lengthy session to concentrate on fiscal and budgetary issues each different 12 months and 2023 is considered one of them. Gov. John Bel Edwards, who’s unable to run for re-election this 12 months on account of time period limits, put forth his ultimate proposed funds in February. The Democrat outlined a $45.7 billion spending plan for 2023-24, just like the earlier funds.

The state is, nevertheless, forecasting $2.2 billion in further income, which Edwards proposes utilizing for one-time transportation tasks, instructor pay raises, paying off disaster-related debt owed to the federal authorities, and to offset expiring federal pandemic aid funds used to offer early studying entry.

Although the session focuses on budgetary and tax-related payments, every lawmaker can file 5 payments unrelated to funds. More than 800 have been submitted filed between within the Republican-dominated legislature.

Here is a take a look at a few of them possible be on the forefront of Louisiana’s upcoming session.

Abortion

Louisiana has one of the restrictive abortion legal guidelines within the nation. The solely exceptions are for instances in which there’s a considerable danger of dying or impairment to the affected person and for “medically futile” pregnancies – these through which the fetus has a deadly abnormality. There aren’t any exceptions for rape or incest.

Lawmakers have put forth a number of abortion-related payments, together with one to additional outline a “non-viable” being pregnant and one other that might add exceptions for rape and incest.

Criminal justice reform

Legislation to abolish the dying penalty and improve punishment for sure crimes – together with easy housebreaking and distributing fentanyl – have been submitted.

A proposal to decriminalize marijuana has been filed once more, although related payments have failed prior to now.

Insurance

Louisiana lawmakers and the state Insurance Commissioner previewed a 2023 legislative package deal they hope will stabilize the state’s property insurance coverage market, which has been beset by skyrocketing premiums and insurers fleeing the state because of the excessive price of frequent hurricanes. The proposals embrace setting timelines for insurers to obtain a declare, start adjusting it and requesting particular data they want from policyholders to substantiate losses. Another invoice would totally implement the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, which would supply direct incentives to householders to hurricane-proof their roofs.

During a particular legislative session in February, lawmakers accepted $45 million for an incentive program to entice extra insurers to Louisiana. The state’s insurance coverage commissioner is asking for an addition $20 million for that fund.

LGBTQ-related laws

Debate over curbing transgender well being care and proscribing dialogue about gender identification and sexuality in faculties has gripped statehouses throughout the nation this 12 months, and Louisiana isn’t any exception.

One invoice filed this session goals to disclaim gender-affirming care to juveniles. Another piece of laws is just like Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” regulation, which restricts academics from speaking about sexual orientation or gender identification each in classes and relating to private lives.

Library books will even be on the agenda, as GOP politicians name for books with “sexually explicit” content material to be restricted, a transfer that activists worry is getting used to censor LGBTQ content material.