430 NEW LAWS FOR LOUISIANA - Starting today, Wednesday, more than 430 new laws go into effect in Louisiana. Lawmakers passed the measures during the regular legislative session that ended in May, and were signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
A quick look at what’s new: Penalties will toughen for any Hazing crime which is now a felony and punishable up to 5 years in prison. The marriage waiting period will shorten and the types of records shielded from public record requests will grow.
Starting today, schools are required to give parents information about flu causes, symptoms and vaccines. Legislators lifted the ban on switchblade knives. And they've prohibited tying up pets during a hurricane or a flood; violators will face fines. Video poker facilities will face loosened restrictions. Prosecutors can charge people who misuse government benefits with a new crime of "government benefits fraud." Companies selling DNA testing kits will now have to tell Louisiana customers if their genetic material will be used for research or other purposes.
And Louisiana's regulations on concealed handguns in churches will no longer involve an eight-hour annual training mandate.
