The Louisiana Regular Session Getting Underway With a Thousand Bills to Consider

Louisiana lawmakers are beginning a three-month-long regular legislative session this Monday, March 11, 2024. More than a thousand bills have already been filed. Among those are several crime-related bills, including a bill that would make it a crime to come within 25-feet of a law enforcement officer while they’re engaged in work. Another bill would make it a crime to give a woman an abortion pill without her knowledge.
A bill requiring convicted sex offenders to have a vasectomy has been filed for the regular session. New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd says because Louisiana’s abortion ban does not allow exceptions for rape or incest, she feels the vasectomy requirement is needed. “Something has to be done to be proactive and protecting women.”
Lawmakers will also consider several education-related bills. One of those would require every classroom in Louisiana to display the 10 Commandments. Another bill would ban k-thru-12 classroom discussion of sexual orientation, also known as a so-called ‘don’t say gay’ bill. Lawmakers will also consider a bill that requires parent permission for a student to use pronouns that don’t match the gender they were assigned at birth. Both of those bills passed last year but were vetoed.
Lawmakers will also take up several bills to raise the minimum wage. The session was scheduled to begin at noon on Monday.