More than 1 in 5 Louisiana workers (21.2%) would get a raise by 2029 – either directly or indirectly – under House Bill 353 by Rep. Tammy Phelps. The bill, which the House Labor Committee will take up on Thursday, would establish a state minimum wage of $12 an hour in 2027 and $15 an hour by 2029. After 2029, the minimum wage would be indexed to inflation, meaning it would continue to rise alongside the cost of living. Invest in Louisiana’s Christina LeBlanc explains the broad benefits of the legislation:

Workers living in poverty or near poverty, tipped workers, and workers without a high school degree would benefit the most from a higher minimum wage. Additionally, retail workers, single parents, and Black workers in Louisiana would also see disproportionate gains. More than two-thirds of Louisiana workers (69.9%) living in poverty would bring home more money under HB353, benefiting the most of any subgroup from the wage increase. Workers in the restaurant (55.6%), hospitality (44.6%), retail (40%), and arts and entertainment industries (36.8%) would see the greatest gains from a wage increase … 

Louisiana State Voting Rights Act

A looming U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Louisiana v. Callais case could eviscerate the federal Voting Rights Act, which is meant to ensure that voting laws and procedures don’t discriminate against Black voters. A state Senate committee will vote on legislation by Sen. Royce Duplessis on Wednesday that would create a Louisiana Voting Rights Act. Ashley K. Shelton of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, writing in The Lens, explains why our state needs this legislation: 

Passing a State Voting Rights Act will not solve every wrong overnight. No single piece of legislation can. But it will send a clear signal that Louisiana is committed to protecting our democracy. It will give us the tools to build a fair system here at home and move us closer to the promise made 60 years ago, which has yet to be fully realized. … So, “Why now?” Because the people are ready, the need is urgent, and our democracy is on the line. We cannot afford to wait.

Aerospace bills rocket through committee

The Louisiana House Ways & Means Committee quickly – and unanimously – advanced two bills on Tuesday aimed at attracting aerospace companies to Louisiana. The Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate’s Alyse Pfeil explains how House Bill 1088 would provide state and local tax breaks for aerospace facilities:

Aerospace companies would have to commit to spend $1 billion in new capital investment by July 2031 and create 200 new, permanent full-time jobs to get state approval for an annual rebate of state and local sales tax. The state could end the arrangement if companies can’t meet these two benchmarks. The sales tax rebate would be for equipment and services used directly in aerospace activities, including research, testing, manufacturing and space mission operations. 

House Bill 1179 would extend Louisiana’s generous property tax break for manufacturers to aerospace companies:

That program, the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, or ITEP, reduces property taxes by 80% for an initial term of 5 years, with an option to extend it for an additional 5 years. Some “mega-projects” with capital expenditures of at least $500 million can get a 100% property tax exemption under ITEP.

Shortening prison sentences for earning associate’s degrees 

Incarcerated people in Louisiana could have their sentences reduced by earning an associate’s degree, under legislation that advanced out of a state legislative committee on Tuesday. The Louisiana Illuminator’s Piper Hutchinson reports on House Bill 111 by Rep. Mandie Landry and the broad bipartisan support it has garnered: 

The bill would add associate’s degrees to the list of degrees that incarcerated people can earn to receive 90 days toward the reduction of their sentence.  Current law already allows the imprisoned to reduce their sentences by attaining bachelor’s or master’s degrees.  Landry’s bill has support from a wide range of organizations across the political spectrum, including the conservative Pelican Institute and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry as well as the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center. 

Number of the Day

$862,756 – Amount of savings needed (on average) to comfortably retire in Louisiana. (Source: GOBankingRates)