Direct relief for homeowners shelved 

The Louisiana House killed legislation this week that would have provided homeowners with relief from skyrocketing property insurance costs. Senate Bill 235 by Sen. Royce Duplessis would have created an annual tax credit of up to $2,000 for payments on homeowners insurance for people with earnings below 200% of the federal poverty level. The bill garnered bipartisan support in both chambers, but was apparently shelved for political reasons. The Louisiana Illuminator’s Wesley Muller reports: 

House Insurance Committee Chairman Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, who has spearheaded much of the pro-insurance industry legislation this year, rallied his conservative colleagues to oppose Duplessis’ bill by calling out one of the organizations backing it, the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance. Firment took issue with recent text messages from the Alliance that accused lawmakers of doing nothing to pass meaningful insurance reform. 

State film incentives reworked 

Gov. Jeff Landry recently signed legislation that reworks Louisiana’s film subsidy program to make it more lucrative. Louisiana First’s team reports on the changes: 

Under the new law, Louisiana eliminates the previous $20 million cap on production costs and the $3 million cap per individual in payroll expenses. The state now offers up to a 40% tax credit on in-state spending, including a 15% bonus for hiring Louisiana residents and companies. 

Supporters of the film industry tout the economic benefits that come to Louisiana: 

The film industry already brings an estimated $1 billion in economic activity to Louisiana each year, including $350 million in local payroll, according to Film Louisiana. But [Film Louisiana founder Jason] Waggenspack said that’s just part of the equation. “It attracts tourism,” he noted. 

Louisiana has paid $3 billion to film and TV productions over the past 20 years, with multiple studies showing a poor return to taxpayers on these investments. The Legislature reduced the annual cap on film subsidies from $150 million to $125 million as part of the 2024 tax overhaul.  

Anti-DEI bill is dead 

Legislation that aimed to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in state agencies and higher education institutions is officially dead. House Bill 685 by Rep. Emily Chenevert drew strong pushback from the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus as it cleared the Louisiana House. The Louisiana Illuminator’s Piper Hutchinson explains why the Senate refused to refer the bill to a committee for debate: 

“I think it’s unnecessary,” [Senate President Cameron] Henry said, adding it was the Senate’s decision, not just his, to stall the bill. “An enormous amount of people from both parties expressed their reservations.” Chenevert’s bill had the support of Gov. Jeff Landry.  “If the governor wants to institute that, he can do an executive order,” Henry said of the legislation. 

State DOGEs look to preempt local authority 

Many states, including Louisiana, are creating their own versions of DOGE – Elon Musk’s federal government dismantling agency. Governing’s Chris Teale explains how state-level DOGE efforts are trying to prevent local authorities from passing their own laws. 

The Local Solutions Support Center, a national organization known as LSSC that looks to raise awareness about abusive state preemption of local governments, said it has already identified more than a dozen bills from this year’s state legislative sessions that all fit the definition for state preemption, where governments look to prevent localities from enacting or enforcing their own laws, or institute more state oversight over locally-controlled bodies. 

Number of the Day

17.7 – Average ACT score for Louisiana students in 2024, which ranked 47th nationally. The national average ACT score was 19.4. (Source: Louisiana Department of Education via The Advocate)