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Panel backs SB 101 to clarify school-zone carrying, expand reciprocity and remove vocational schools from mandatory prohibition
Summary
The Senate Judiciary C Committee reported SB 101 favorably after testimony from gun-rights organizations; the bill narrows the mandatory prohibition list by removing vocational schools, clarifies duplicative statutory language, and extends 1,000-foot zone rights to certain out-of-state permit holders and to constitutional-carry individuals.
Senate Bill 101, carried by Senator Migguez, was reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary C Committee after debate and public testimony. The bill removes vocational-technical schools from the statutory list of locations where firearms are mandatorily prohibited, resolves duplicative statutory language from last year’s changes, and extends reciprocity and parity between concealed-permit holders and individuals exercising constitutional carry within the 1,000-foot zone around schools.
The measure’s author, Senator Migguez, told the committee the bill "does not allow anyone to carry a firearm on school property. I repeat this bill does not allow anyone to carry a firearm on school property." He said the purpose was to bring clarity and consistency between permit holders and persons carrying without a permit under constitutional-carry rules.
Witnesses who testified in support included Dan Zelenka, president of the Louisiana Shooting Association, and Kelby Senior, state director for the National Rifle Association. Zelenka said the bill would "bring Louisiana in line with those other 47 states" that do not impose a 1,000-foot school-zone restriction and noted a pending federal lawsuit regarding nonresident permits. He also emphasized that prohibited persons (convicted felons, people subject to domestic-violence prohibitions, and those adjudged dangerous) remain barred from possession within the 1,000-foot zone.
Everett Bodian, vice president of the Louisiana Shooting Association, testified the bill improves legal clarity: "When I try to teach the law and explain to people, ... I constantly have to say, 'Well, there's this one little exception.'" Bodian said aligning rules for permitless and permitted carry reduces confusion that can lead to accidental violations.
Senator Barrow spoke against the bill as drafted, citing concerns about removing vocational-technical schools from the mandatory-prohibition list; he said he would oppose the motion. Committee discussion covered the narrowness of definitions and the bill’s interaction with federal law. The committee received multiple green cards (support) and one objection on record from Senator Barrow; the secretary called the roll. The roll-call votes read in committee were: Senator Morris — Yea; Senator Abraham — Yes; Senator Barrow — No; Senator Cloud — Yes; Senator Hodges — Yes; Senator Kleinpeter — Yes. The motion carried and the committee reported SB 101 favorably to the Senate floor.
Action taken: Senator Migguez moved to report SB 101 favorably; the committee reported the bill favorably (recorded vote: 5 yeas, 1 nay). The author noted an emailed opposition from Dr. Angel Bradford Rosenberg of Moms Demand Action.
The bill will proceed to the Senate calendar for a floor vote.
