Louisiana Senate adopts multiple resolutions and advances many bills to third reading

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana State Senate on April 21 unanimously adopted several ceremonial and commemorative resolutions and advanced numerous bills to third reading, moving a large portion of the chamber’s calendar forward ahead of a busy committee schedule next week.

The chamber adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the Louisiana Civil Code’s enactment, by voice and machine vote. The secretary closed the roll with a recorded count of 33 ayes and 0 nays. Several house concurrent resolutions honoring local events and anniversaries also passed by unanimous margins on the floor, with recorded tallies reported by the secretary.

Why it matters: The actions move a large number of measures into the chamber’s final consideration phase and clear ceremonial business so committees may continue detailed review on Tuesday’s packed schedule.

Key floor actions

- SCR 7 (Sen. Foyle): Adopted (33–0). The resolution recognizes and commends the bicentennial anniversary of the Louisiana Civil Code’s enactment and its historical role in state law. Senator Ford moved adoption; the machine recorded 33 ayes and 0 nays.

- House Concurrent Resolutions: Multiple HCRs were adopted by unanimous recorded votes. Examples: HCR 5 (designation of Ball as the “Moon Pie Capital of Louisiana”) recorded 34 yeas and 0 nays; HCR 6 (commendation of Casey Duron) recorded 35 yays and 0 nays; HCR 10 (Katrina remembrance) recorded 35 yeas and 0 nays; HCR 12 (retirement commendation) recorded 35 yeas and 0 nays; HCR 14 (Black Maternal Health Week) recorded 36 ayes and 0 nays.

- Bills advanced to third reading: The Senate reported committee recommendations and ordered a large slate of bills engrossed and passed to third reading. Among those advanced were: • SB 5 (Sen. Wheat) — amends Code of Civil Procedure jurisdictional limits for city courts. • SB 9 (Sen. Bass) — amends Title 14 to prohibit unmanned aircraft use over federal and state military installations and facilities (with committee amendments adopted). • SB 21 (Sen. Wheat) — amends Title 14 to add veterinarians and veterinary clinics to definitions of health care professionals/facilities for assault and battery provisions. • SB 38 (Sen. Henskins) — creates the crime of theft of gift cards or gift card redemption information. • SB 65 (Sen. Foyle) — modifies Title 47 tax credits to provide S corporations ability to claim certain local inventory tax credits, with committee amendments adopted. • SB 72 (Sen. Reese) — amends Title 17 regarding bond issuance for capital improvements in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. • SB 75 (Sen. Miller) — addresses legislative continuances and extensions for legislators and employees. • SB 78 and SB 98 (Sen. Myers) — statutory changes to the definitions/exemptions for drug paraphernalia and unlawful inhalation elements (with committee amendments adopted). • SB 116 (Sen. Kleinpeter) — notary public authorization for St. Martin and St. Landry parishes. • SB 118 (Sen. Foyle) — changes relating to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and tax-table income. • SB 144, SB 146, SB 147 (various sponsors) — measures involving port commissions and local development authorities and bond issuance authority.

The clerk and committee chairs presented numerous committee reports recommending favorable passage, and senators moved the committee amendments where required. Where committee amendments were offered on the floor, sponsors or committee chairs moved their adoption before the measures were ordered engrossed and passed to third reading.

Background and next steps

Committee chairs announced an exceptionally full committee day on Tuesday, April 22, with multiple committee meetings scheduled beginning at 8 a.m., including the state bond commission, budgetary controls, and standing committees on finance, revenue, judiciary and others. Several measures advanced today will appear on the third-reading calendar for final passage during upcoming floor days.

Votes at a glance (selected)

- SCR 7 — Adopted by recorded vote: 33–0. - HCR 5 — Adopted by recorded vote: 34–0. - HCR 6 — Adopted by recorded vote: 35–0. - HCR 10 — Adopted by recorded vote: 35–0. - HCR 12 — Adopted by recorded vote: 35–0. - HCR 14 — Adopted by recorded vote: 36–0.

(Selected bills advanced to third reading are summarized above; where the clerk reported committee amendments, the Senate adopted those amendments on the floor before advancing the bill.)