Louisiana Senate adopts ceremonial resolutions, introduces bills for committee referral; two roll-call adoptions recorded

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana State Senate convened March 9 and moved through a largely procedural agenda that included introductions of multiple bills, committee reports and several ceremonial and recognition resolutions, two of which were adopted by recorded roll call.

Senator Mizell opened the session with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The clerk read routine items from the journal and a series of petitions and communications, then announced introductions including Senate Bill 405 (by Senator Talbot), described in the record as "an act to be entitled . . . relative to nursing facilities to provide for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Quality Rating System," which was laid over for committee consideration.

The Senate called up several measures on second reading and referred them to committees: Senate Bill 402 (by Senator Mizell) amending Title 17 related to nonpublic schools and parental choice (referred to Education); Senate Bill 403 (by Senator Connick) to create the crime of unauthorized possession of copper or brass material (referred to Judiciary); and Senate Bill 404 (by Senator McMahon) dealing with vision benefits and vision benefit managers (referred to Health and Welfare). Committee chairs later reported numerous bills favorably or with amendments during the committee reports portion of the session.

Two concurrent resolutions were adopted after recorded votes. Senator Mizell moved adoption of a concurrent resolution (listed in the record as SCR4); after the machines were opened, the clerk announced "36 yeas, no nays," and the resolution was declared adopted. Senator Wheat later moved adoption of SCR7 (a designation for Strawberry Festival Day); the clerk closed the machines and the record shows 35 yeas, 0 nays and the resolution was adopted. Many other condolence and commendation resolutions were approved "without objection," per the clerk's announcements.

A procedural motion to suspend the rules and call Senate Bill 15 from the Retirement Committee was raised but met with objection and did not carry. Separately, Senator Klein Peter successfully moved to call Senate Bill 307 (by Senator Edmonds) from the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and recommit it to the Committee on Education; that motion was entered "without objection."

During a personal-privilege statement, a senator invited colleagues to sign on as co‑authors to an Irish Caucus item and noted an opportunity to travel to Dublin with the caucus for co‑authors. The session also paused for a brief ceremonial moment when members, led in the record by a senator identified as Senator Presley, sang "Happy Birthday" to Brock Myers.

The clerk also read messages from the House transmitting HCR8 (commendation for Drew Brees), HCR9 (a condolence), and HCR12 (commending the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association), each of which was laid over as the House requested concurrence.

The Senate announced a slate of committee meetings for the coming days (Education, Natural Resources, Commerce, Health and Welfare, Transportation, Governmental Affairs, Insurance and others) and a motion to adjourn and reconvene on March 11 at 4:30 p.m. was made and accepted "without objection." No floor debate on the major substantive bills introduced was recorded in the transcript used for this summary.

Votes at a glance

- SCR4 — Moved by Senator Mizell; clerk announced 36 yeas, 0 nays; adopted. - SCR7 — Moved by Senator Wheat; clerk announced 35 yeas, 0 nays; adopted.

What’s next

Most bills introduced or called on second reading were referred to committees for further consideration; committee chairs reported numerous bills favorably during the session. The next Senate convening was scheduled for March 11 at 4:30 p.m., and several committee meetings were announced in the interim.