Senate approves procurement-code overhaul and a package of bills; several items called but objected
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Summary
Senators approved a broad revision to the state procurement code that removes a local advertising requirement and passed a package of bills including water program updates and a lease-term change for a state property; at least one bill (SB 315) drew an objection and was held.
The Louisiana Senate advanced a batch of measures and took roll-call votes on several on the day’s calendar. Senator Mizell, explaining Senate Bill 300, described the measure as part of a broader revamp of the state procurement code and singled out a key change: "we're removing the local advertising requirement," he said on the floor, describing it as the largest change in the bill. The Senate gave final passage to the procurement revisions after the sponsor’s explanation.
Senator Reese presented Senate Bill 324, which he described as updates to the state water sector program: "deletes outdated references, facility plan control, clarifies the commission's authority to approve modifications to the scope of work, makes some clarifications to the emergency sub fund, updates language for qualified projects ... and clarifies the Commission can rescind a grant for failure to comply." The bill advanced to final passage on a unanimous roll-call as announced on the floor.
Other individually noted floor actions included Senate Bill 411 (removal of a 20‑year cap on certain leases to allow renegotiation of the Benson Tower lease), which was presented at the request of the Division of Administration and was passed; and a motion to call Senate Bill 288 up for final passage that drew an objection and did not proceed. Senator Reese offered Senate Bill 315 (raising thresholds for professional service contract exemptions) but an objection was recorded during its consideration and the Senate moved to the next item.
Votes at a glance (selected items announced on the floor): Senate Bill 11 — final passage 30–0 (see separate coverage); Senate Bill 300 — final passage (vote announced at the time of closing machine, 30–31 yeas and 0 nays as recorded by the secretary on the floor); Senate Bill 324 — final passage (31–0 as announced); Senate Bill 411 — final passage (30–0 as announced). Several other bills were read and referred or laid over for committee consideration.
Sponsors framed the package as housekeeping and programmatic updates in many cases; the procurement changes were presented as structural updates to the procurement statute. Objections noted on the floor prevented immediate passage of at least one measure and kept other items in committee or for later consideration. The Senate adjourned to reconvene Tuesday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m.
