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Finance Committee advances multiple bills including HB27, HB143, HB308 and HB417; HB562 deferred
Summary
At its May 5 meeting the Finance Committee reported several bills favorable — HB27 (deleting a constitutional sentence about debt amortization), HB143 (aligning prisoner per diem statute with current budget practice), HB308 (require cash acceptance or no-fee kiosks at state venues) and HB417 (raising hazardous-waste cleanup fund cap). HB562 on 19th JDC transcript fees was deferred for more work.
The Finance Committee met May 5 and moved multiple bills forward, largely by voice motion and without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript. Key actions included:
- HB27: Representative MacMahon (S5) said the bill "deletes a sentence from our constitution" that requires money to be applied to the oldest positive amortization basis; sponsor said deleting the sentence allows repayment of the "best debt." The bill was reported favorable.
- HB143: Sponsor (S7) sought to place the $29.39 per diem rate for state inmates that the state has paid in statute (the statute still reflected $26.39). Sheriff Kevin Cobb (S8) said the increase was already appropriated and asked the committee to codify it. The committee reported the bill favorable.
- HB308: Sponsor (S11) proposed that state facilities related to stadiums and arenas accept cash or provide kiosks that exchange cash for preloaded cards at no fee; sponsor said LSU could accommodate the change. HB308 was reported favorable as moved by Senator Edmonds.
- HB417: See separate article. DEQ officials testified the hazardous-waste cleanup fund ceiling had not been increased since the 1990s; the committee reported the bill favorable.
- HB1129: Committee adopted Amendment 3713 to clarify that the proposed law covers both live public auctions and internet/computer auctions; the bill was reported favorable as amended.
- HB562: Representative Robert (S25) presented a fee-schedule update for the 19th Judicial District Court; Deputy Judicial Administrator Lauren Steli (S26) described current practice vs statutory baseline and senators raised concerns that higher fees may impede due process. Senator Presley (S6) requested additional work and the sponsor agreed to defer; HB562 was deferred to the next meeting.
The chair also recognized visitors from the Cattlemen’s Association and a youth leadership class. The committee held a motion to adjourn after the business.
