Amends Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1462(A)(4) to enhance regulations concerning activities prohibited during early voting and on election day.

The primary focus of this bill is to explicitly prohibit individuals from wearing campaign apparel within polling places or within a 600-foot radius of their entrances during these periods.

Current Law:

Under existing law, certain activities are prohibited within polling locations and their immediate vicinity during early voting and on election day, specifically within a 600-foot radius of the polling place entrance. These prohibited activities include:

1.    Soliciting votes for or against any candidate or proposition on the ballot

2.    Remaining within the specified area after being directed to leave by an election official or law enforcement officer, unless exercising the right to vote

3.    Distributing or displaying campaign materials such as cards, pictures, or literature advocating for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot

4.    Circulating petitions or seeking handwritten signatures to a petition

Proposed Changes:

House Bill No. 281 proposes the following amendment to the current law:

·       Inclusion of campaign apparel: The bill seeks to add "campaign apparel" to the list of prohibited items, making it unlawful to wear clothing or accessories that advocate for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot within the polling place or the defined 600-foot radius.

Rationale:

The proposed amendment aims to ensure a neutral and intimidation-free environment at polling locations, allowing voters to cast their ballots without undue influence or pressure. By prohibiting campaign apparel, the bill intends to prevent subtle forms of electioneering that could affect voter behavior or create a charged atmosphere within the polling area.

Enforcement:

Enforcement of these provisions would remain the responsibility of law enforcement officers of the relevant political subdivision, upon request by a registrar, deputy registrar, or other authorized election officials.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] give people more time to react when their insurance company wants to cancel their policy, raise rates, change deductibles, or reduce coverage. Instead of 30 or 45 days’ notice, insurers now have to give 60 days’ notice. It applies to both personal and business insurance. It also prevents insurance companies from giving short-term auto policies to drivers who’ve had multiple violations for not having insurance. Overall, it improves fairness by giving policyholders more warning and time to make decisions.

Proposes extending the required notice period that insurers must provide to policyholders before canceling or nonrenewing residential property insurance policies. The bill seeks to amend existing statutes to increase this notice period from 30 days to 45 days, except in cases of nonpayment of premiums. Additionally, insurers would be required to include the specific reason for the cancellation or nonrenewal in their notices. If enacted, this legislation would take effect on January 1, 2026.

Seeks to modify regulations surrounding the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Washington Parish. Under current law, local political subdivisions have the option to hold elections to determine whether alcohol sales should be permitted or restricted. This bill removes that local option election requirement, ensuring that alcohol sales and consumption cannot be completely prohibited within the parish.

Instead, the bill grants the governing authorities of Washington Parish and its municipalities the power to regulate, but not ban, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, including both high- and low-alcohol content beverages. These regulations would still be subject to statewide laws governing alcohol sales.

Effectively, the bill shifts the local control framework, limiting the ability of local governments to prohibit alcohol sales entirely while maintaining their authority to regulate specific aspects of alcohol distribution and consumption. This could lead to uniform alcohol policies across the parish, preventing dry zones or outright bans while still allowing for oversight.

Amends R.S. 1:55(A)(3), a Louisiana statute that designates days of public rest, legal holidays, and half-holidays. The bill specifically focuses on extending the legal holiday status associated with the Washington Parish Free Fair, an annual event in Washington Parish, Louisiana. The proposed change would affect the operational authority of the parish clerk of court by expanding the number of days the office can legally close during the fair.

Under the existing R.S. 1:55(A)(3), the Friday of the Washington Parish Free Fair is already recognized as a legal holiday, but only for the limited purpose of allowing the Washington Parish clerk of court to close their office. This provision is specific to Washington Parish and does not broadly impact other public institutions or private entities unless otherwise specified by local authorities. The current law reflects a tailored accommodation for a significant local event, balancing administrative flexibility with operational continuity.

HB 26 proposes to extend this legal holiday to include "the whole of Wednesday, the whole of Thursday, and Friday" of the Washington Parish Free Fair. The amendment retains the narrow scope of the holiday—applying solely to the clerk of court’s office closure—rather than establishing a parish-wide or statewide public holiday. The stricken text in the document ("Friday of the Washington Parish Free Fair") is replaced with the underscored addition ("whole of Wednesday, the whole of Thursday, and Friday"), indicating a clear expansion from one day to three consecutive days.

• Limited access to clerk of court services (e.g., filing documents, obtaining records) for three days instead of one, potentially requiring advance planning by legal professionals and the public.

HOUSE committee amendments technical

Aims to enhance numeracy instruction in Louisiana's public schools by implementing the following measures:

1.    Teacher Certification Requirements: Starting September 1, 2028, applicants for initial teacher certification must fulfill one of the following:

o  Complete the prescribed semester hours in foundational numeracy instruction as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

o  Undergo numeracy training appropriate to their certification area, approved by the state Department of Education, aligning with nationally recognized, scientifically based mathematics research.

2.    Professional Development for Current Teachers:

o  By August 1, 2025, all fourth through eighth-grade mathematics teachers are required to successfully complete at least one approved professional development course in numeracy. Teachers who have completed such a course within five years prior to this date will be considered compliant.

o  By August 1, 2027, this requirement extends to kindergarten through third-grade teachers, with similar provisions regarding prior completion.

3.    Requirements for Newly Hired Teachers:

o  Fourth through eighth-grade teachers hired after July 31, 2025, must provide documentation of successful completion of an approved numeracy professional development course within two years of their employment date.

o  Kindergarten through third-grade teachers hired after July 31, 2027, are subject to the same requirement.

The bill also mandates that numeracy coaches provide training to support these professional development efforts. These initiatives are designed to strengthen numeracy skills among students by ensuring educators are well-equipped with effective mathematics teaching strategies.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] make EXTENSIVE and SUBSTANTIAL changes to salaries, licensing fees and per diem amounts

Renames the State Boxing and Wrestling Commission to the Louisiana State Athletic Commission and updates its authority, fee structure, event rules, and financial independence. Replaces specific statutory amounts for salaries and license fees with commission-set rates.

All of these salaries must be from funds that are self-generated.

Key Provisions: 

- Renames the State Boxing and Wrestling Commission as the Louisiana State Athletic Commission. 

- Removes fixed statutory salaries for commission members and employees; allows commission to set salaries. 

- Removes fixed license fee amounts for various roles (promoters, matchmakers, referees, etc.); commission may set reasonable fees. 

- Creates a “safety zone” extending at least eight feet around the ring or cage at events, restricted to commission-authorized individuals. 

- Replaces seat proximity rules with safety zone requirements. 

- Mandates the commission operate without state funds and prohibits use of state funds for salaries, benefits, per diem, travel, office needs, or other expenses. 

- Allows the commission to appoint an events coordinator (including a commission member) and set their fee. 

- Increases the allowable venue size for certain exempt professional wrestling events from 400 to 1,000-person capacity. 

- Modifies bonding and fee requirements for some professional wrestling events. 

- Authorizes the Law Institute to update statutory references to reflect the new commission name.