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A Louisiana legislative committee on Tuesday advanced a bill that would let Louisiana voters decide if betting on sports will be allowed in their parishes.
Legalizing sports betting was one of the most contentious issues at last year’s session. Former state Sen. Danny Martiny’s bill passed the Senate but was weighed down with unfriendly amendments in the House and fell short.
But on Tuesday, a Senate judiciary committee advanced Senate Bill 130 with little discussion and no objections. Ironically, state Sen. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, whom Martiny accused last year of treating his bill unfairly when Henry was chairman of House Appropriations, is sponsoring the new measure. Legislators also advanced an identical bill by Sen. Ronnie Johns, a Lake Charles Republican.
Gambling opponents object to any expansion of gaming in the state, arguing that even with high tax rates the costs outweigh the benefits. But sports betting proponents say Louisiana casinos, which are an important revenue source for state government, ought to be able to compete on a level playing field with those in neighboring states that already have legalized betting on sports, especially after being shut down as part of the effort to contain the new coronavirus.
Henry’s bill would not limit sports betting to certain facilities, nor does it set tax rates or define who would be allowed to place bets. It simply would let residents vote for or against legalizing sports betting in their parishes, requiring lawmakers to work out the details next year.
Lawmakers tried to follow a similar approach in legalizing fantasy sports, in which websites like DraftKings and FanDuel charge players fees and award prize money. Voters in 47 of the state’s 64 parishes legalized the practice in 2018, but they couldn’t play legally until legislators approved the tax rate and regulations.
But Martiny, in a last-ditch effort to get sports betting to the polls, attached his bill to the fantasy sports measure. When it was stripped back out, an angry Martiny ran out the clock on the final moments of the 2019 session and prevented the fantasy sports bill from coming to a final vote.
State Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, on Tuesday reminded senators of last year’s fantasy sports failure, calling it “very disheartening” that the online games still cannot legally be played in parishes where voters legalized the practice. Even if sports betting is legalized, getting two-thirds of legislators to approve the necessary taxes will be difficult, he warned.
This year’s regular session is non-fiscal, which means new taxes cannot be approved and therefore the fantasy sports regulations still cannot be finalized. However, lawmakers expressed hope the subject would be revisited if a special session is called as expected.
The committee also advanced a bill by Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, that would allow stores and restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages using third-party companies that employ contractors. When lawmakers legalized alcohol delivery last year, they required delivery companies to use direct employees, which is not the industry’s typical model, and few permits have been issued.
Allain’s bill also would eliminate the requirement that only low-alcohol-content beverages can be delivered and expands the delivery area from 10 miles to 25 miles from the place of purchase. Drivers would be licensed much like bartenders and would be subject to the same penalties if they serve someone who is under the legal drinking age, he said.
“If this situation with the COVID-19 and the emergency we are having isn’t evidence enough that we need delivery of alcohol, I can’t imagine what is,” Allain said.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and Second Harvest will hold another drive-thru emergency food distribution starting at noon Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2100 Cedar St. in Morgan City. The line will form in the parking lot of Central Catholic High School adjacent to the church.

The event is the third in recent weeks to be hosted by the two organizations, with the previous distributions in Mathews and Houma serving a combined 44,000 pounds of food to an estimated 1,640 vehicles.

The Cannata’s Family Market in Morgan City is also partnering in this event. Those who wish to help can purchase a Good Neighbor donation box in the store and online through Curbside Max at https://www.cannatas.com/.

The Good Neighbor Donation Box consists of a 10 pound bag of rice, six cans of Blue Runner beans, and a $5 Cannata’s gift card. The boxes will be delivered to the distribution site on the day of the event to assist local families in need.

February 9, 1934 — April 28, 2020
Herbert Wilmer Shifflett, a native of Rocky Barr, Virginia, and a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, was called to his heavenly home on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, with his daughter Dianne Savoy at this side.
Herbert was born on February 9, 1934. The son of Herbert Wise and Beulah Shifflett. Herbert was a Veteran of the United States Air Force. In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and spending time tending to his yard.
Those left to cherish his beautiful memory are his two daughters, Dianne Savoy, and Denise Scelfo and her husband, Robert; one son, Kevin Shifflett Sr. and his wife, Linda, all of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; one brother, Calvin Shifflett of Virginia; one sister, Catherine Lawson of Delaware; his companion, Pat Babin and her son, Clyde Gedward Jr.; his grandchildren, Kevin Shifflett Jr., Samantha Osburne and her husband, Derrick, Joseph Shifflett, Kristen Miesch and her husband, Michael, Nicholas Scelfo and his wife, Calli, and Ross Scelfo; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Beulah Shifflett, and one son-in-law, Mark Savoy.
Due to the current health restrictions regarding COVID-19, a private graveside service will be held for the immediate family.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration has launched a new online platform meant to provide quick updates to business owners when COVID-19 mitigation rules that affect their businesses change.
The website also allows consumers to file complaints about businesses that may not be following the rules regarding indoor capacity, wearing masks or other issues, officials said Monday.
While the state has been under Edwards’ “stay at home” mandate, some business owners said they didn’t realize they were allowed to stay open if they followed proper safety protocols. Businesspeople who register at opensafely.la.gov will find details about what they’re able to do now, and how they’re allowed to do it, and will get updates specific to their business when rules change, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said.
This weekend, restaurants, while still required to keep their dining rooms closed, were allowed to begin letting people eat outside but not offer tableside service, and many put up tents to accommodate diners. Browning said his office got a few complaints from the public that some restaurants were not following the rules, which include allowing for social distancing and requiring employees who deal with the public to wear masks, but did not find evidence to support the complaints.
Edwards said he remains hopeful Louisiana will be able to move into the first phase of the White House-approved plan to remove restrictions meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus on May 15, though the state’s approach might not follow all federal guidelines (which are meant to be flexible) to the letter. Edwards had also expressed that hope before extending his prior order last week.
Though Edwards has refused to seriously consider a regional approach to lifting restrictions, he said increased testing capacity, which provides more ability to identify hot spots, makes that possibility more realistic. The federal government is helping Louisiana ramp up to 200,000 tests per month, officials say, which would exceed the total number of tests performed so far in the state.
As of noon Monday, at least 1,991 Louisiana residents had died from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, officials reported, along with 73 “probable deaths.”
Almost 30,000 cases had been reported, while more than 20,000 people are believed to have recovered. Just over 1,500 people were hospitalized with the illness, and 220 of them were on ventilators, officials said.
Louisiana currently is seventh in the nation in cases per capita, after being second a few weeks ago, Edwards said.
Edwards urged Louisiana residents to continue practicing mitigation methods such as social distancing and avoiding groups of people. Though Louisiana’s order does not require the general public to wear masks, the governor said he was concerned that more people were not doing so.
“It’s a very minor inconvenience compared with what we’re up against,” he said.
Public Policy Polling, a Democrat-affiliated firm in North Carolina, on Monday released survey results showing broad support for Edwards’ handling of the pandemic and response. PPP found 64 percent of voters agree with Edwards’ decision to extend the “stay at home” order compared to 31 percent who say it should have been allowed to expire at the end of last month.
Edwards’ handling of the crisis generally was supported even by a plurality of Republicans, PPP found.