Roundup of legislation in the 2022 session: School choice, interstate tolls, exemptions for wind and solar projects

Here's a look at some of the legislation being considered by the Legislature:

Bill deferred, would ban solar and wind projects from tax exemptions

Legislation to exclude wind and solar farms from a Louisiana tax exemption program drew pushback from lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee this week, forcing the bill’s author to voluntarily defer the measure for now.

Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, told committee members on Tuesday he sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 6 to exclude wind and solar power facilities from the Industrial Tax Exemption Program to ensure an “equal playing field” with oil and gas producers.

The program was created to offer property tax exemptions to manufacturing facilities in exchange for creating jobs. McCormick noted that companies extracting oil and natural gas do not qualify for ITEP, and argued that the same should apply to solar and wind farms

Interstate toll ban stalls in committee

A Louisiana lawmaker wants to outlaw tolls on the state’s interstate system by removing exceptions to an existing ban, but a House committee has deferred his bill.

State Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, told the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works that Louisiana law prohibits tolls on existing roads, bridges, overpasses or highways “unless you improve or expand the system.”

Farnum sponsored House Bill 814 to remove the exception because he said tolls constitute a double tax and plans in the works to toll I-10 to fund bridge work would send the wrong message to folks coming into the state.

House OKs bill exempting mu shots from public records

The Louisiana House has approved legislation to exempt police mug shots from public records until a person is convicted of a crime.

The House approved House Bill 729, sponsored by Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, with a vote of 75-21 to exempt most police booking photos from public record until a person is proven guilty.

The bill provides exceptions "if the person is a fugitive, or if law enforcement deems that person to be an imminent threat or danger," Duplessis said Tuesday. "There’s also language in the bill that would allow for a court hearing, for a judge to make the determination that it's in the public interest that the mug shot be released prior to conviction."

Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, raised questions about whether other aspects of arrest records and public information could also be deemed prejudicial, such as a name or sex of a suspect. He also pointed to the value of mug shots in identifying additional victims of crimes.

School choice bills move ahead in committee

The House Education Committee advanced several school choice bills that would create education savings accounts parents can use for educational options outside of the public school system.

The committee voted along party lines to approve House bills 33, 194, 452, and 824 to create education savings accounts (ESAs) with the average per pupil state funding parents can use for tuition, tutoring, and educational services and supplies necessary to meet their child’s educational needs.

HB 33, sponsored by Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, would create an ESA program for children of military families, children in foster care and those attending schools with D and F ratings under the state accountability system.

HB 194, sponsored by Rep. Rhonda Butler, R-Ville Platte, would do the same for students with disabilities such as deafness, blindness or autism. HB 452, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, would extend ESAs as an option for students who have documented at least two instances of bullying, or any student who is the victim of sexual assault.

HB 824, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Jefferson, would provide ESAs as an option to all Louisiana students.

--Victor Skinner, The Center Square