The 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature ended on Friday, May 18. Governor Edwards and the Legislative Leadership agreed to end the session two weeks early. This early ending is part of an effort to deal with the state’s budget shortfall. The Governor has called for a special session beginning on May 22nd and ending on June 4th (the original ending date for the Regular Session). This special session was necessary as our constitution does not allow for the consideration of revenue measures in regular sessions in even numbered years.
After a rather quick start on some gaming bills the Louisiana Legislature has slowed down all gambling legislation quite a bit. Here is a quick update:
Bill to allow Riverboats to go on land and change from square footage passed a Senate Committee but has been stuck on the Senate Floor Calendar for nearly 4 weeks because the votes are not there to pass the bill. Sen. Ronnie Johns is the author of the bill and may finally try to pass it this week. He is running out of time as the bill still has to go to the House Committee and the Full House.