Recap with Jim Nickel on 2018 legislation
The effort to end the Regular Session early did result in a VERY rapid pace in the final two weeks. Bills were heard in committee and on the floor in matter of two to three days and rules were suspended almost daily to allow steps to be skipped in the process. Conference reports were put together hastily and quickly and members and lobbyist were scrambling to keep up with details during the final days.
A few specific items of interest to the Tunica Biloxi Tribe:
- House Bill 660 by Rep. Magee and Sen. Barrow passed and has been signed into law by Gov. Edwards. This bill sets up the Native American Commission in the office of Indian Affairs in the Governor’s office. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity and does not have any statutory power. The Tunica Biloxi Tribe is one of 15 members of the Commission. The Commission will advise the Governor’s office of Indian Affairs regarding issues pertaining to Native Americans, bring up needs and concerns to attention, establish criteria for state tribal recognition, promote Native American culture, work with state agencies to improve services to the Native American Tribes and make recommendations for legislation to assist on Native American issues.
- A State Representative from Monroe and some community leaders from the City of Monroe promoted the idea of moving a riverboat gaming facility to Monroe. That effort was defeated.
- Senate Bill 417 by Sen. White failed. This bill would have allowed for the potential movement of a riverboat gaming facility from the Shreveport area to the Hammond, Louisiana area.
- Senate Bill 316 by Sen. Johns passed and has not been signed by the Governor as of this writing. He is expected to sign it. This bill changes designated gaming area on riverboats from 60% of the total square footage or 30,000 square feet (whichever is lesser) to 2,365 total gaming positions. Gaming position is defined as a seat or space at a gaming table or a gaming machine. The boat may move onto land if it makes significant investments and improvements and the boats must improve and report on all efforts to hire more minorities and women. (NOTE: Sen. Johns and the Governor were pressed on many occasions throughout the entire process of this bill to defend it was not an expansion of gaming. They insists that changing from square feet will not allow for more gaming but will allow for more space for the machines due to size of new machines and under the new law each seat counts as a machine. Of Note: The riverboats did seek to remove the 21% tax on promotions and to have sports gaming. Both issues were not passed by the Legislature.
- Senate Bill 184 by Sen. Martiny passed and has not been signed by the Governor. Originally this bill provided a number of concessions for truck stop video poker facilities. The final version that passed only allows for the facilities to add one deck to existing machines and allows an operator who has been in business for 10 years can reduce fuel sales requirements to 25,000 gallons per month.
- House Bill 553 by Speaker Barras provided for a 30 year extension for Harrah’s land based casino in New Orleans. It also allowed Harrah’s to add another hotel and large entertainment and card tournament space. This bill did not pass.
- Bills to allow for internet gaming, sports gaming and others to allow for more gaming for the riverboats all failed.
- House Bill 484 by Rep. Talbot passed. It will allow Louisiana voters to decide this fall if they will allow Fantasy Sports Contests. This is when folks pick fantasy sports teams online and play each other.
Some general highlights from the session:
- The Budget: It left the House with devastating cuts to health care and TOPS scholarship program. The Senate funded health care and TOPS and cut all of state government across the board resulting in a government shut down on July 1 if funds are not raised. The Governor vetoed the budget so they get to start all over in the special session.
- Criminal Justice: Much of the package that passed last year stayed in tact despite some efforts to repeal. Voters will decide if Louisiana will get rid of the split verdict law. An effort to repeal the death penalty failed.
- Abortion: Louisiana passed a ban on abortion after 15 weeks but it only takes effect if the federal appeals court upholds a similar prohibition in Mississippi.
- Pay Issues: Legislators did not approve an increase in the state minimum wage or equal pay laws.
- Medical Marijuana: Legislature approved expanding the program to include glaucoma, severe muscle spasms, intractable pain, PTSD, Parkinsons and autism.
Essentially EVERYTHING is on the table as they try to cobble together a plan to fund the state for 2018-2019. The Governor and Democrats say the shortfall is around 650 million. GOP leaders say the number is more like 400 million. The plan for now is to see what new revenue can pass the House and Senate and based on that number figure out the funding priorities.
