Post-Mardi Gras means pre-legislative session. The legislature starts for the year on Monday, March 9. As this is a three month "general" session - with unlimited bills - it’s going to be tough, hectic, and full of surprises. 

This Monday, March 2, I am hosting my annual session send-off from 5-7:30pm. Remarks at 5:45, and a Q&A on data centers and utilities with our favorite Public Service Commissioner, Davante Lewis. The Mayor's Special Counsel, Andrew Tuozzolo, will also be there to discuss the City's legislative agenda.

As always, please feel free to reach out anytime (hse091@legis.la.gov).

-Mandie

Can’t attend in person?

Meeting ID: 819 6946 6627

Passcode:794927

OR Call in: (301) 715-8592 Meeting ID: 81969466627 Passcode: 794927

My plans: Only a few of my bills have posted so far - I'll share more in my next email. Most of my bills for this year focus, in general, on protection: victim rights, consumer issues, and AI.  

If you want to look up a bill for this year, visit the legislature's site, choose 2026 under "bills," and you can search by name, committee, or even bill text. We expect that well over a thousand bills will be filed.

Governor/Republican agenda for session: unsure! So far a handful of interesting bills have been filed, good and bad, including: gubernatorial term limits, remaining unanimous jury problems, the “Donald J. Trump Expressway", homeless court, protecting kids on online platforms, creating the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding (big, unconstitutional NOPE), Charlie Kirk remembrance day, and a resolution urging Congress to throw the book at perpetrators named in the Epstein files, just to name a few.

The City's agenda: generally, focuses on money and clean up. Will share more next email.

OTHER LOUISIANA NEWS

The Fifth Circuit rules that the Louisiana law which requires all classrooms in the state to display the Ten Commandments is fine. I guess this issue will eventually be decided by SCOTUS. It is hard to accept that a bill I debated as a legislator(!) might return religion to public schools nationwide. 1L con law definitely didn't foresee this.

The country is still waiting on SCOTUS to rule in Louisiana v. Callais, a decision that could protect or gut the Voting Rights Act.

There is so much abortion-related litigation involving Louisiana.

The President asked the Governor to send a hospital boat (??) to Greenland. Meanwhile, healthcare in Louisiana is abysmal.

The demand for fortified roofs is rapidly expanding, but the state isn't spending enough money on grants, yet.

It’s been busy! Mardi Gras with an old mayor and a new one. Visited the brand new women’s prison in Saint Gabriel, and saw the many opportunities they offer there. Last week some of the New Orleans delegation spoke to the National Council of 100 Black Women about the pending session. And on the Martin Luther King citywide day of service, I joined a volunteer group and we basically pulled weeds off Tchoupitoulas :-)

We were tourists in our own city, including a buggy ride and a $12 lemonade. (Worth it.)