Louisiana’s GOP-dominated Legislature concludes three-month-long regular session

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers adjourned the 2024 legislative session on Monday, a three-month-long gathering of the GOP-controlled body marked by the passage of a slew of conservative policies that could reshape various aspects of the state.

The regular session was the first under Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, marking a new era of conservative leadership in Louisiana. In January, Landry replaced Democrat John Bel Edwards, who served as governor for eight years. Edwards was the only Democratic governor in the Deep South during his two terms.

The GOP holds a supermajority in the Legislature, enabling lawmakers to push conservative priorities. Policies passed this session included a package of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, migrant enforcement measures, a requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms and a law that reclassifies two abortion-inducing drugs as controlled dangerous substances.

Lawmakers approved a $48 billion budget that includes a $2,000 stipend for teachers and funding for criminal justice needs. That follows a special session in February during which lawmakers passed several tough-on-crime measures.

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