David Jacobs | The Center Square | The Madison Journal

Sen. Katrina Jackson (left), D-Monroe, talks with Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, during opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La., on Monday, April 12, 2021. Gerald Herbert / AP

Louisiana House committee votes to raise bar for creating tax breaks

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 147 Reads

(The Center Square) – The Louisiana House's tax policy committee voted unanimously Thursday to make it more difficult to enact and maintain state tax breaks.

Click Here to Read More

Louisiana state Sen. Neil Riser, R-Columbia Melinda Deslatte / AP

Louisiana Legislature's tax overhaul hits early session speed bump

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 137 Reads

(The Center Square) – A day after two major

Click Here to Read More

Louisiana state Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, has his temperature taken as he arrives at the state Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Gerald Herbert / AP

Louisiana committee endorses creating blockchain 'sandbox'

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 139 Reads

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana House committee has advanced a bill to create a “regulatory sandbox” for companies that use blockchain technology.

Click Here to Read More

Bret Allain (left), R-Franklin, chair of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, stands with Senate President Page Cortez on Monday, April 12, 2021, during opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La. Gerald Herbert / AP

Senate committee votes to lower top Louisiana income tax rate, eliminate federal tax break

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 183 Reads

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana Senate committee voted Tuesday to amend the state constitution to lower the maximum allowable personal income tax rate and give lawmakers the ability to eliminate a major tax break for federal income taxes paid.

Click Here to Read More

Gov. John Bel Edwards gives the annual State of the State speech on Monday, April 12, 2021, at Southern University's A.W. Mumford Stadium. Image courtesy of Louisiana Public Broadcasting

Edwards delivers State of the State, urges focus on 'true tax reform'

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 178 Reads

(The Center Square) – When Gov. John Bel Edwards gave his last session-opening State of the State address on March 9, 2020, the speech was changed at the last minute to announce the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Louisiana.

Click Here to Read More

Simon Kadula | Shutterstock.com

Louisiana committee approves bill to create single tax collector

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 142 Reads

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana House committee advanced a possible constitutional amendment Tuesday to create a single statewide entity to collect sales taxes.

Click Here to Read More

People line up to vote Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Gerald Herbert / AP

Quick hits: Louisiana news briefs to start your week

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 241 Reads

Early voting for April 24 runoff begins Saturday

Early voting for the April 24 election, which includes a runoff between two New Orleans Democrats seeking a seat in Congress, begins Saturday.

Click Here to Read More

The Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Nagel Photography | Shutterstock.com

Louisiana Legislature prepares to enter tax-heavy session

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 224 Reads

(The Center Square) – "Tax reform" means different things to different people, but a lot of people across the political spectrum seem to think Louisiana needs it.

Click Here to Read More

Ochsner BR Phamacy Director Heather Maturin unpacks the vials of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be used at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Bill Feig / AP

Louisiana health department distributes COVID-19 doses to 486 providers

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 241 Reads

(The Center Square) – The Louisiana Department of Health announced Monday that 486 providers across the state will get shares of Louisiana’s allocation of COVID-19 vaccines this week.

Click Here to Read More

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Melinda Deslatte / AP

Edwards' legislative agenda includes mandatory kindergarten, teacher raises, higher minimum wage

By David Jacobs | The Center Square, 755 Reads

(The Center Square) – Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his agenda Thursday for the legislative session that starts Monday, including his support for making kindergarten mandatory for every Louisiana student.

Click Here to Read More

Subscribe to David Jacobs | The Center Square