(The Center Square) — Gov. Jeff Landry signed four bills this week dealing with issues such as welfare, gun laws and Louisiana’s Board of Ethics.
Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, won big this week as author of all four measures. Moreover, the new laws also reflect the views of a supermajority Republican Legislature, especially when it comes to the Second Amendment right to bear arms and welfare reform.
Senate Bill 195 establishes a work requirement for any able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The new law went into effect after Landry’s signature.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is intended support to needy households and to persons making the transition from welfare to work. This policy aims to encourage Louisianans to become economically self-reliant and reduce dependence on public benefits for basic needs. This bill was opposed by Invest in Louisiana, which said it would lock the state into “burdensome, confusing, and time-consuming paperwork requirements.”
SB 234 prohibits the Louisiana government from doing business with companies that discriminate against the firearm and ammunition industries. This means if a company refuses to engage in trade or contract with another entity solely because they sell guns, it would then be illegal for them to engage in trade or receive government contracts starting on Aug. 1.
If SB 234 encourages approval of firearm industries, SB 301 protects individual gun owners from being labeled as such. The bill states, except for in a criminal investigation or to meet a laws requirements, the government cannot knowingly keep any list, record or registry of privately owned firearms or the owners of those firearms.
The final bill, SB 497, expands the Board of Ethics in Louisiana from 11 members to 15 and tries to consider appointing those that properly represent the demographics of the population of this state. The four new members of the board will take office on Jan. 1, 2025.
