Another special session: Louisiana lawmakers return Monday

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers say the focus for their special session starting Monday centers on the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Laura recovery, but the session agenda is so broadly written that dozens, if not hundreds of bills, on a long list of topics could be filed.

Seventy items are included in the agenda, and any legislation on those topics can be debated during the monthlong session. Among the many items are the state budget, emergency powers for the governor and lawmakers, COVID-19 treatment and prevention, high school athletics, business tax breaks, rural development issues, retirement benefits for New Orleans transit workers and contracting at state parks.

Some bills that lawmakers couldn't get through the regular session and a special session earlier this year will be filed, while legislators also hope to tweak other measures they passed into law.

Session details

The session begins Monday at 6 p.m. and must end by Oct. 27.

Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, both Republicans, gathered a majority of signatures from House and Senate legislators on a petition to call the session on their own and created the list of items that could be considered by talking with their members.

That sidelined Gov. John Bel Edwards from setting the agenda or having input into its contents. The Democratic governor said he’s concerned about the length and timing of the session and the public’s access amid a pandemic. Most Democratic lawmakers didn't sign the petition to convene the session.

Read more: https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2020/09/27/louisiana-lawmakers-return-special-session/3549271001/