“Free” School Meals  |  HB282

HB282 provides that all eligible students shall be provided with school breakfast and lunch “free of charge,” while requiring the state’s Department of Education to reimburse the governing authorities of school nutrition programs.

The Senate passed HB282 on June 7, 2023, by a vote of 36 to 0. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because neither feeding children nor educating them is the role of government—rather, each of these responsibilities belongs to a child’s parents or family. The state has absolutely no “duty to furnish” school meals, which, in fact, do not come at “no cost.” The reality is that these cradle-to-grave types of government dependency not only cause more debt and poverty, but continue the irresponsible and unconstitutional use of taxpayer money. The hard-working citizens of Louisiana ought not to be disparaged of their right to the income they have earned to fund all that now entails a compulsory, failing, and government-run K-12 school system.

Sovereign Right to Nullification  |  SCR21

SCR21 affirms “the sovereign right of Louisiana to nullify unconstitutional acts of the federal government.”

The House passed SCR21 on June 7, 2023, by a vote of 67 to 29. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Article VI, Clause 2, of the U.S. Constitution requires that federal laws be made “in Pursuance” of the Constitution in order to be the “supreme Law of the Land.” As such, any federal act that violates the Constitution is unconstitutional and therefore null, void, and of no force. Given that Article VI, Clause 3, further requires that state officials “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution,” legislators in Louisiana indeed have a solemn duty to uphold the sovereign right of the people to resist and obstruct usurpations of power by the federal government. Nullification is the Constitution’s solution to reining in out-of-control government.    

Ban on Sex Mutilation Against Minors  |  HB648

HB648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” would ban certain procedures to alter the sex of a minor child.

The House passed HB648 on June 6, 2023, by a vote of 75 to 25, prior to being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Louisiana should act to ban sex mutilation, which not only violates the unalienable right to life and limb of children, but absurdly attempts to erase biological “sex” with fictional “gender” constructs. According to the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the States have a duty to protect the humanity of all people—male and female—who, as the Declaration of Independence affirms, are created by God and form the basis of individual and family self-government.

Prohibiting Gender Ideology in Classrooms  |  HB466

HB466 would prohibit teachers, school employees, or other presenters in public schools from covering topics of sexual orientation and gender identity in a manner that deviates from state content standards or curricula approved by public school governing authorities.    

The House passed HB466 on June 6, 2023, by a vote of 74 to 25, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because parents have the right—which the government has a duty to uphold—to protect their children from obscene, indecent, or profane activity, including LGBT+ gender ideology-related content in the classroom. This right is retained under and guaranteed by the 9th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Exemptions from Student Vaccine Mandates  |  HB399

HB399 would apply exemptions to student immunization requirements not only to students seeking to enter school but also to students attending school.

The House passed HB399 on June 6, 2023, by a vote of 68 to 25, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because vaccine mandates ought to be rejected, as an individual’s non-injurious activities, including personal health care decisions, are private matters that should not be under federal, state, or local jurisdiction in the United States. To compel American citizens to receive medical treatment would be to violate their fundamental rights protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Ban on Sex Mutilation Against Minors  |  HB648

HB648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” would ban certain procedures to alter the sex of a minor child.

The Senate passed HB648 on June 5, 2023, by a vote of 29 to 10, prior to being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Louisiana should act to ban sex mutilation, which not only violates the unalienable right to life and limb of children, but absurdly attempts to erase biological “sex” with fictional “gender” constructs. According to the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the States have a duty to protect the humanity of all people—male and female—who, as the Declaration of Independence affirms, are created by God and form the basis of individual and family self-government.

Preempting a Central Bank Digital Currency  |  HB415

HB415 would amend sections of state law regarding bank deposits to prevent the inclusion of a “central bank digital currency.”

The Senate passed the HB415 on June 5, 2023, by a vote of 33 to 6, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because this bill seeks to preempt the use of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)—the potential of which presents a significant danger to Americans’ civil liberties. Not only would a CBDC be a blatantly unconstitutional and intolerable expansion of tyranny under the Federal Reserve, but according to Article 1, Section 10, of the U.S. Constitution, “No State shall…make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” States can and must act now to avow their adherence to constitutionally sound money.

Exemptions from Student Vaccine Mandates  |  HB399

HB399 would apply exemptions to student immunization requirements not only to students seeking to enter school but also to students attending school.

The Senate passed HB399 on June 5, 2023, by a vote of 28 to 11, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because vaccine mandates ought to be rejected, as an individual’s non-injurious activities, including personal health care decisions, are private matters that should not be under federal, state, or local jurisdiction in the United States. To compel American citizens to receive medical treatment would be to violate their fundamental rights protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Establishing a State Minimum Wage  |  SB149

SB149 would have established a state minimum wage starting at $10 per hour beginning January 1, 2024, with increases set to $12 per hour in 2026 and $14 per hour in 2028.

The Senate failed to pass SB149 on May 30, 2023, by a vote of 13 to 25. State minimum wage laws are anti-constitutional, discriminatory acts of government theft. They forcibly deny the property rights of both employers and employees by violating their freedom of association, preventing individuals from entering into contracts voluntarily according to their own terms. As dishonest and manipulative tactics to control labor in the economy, they create an unequal balance of wealth confiscation and redistribution, hindering the best workers from getting the best jobs at the best prices. The Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment were intended to protect against undue deprivations or disparagements of a person’s “property,” guaranteeing “equal protection of the laws” for all Americans.

Sovereign Right to Nullification  |  SCR21

SCR21 affirms “the sovereign right of Louisiana to nullify unconstitutional acts of the federal government.”

The Senate passed SCR21 on May 25, 2023, by a vote of 27 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Article VI, Clause 2, of the U.S. Constitution requires that federal laws be made “in Pursuance” of the Constitution in order to be the “supreme Law of the Land.” As such, any federal act that violates the Constitution is unconstitutional and therefore null, void, and of no force. Given that Article VI, Clause 3, further requires that state officials “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution,” legislators in Louisiana indeed have a solemn duty to uphold the sovereign right of the people to resist and obstruct usurpations of power by the federal government. Nullification is the Constitution’s solution to reining in out-of-control government.   

Permitless Firearm Carry  |  HB131

HB131 would remove the requirement that a person possess a valid concealed handgun permit in order to carry a concealed handgun.

The House passed HB131 on May 23, 2023, by a vote of 71 to 29. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because this bill would have removed the state’s unconstitutional permit requirement to carry a firearm. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the right of the American people “to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”  

Universal ‘Education Savings Accounts’  |  HB98

HB98 would create the Sunshine Scholarship Program for K-12 students not enrolled in public school, providing state funding for qualified education expenses directly to parents through “a universal education freedom account.”

The House passed HB98 on May 16, 2023, by a vote of 61 to 37. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill, under the appealing but misleading guise of “school choice,” would effectively turn all schooling into government schooling by displacing traditional private and home education options. The so-called “scholarship program” it proposes actually threatens educational freedom since it would further entangle parents and religious organizations in an ever more intrusive system of state-approved curriculum controls, as a result of the various strings attached to taxpayer funding. Besides, education is not the role of government—it is the responsibility of a child’s parents. Forcing the citizens of Louisiana to furnish taxpayer money for a compulsory, failing, and government-run K-12 school system violates their individual liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.  

Abortion Restrictions  |  SB342

SB342 provides that it shall be unlawful for a physician or other person to perform an abortion, except in cases to “prevent the death or substantial risk of death” or the “loss of a life-sustaining organ” of a pregnant woman.

The Senate passed SB342 on June 5, 2022, by a vote of 29 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because states should act to ban abortion and secure the right to life for all persons. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Legislative Power to Terminate Emergency Declarations  |  HB149

HB149 would have specified that the Legislature may terminate the entire state of disaster, emergency, or public health emergency, or any section of subsection thereof, declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor.

The Senate passed HB149 on June 10, 2021, by a vote of 21 to 11, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Article III, Section 1, of the Louisiana Constitution vests lawmaking power in the Senate and the House of Representatives, not the Governor. Each state, under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, is guaranteed a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers. 

Abortion Restrictions  |  SB342

SB342 provides that it shall be unlawful for a physician or other person to perform an abortion, except in cases to “prevent the death or substantial risk of death” or the “loss of a life-sustaining organ” of a pregnant woman.

The House passed SB342 on June 2, 2022, by a vote of 72 to 25. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because states should act to ban abortion and secure the right to life for all persons. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates  |  HB990

HA2769 would amend HB990, which prohibits COVID-19 vaccine mandates by state and local governmental subdivisions, to apply to any federal COVID-19 vaccine “law or regulation” that is not “valid and enforceable” and removes the provision allowing private entities to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The House failed to pass HA2769 on April 20, 2022, by a vote of 20 to 72. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because vaccine mandates should be opposed, as an individual’s non-injurious activities, including personal health care decisions, are not the legitimate object of government, nor should be under federal, state, or local jurisdiction in the United States. To compel American citizens to receive medical treatment would be to violate their fundamental rights protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

State-Compelled Kindergarten  |  SB10

SB10 requires compulsory school attendance for all children beginning at age 5, including full-day kindergarten and a readiness assessment prior to entering first grade.

The Senate passed SB10 on June 9, 2021, by a vote of 38 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a child’s education is the responsibility of — and a fundamental right of choice retained by — a child’s parents or legal guardians, not the government. Forcing American citizens to furnish taxpayer money for a compulsory, failing, and government-run K-12 school system violates individual protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. 

Legislative Power to Terminate Emergency Declarations  |  HB149

HB149 would have specified that the Legislature may terminate the entire state of disaster, emergency, or public health emergency, or any section of subsection thereof, declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor.      

The House passed HB149 on June 10, 2021, by a vote of 64 to 36, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because Article III, Section 1, of the Louisiana Constitution vests lawmaking power in the Senate and the House of Representatives, not the Governor. Each state, under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution, is guaranteed a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.   

State-Compelled Kindergarten  |  SB10

SB10 requires compulsory school attendance for all children beginning at age 5, including full-day kindergarten and a readiness assessment prior to entering first grade.

The House passed SB10 on June 9, 2021, by a vote of 38 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a child’s education is the responsibility of — and a fundamental right of choice retained by — a child’s parents or legal guardians, not the government. Forcing American citizens to furnish taxpayer money for a compulsory, failing, and government-run K-12 school system violates individual protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment. 

Redefining “Domestic Abuse” in Child Custody Cases  |  HB159

HB159 defines “domestic abuse” to include acts “intended to coerce, control, [or] punish” by a family or household member, and requires courts to elevate the importance of those factors in determining “the best interest of the child” before making custody decisions.  

The Senate passed HB159 on June 7, 2021, by a vote of 36 to 0. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because redefining “domestic abuse” to include non-injurious forms of control or punishment and expanding the “best interest of the child” in custody cases undermines the family. The state has a constitutional duty to protect parental rights, along with the marital covenant, which entail a family’s authority to regulate self-governing behavior in the home. Under the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, such rights shall not be denied or disparaged.

Article V Convention: Term Limits  |  HCR51

HCR51 calls for a “convention of states” to amend the United States Constitution to establish a limitation on terms for members of Congress.

The Senate passed HCR51 on June 3, 2021, by a vote of 21 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the nays because term limits conflict with the right of the American people to choose their representatives. Moreover, states should act immediately to nullify all unconstitutional federal laws, rather than risk an Article V convention. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not the failure of elected officials to uphold their oath of office.

Constitutional Carry  |  SB118

SB118 would have allowed permitless carry of a handgun for any person who does not possess a concealed handgun permit but otherwise meets the eligibility requirements.

The House passed SB118 on May 27, 2021, by a vote of 73 to 28, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms should not be infringed, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Constitutional Carry  |  SB118

SB118 would have allowed permitless carry of a handgun for any person who does not possess a concealed handgun permit but otherwise meets the eligibility requirements.

The Senate passed SB118 on June 1, 2021, by a vote of 27 to 9, prior to it being vetoed by the Governor. We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms should not be infringed, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Article V Convention: Term Limits  |  HCR51

HCR51 calls for a “convention of states” to amend the United States Constitution to establish a limitation on terms for members of Congress.

The House passed HCR51 on May 24, 2021, by a vote of 66 to 23. We have assigned pluses to the nays because term limits conflict with the right of the American people to choose their representatives. Moreover, states should act immediately to nullify all unconstitutional federal laws, rather than risk an Article V convention. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not the failure of elected officials to uphold their oath of office.