Good morning, all! First, let me thank our lobbyist, Adam Haddox, for his assistance in “everything legislative” even so far as contributing to these Advocacy Updates! While this session may have had slightly fewer visitors to the capital, it was no less active and much more unpredictable (thanks, Coronavirus!)
Legislature: the road goes on and on and on
For those of us who were ready for a little post-session confetti: we’ll just have to wait a little longer. You’re not alone if you feel like Louisiana’s regular legislative sessions and frequently recurring special sessions never seem to end. As you know, the 2020 Regular Session convened March 9th and temporarily recessed twice due to COVID-19 related reasons before reconvening May 4th to squeeze in a few months’ worth of work into a very short window of time.
The legislature adjourned sine die Monday evening at 6:00pm and our first special session of the year convened at 6:01pm. Of course, there was a “special” session at the beginning of 2020 but that was technically an Organizational Session wherein both chambers swore in all members and officially elected leadership.
Combine the unpredictability of the last few months with nine special sessions over the last term plus sweeping, term-limit-induced changes to both chambers of the legislature and the resulting mild chaos is not exactly a huge surprise. And that’s what makes this exercise exciting, right?
Key industry related bills with which we were engaged to varying degrees:
- HB 422 by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, Provides relative to apprenticeships. It allows licensing authorities to issue licenses to applicants who meet certain requirements, including the completion of an apprenticeship. The bill made it through the House but failed to gain traction in the Senate, where it stalled without a committee hearing.
- HB 498 by Rep. Emerson requires licensing boards to waive certain fees for applicants who meet either of the following criteria: 1) Receive public assistance; 2) Earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, unless the applicant has been in an undergraduate or graduate school full time and therefore unable to work. The bill was heavily amended along the way but made it through the entire process and is headed to the governor.
- HB 613 by Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Deridder, provides relative to the occupational licenses of military families. It requires the licensing board to issue a license to a military member, including United States Department of Defense civilian employees who have been assigned to duty in Louisiana, or an applicant who is married to or is a dependent of a member of the military or a United States Department of Defense civilian employee, if the member receives military orders for a change of station to a military installation or assignment located in this state or if the member has established this state as his state of legal residence as reflected in the member's military record, if they meet certain requirements. The bill passed both chambers and is headed to the governor for his signature. It should be noted that Fort Polk is in the author’s district.
- HB 622 by Rep. Emerson establishes the Universal License Reciprocity and Recognition Act and requires regulating entities to grant occupational and professional licenses when certain requirements are met. The bill met heavy opposition and was eventually voluntarily deferred by the author in House Commerce Committee.
- HB 758 by House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Zee Zeringue, R-Houma, provides a definition of liquidated damages and provides that any entity letting certain public works construction contracts, as per the contract, may withhold liquidated damages from any payments or monies otherwise due to the contractor, taking into consideration all granted time extensions, after the expiration of the forty-five day period. The bill was further amended to apply to a public entity letting a public works contract for a flood protection project or for an integrated coastal protection project. This bill passed and is headed to the governor’s desk for action.
Bills you can get behind:
AIA Louisiana Advocacy Committee backs the following two bills and would encourage you to contact your own Representative or those on the
House Ways and Means Committee
to encourage support of these as they would encourage economic recovery in the short and long-term.
Please note, it is likely more effective to contact those serving on the committee that these bills will go before to express your support rather than only contact the Representative mentioned below that is carrying the bill.
HB4
by Rep Tanner Magee (R) regarding Historic Tax Credits. Extends the date for which eligible expenses can qualify for the tax credit from expenses incurred prior to Jan. 1, 2022, to expenses incurred prior to Jan. 1, 2028, and extends the effectiveness of the program from taxable years ending prior to Jan. 1, 2022, to taxable years ending prior to Jan. 1, 2028.
HB16
by Rep Michael Echols regarding Historic Tax Credits. Establishes an additional income and franchise tax credit for 30% of eligible costs and expenses incurred during the rehabilitation of a historic structure included on the National Register of Historic Places. Further limits eligible rehabilitation expenses from exceeding $3.25M and caps the annual amount of credit a taxpayer may claim at $750,000.
Click
HERE
for an expanded version of other bills of interest as well as information on the Phase Two!
