Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, with the help of his solid Republican majorities, signed off on a laundry list of legislation that spells out a Republican agenda that could rise to the national GOP radar.
The dozens of new laws passed in Mr. Landry’s first legislative session include conservative priorities such as universal school choice, allowing state police to arrest illegal immigrants, a ban on DEI instruction in schools, a ban on college groups funded by terrorist organizations, and codifying the biological definition of men and women in state law.
“Since January, our administration has been working diligently to create a government in Louisiana that is as good as her people. I am proud to say we have delivered on our promises this session — a promise of a safer, healthier and more prosperous state,” Mr. Landry said. “I want to thank the entire Legislature for their hard work.”
Mr. Landry was still signing a final tranche of bills Friday at the end of the legislative session when the Louisiana Freedom Caucus lauded the new state laws now on the books.
“Last October, Louisiana elected a conservative governor and the Louisiana Freedom Caucus doubled their size in the legislature,” the group’s post on X said above 27 new state laws authored by Freedom Caucus members in the state legislature and sent to Mr. Landry’s desk.
As well as cutting $3 billion from the state budget, Mr. Landry signed legislation that included:
• Constitutional carry
• Universal school choice
• A ban on Federal Reserve digital currency
• A ban on COVID vaccine mandates
• A requirement to mandate teachers use pronouns according to the sex on birth certificate of students
• Closed primary elections
• A measure that allows state police to arrest illegal immigrants
• A ban on instruction of DEI in public schools
• A ban on instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools
• A ban on sanctuary cities
• A ban on ranked choice voting
• A ban on local governments passing firearms restrictions greater than state law
• Fines against protesters who demonstrate outside of personal residences
• A prohibition on companies from discriminating against firearms companies
• A constitutional amendment to ban Zuck Bucks, which is private money given to states and localities for election administration
• Codifying the biological definition of men and women in state law
• Requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms
• A ban on college groups funded by terrorist organizations
• Limited liability for people in fear of their life while rioters illegally block a road
• Expansion of RICO and racketeering crimes for organized riots.
Police can now charge individuals with a crime if they come within 25 feet of law enforcement when the officer is in the midst of their work and has already given a warning to move away.
Additionally, two abortion-inducing drugs will be reclassified as controlled substances.
One law prevents transgender individuals from using facilities in schools, prisons and domestic violence shelters that do not match their sex at birth.
“I am proud to sign House Bill 608, which protects women’s safety and reinforces the very definition of what it means to be a woman,” Mr. Landry said in a statement. “We want women across the country to know that your privacy, safety and opportunities are valued and will always be protected in Louisiana.”
Mr. Landry did not respond to a request for comment.
Opponents of the bill slammed the new law.
“This bill will only create more fear in the transgender community about bathrooms,” Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates, told The New Orleans Times-Picayune. “As a trans person who utilizes public bathrooms … I already get nervous about it.”
Andy Roth, president of the State Freedom Caucus Network, wrote on X above the list of new legislation Friday, “I’m officially declaring it now — Louisiana is the new Florida!”
Mr. Landry is a former state lawmaker and GOP congressman who previously served as his state’s attorney general before he defeated popular Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in October.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.