HUGE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: TIME FOR AN OVERRIDE!
And our sincere thanks!!
Since the Louisiana Legislature ended its regular session yesterday, June 9th, an update is due. We are ecstatic to report that Monday, June 5th, was a monumental health freedom day in the Louisiana Legislature!
Before we get into each bill, the most important takeaway from today’s post is this action item:
We need you to:
Contact your state rep and state senator urging them to hold a veto override session to override any of Governor Edwards’ vetoes (we explain why below)
Contact Governor Edwards making known to him that you want these bills to become law. You can call him: 225-342-7015 and email:
Remember, it’s election year! Every single state rep and senator is up for re-election (unless they’ve termed out). HOLD YOUR LEGISLATORS ACCOUNTABLE. Force them to go on the record. They must know that if they do not show up or vote against a veto, it will follow them forever.
Now on to the specific bills: there were four Health Freedom Louisiana endorsed bills scheduled for a Senate floor debate the past Monday.
First up was HB415 by Representative Beryl Amedee and it passed with a bipartisan vote of 33-6! (Note the “nays” included Republicans Peacock and Pope - both on their way out of the legislature, thankfully!)
As was explained during the committee presentations of HB415, the state of Louisiana cannot control or prevent the Federal Reserve from initiating a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), but we can control what is and what is not a legal “deposit account” in the state of Louisiana. HB415 excludes CBDC from becoming a legal deposit account.
Next up was HB648.
Still clinging to the falsehoods presented by Louisiana Department of Health in a report compiled by a physician who performs “gender affirming care” on minors, Senators Fred Mills and Jay Luneau objected to the passage of HB648 by Representative Gabe Firment. Thankfully, Senator Jay Morris was fully prepared to counter the lies perpetuated repeatedly throughout the legislative session and in a passionate closing, defended the bill with a successful 29-10 final vote. You can watch the bill presentation HERE (1:37:00).
SPECIAL NOTE: During the annual Sine Die press conference Governor Edwards announced he WILL veto HB648! As well as HB466 and HB81!
This is why the call to action at the beginning of this post is IMPERATIVE.
Next on Monday’s schedule was HB182 by Rep Kathy Edmonston.
HB182 prevents schools from requiring covid vaccination for school attendance. Currently, Louisiana does not require covid vaccination for school attendance, but the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) can grant approval to requests from schools who want to require it. In addition to colleges and universities, LDH has granted approval to 86 New Orleans City Schools to require covid shots for children as young as FIVE!! HB182 would not be necessary if LDH was not so incredibly incompetent, but the agency has proven over and over that they cannot be trusted on any covid issue. In case you missed it, a newly peer-reviewed study indicates that repeated covid vaccinations increases the likelihood of covid infection and another found that repeated vaccination “may also cause autoimmune diseases, and promote cancer growth and autoimmune myocarditis in susceptible individuals.” Many thanks to Rep Edmonston for carrying this bill!!
Then, almost immediately, HB399 was heard…
…and passed 28-11. Heck yeah!!
An identical bill was introduced in 2020 but only received THREE votes in House Health and Welfare. A similar bill made it to the senate floor last year but was never called for a floor vote. Parents have been deceived for decades regarding vaccine requirements for school attendance. HB399 will ensure that with any communication from schools regarding vaccine requirements, will also include information about the option for an exemption (Section E of the law). Again, tremendous gratitude for Rep Edmonston for not giving up and carrying this bill again this year!
All of these bills stand in limbo waiting on Governor Edwards’ signature. He has vetoed SIX BILLS that HFL has endorsed over the last two years, and already announced he’s planning on vetoing again, so PLEASE do the call to action at the beginning of this post!
We thought HB471 by Rep Barbara Frieberg had passed on Monday, but were shocked to learn the bill failed yesterday after the conference committee report was rejected!!
After three unsuccessful attempts on Thursday to pass the bill with the conference committee report where Rep Frieberg rejected the amendment added in the Senate which requires that pharmacists, techs, and interns “maintain certification in pediatric advanced life support,” she had to accept that the bill was finally dead at Sine Die!! We are truly thankful for Senator Jay Morris for adding the amendment, and Representatives Raymond Crews, Michael Echols, Kathy Edmonston, and Thomas Pressly for questioning the bill author on the floor and raising safety concerns. It is ridiculous that vaccination is treated in such a blasé fashion that it would be administered at the local pharmacy, whether on the street corner or adjacent to the bakery.
Update on HB291:
We aimed for the stars with HB291! The last three years have taught us that reform MUST be made to ensure humane treatment of our loved ones while hospitalized or in long term care. As we noted in May, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee took issue with the proposed legislation. One senator, Jay Luneau, even stated that patients did not die alone, that they had staff with them, as if that were true or acceptable! HB291 passed on Sunday, June 4th, as the Senate amended it, meaning we did not get everything we wanted.
BUT Rep. Owen is ready to go back into battle for patients’ rights next year and we look forward to working with him to get it done!!
A quick update on the other three bills on THE LIST we provided at the beginning of session.
Rep Beryl Amedee tabled HB152, The Parental Rights Constitutional Amendment, until next year.
HB158 by Rep Kathy Edmonston would have protected businesses from civil liability if they did not mandate covid vaccines or any other pandemic disease vaccines. This would, of course, help employees, as well, since alleviating civil liability pressure would eliminate the need to mandate these vaccines. Unfortunately, HB158 was never heard in committee.
HB372, the CDC/WHO bill, died in committee BUT we feel confident that legislation will pass next year to limit the state’s actions in regards to CDC incompetence and WHO treaty encroachments on constitutionally protected civil liberties.