State Rep. Beau Beaullieu, foreground, said a bill requiring minors to get parental permission before downloading apps will increase online safety. (Photo Dakota Laszlo / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — The House unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would require app providers to verify the age of anyone in Louisiana who creates a digital account and require minors to associate their accounts with those of their parents. House Bill 977, authored by state

The House Commerce Committee unanimously advanced a bill Wednesday by state Rep. Rodney Lyons to expand access to fresh food in underserved communities. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A bill seeking to expand access to fresh groceries in underserved areas advanced without opposition from the House Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Proposals to establish a 45-day window for energy companies to return overcharges to consumers and to req

BATON ROUGE — A Public Affairs Research Council webinar brought together policy experts who expressed sharp differences on the five constitutional amendments voters will consider in the May 16 election. The topics include civil service protections, the creation of a new school district for the city of St. George, permanent teacher pay raises, property taxes and raising the age limit for judges. Louisiana voters rejected a sweeping package of amendments last year that bundled

State Rep. Christopher Turner would ask the state to study the return on investment of the TOPS scholarship- program. (Courtesy of Louisiana House of Representatives) BATON ROUGE — A House committee advanced bills Tuesday that would study the return on investment of the TOPS scholarship program and potentially reclaim money from students who drop out or fail. House Resolution 17, presented by state Rep. Christopher Turner, R-Ruston, authorizes a study to determine whether or

State Rep. Jack McFarland proposed a new state budget that advanced through a House committee Monday. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — In the first step by the Legislature to transform Gov. Jeff Landry's proposed budget into its own, the House Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 1 Monday that generally tracks his plan for a standstill state operating budget of $47 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1. The bi

State Rep. Nicholas Muscarello Jr., R-Hammond, said there are no statistics proving that capping damage awards lowers insurance premiums. ( Photo by Cross Harris/LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A bill that would have placed a cap on general damages in civil lawsuits was blocked 5-4 by a House committee on Tuesday after vigorous debate. House Bill 526, authored by state Rep. Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, R- Denham Springs, sought to place a $500,000 cap on civil