State Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, has authored a workforce bill that would lower the minimum age for the MJ Foster Promise Program from 25 to 21. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a series of education and workforce bills aimed at expanding vocational opportunities for students and addressing gaps in training across the state. Three key proposals — House Bills 325, 407 and 482 — highlight a broader

Gary Westcott, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, says extending the early-release period for terminally ill prisoners would be carefully vetted. (Photocourtesy of Department of Public Safety and Corrections) BATON ROUGE — A House committee voted 7-0 to advance a bill Tuesday that would allow terminally ill inmates to be released up to 120 days before their expected death, doubling the current 60-day window for early release. Under the current stat

State Rep. Mike Johnson failed Monday in trying to reverse a law giving the state power to expropriate private land to support carbon capture projects. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A bill to prevent the state’s use of eminent domain to support carbon capture storage and pipelines failed 12-7 in an extraordinarily tense House committee hearing Tuesday House Bill 7, authored by House Speaker Pro Temp Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, marked

Rep. John Wyble deferred a bill Monday that proposed gradually reducing the state income tax rate over a 10-year-period. ( Photo by Sheridan A. White/LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Efforts to eliminate or significantly reduce Louisiana’s state income tax appear to be on hold this legislative session, as lawmakers have signaled a more cautious approach following recent tax reductions. House Bill 253 by state Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, and House Bill 411

State Rep. Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu has proposed mandating the use of a federal citizenship verification program in Louisiana. ( Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Though a voting rights advocate cautioned that technology used for voter checks could pose security risks to residents' personal identification information, the House Governmental Affairs Committee voted 9-7 Wednesday to move forward with a bill requiring use of the system. Loui

State Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, has authored two bills that would tighten Louisiana’s bail laws for those convicted of major crimes against children. Photo by Francis Dinh / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — State Rep. Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, introduced two pieces of legislation focused on tightening Louisiana’s bail laws for individuals convicted of certain crimes against children. Both measures advanced without opposition in the House Administration of Cri