(Center Square) – Louisiana lawmakers voted Thursday night to hold a session to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ vetoes of several bills that passed both chambers by significant majorities, including one that would ban gender transitions for minors and another that would end the state’s corporate franchise tax.
The state constitution requires an override session unless a majority of lawmakers in either house vote not to continue. Republicans did not override a veto during the state’s first-ever override session in 2021, but last year they overrode Edwards’ veto of congressional redistricting legislation.
The session will begin on Tuesday and last for five days. The GOP has supermajorities in both houses needed to override the governor’s 28 vetoes.
Among the bills lawmakers could take up is Senate Bill 1 that would phase out the state’s corporate franchise tax, as Louisiana is one of 16 states that still levy such a tax. According to the Tax Foundation, Louisiana’s tax is the second highest, assessed at 0.275% and has no caps.
SB 1 would phase out the franchise tax at a rate of 25% annually if corporate income tax revenues remain above $600 million.
Another bill that could be overturned would be House Bill 648, which bans gender reassignment surgeries and hormone treatments for minors.
Also related are HB 81 that would prohibit school employees from using students’ preferred pronouns without parental consent and HB 466 that would prohibit discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools.
HB 648’s sponsor, Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, says he wants to override Edwards’ veto of his legislation.
Other vetoed bills that could be taken up by lawmakers include one that would establish a 25-foot safety zone for police; require an annual purge of state voter rolls; provide additional pay for teachers and other school employees; allow a court to determine whether parole can be denied to “dangerous offenders”; mandate notification requirements for insurance companies; clarify school immunization requirements; ban central bank digital currency; and increase transparency in health care pricing.
Lawmakers could also address Edwards’ line item vetoes from the state budget.
