LSU Manship School News Service

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 9-5 on party lines Wednesday to advance a bill favored by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry that calls for a limited constitutional convention next month.

Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, on Monday proposed overhauling the plan he had sponsored through a set of amendments. They call for a study of Louisiana’s existing educational resources to determine how to best implement an education savings account program instead of rushing into it. The study would be completed by Dec. 1. 

The Revenue Estimating Conference increased its state-revenue estimates Wednesday, giving lawmakers up to $197 million more money to spend in this fiscal year and $89 million more next year. To spend more than $86 million of the $197 million in excess funds for this year, two-thirds of the lawmakers would have to agree to breach a constitutional spending limit, and it seems unlikely they would do that.

Senate Education Committee passes two bills limiting gender discussion in schools: one requiring students to be called by names matching their birth certificates, and another banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity. Critics argue these measures harm vulnerable students and stifle classroom discussion.