Legislative Update: Week of May 1

It was a tough week at the Capitol…we saw the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cut from the budget putting 16,000 seats across the state in jeopardy. Legislators also killed a bill that would have established a minimum wage for Louisiana with advocates being forcibly removed from the room. We also saw attacks as we supported the Jeremiah Group and Lower 9th Ward Coalition’s work on school registration drives. There is still work to be done and your voices continue to be critical. Please reach out to members of Senate Finance to put Children First by restoring the CCAP funds next week and click here. You can also reach out to your House of Representative member to ask that they support the ability of nonprofit organizations to continue to engage our youngest voters in the democratic process (HB 490)!

There were some positive moments this week as well as we saw codifying the redistricting community engagement process into law move out of Committee with no opposition.

Even with the attacks during testimony, we did see legislation protecting the right of nonprofit organizations to work with schools on voter registration move out of Committee as well.

Legislation that would allow the work of doulas to be covered by private insurance also made it out of Committee this week which is an important win as maternal health advocates work to address maternal health disparities.

We need your voices so please take action by reaching out to your elected officials about the issues important to you because it does make a difference.