Governor John Bel Edwards signed over 100 new laws, targeting various sectors, all effective from August 1. Some of the fine-print details of the implemented legislations revolve around increased penalties for selling fentanyl, escalating it to life imprisonment, as the state confronts a severely crippling opioid crisis.
Major changes introduced in the education sector include mandatory ‘In God We Trust’ signage in K-12 and college classrooms, along with new requirements for defibrillators on school premises and at athletic events. It’s worth noting that while these laws took effect immediately, schools have been granted extra time to comply.
The state also passed legislation prohibiting foreign adversaries, such as China, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Venezuela, from acquiring property. The new laws also aimed at enhancing mental health services in state prisons, legislating for better facilities and mental health screenings for inmates. Another notable legislation includes the designation of funds for creating a state Maritime Academy within the University of Louisiana system. In a lighter vein, amidst all these important legislation changes, the pecan has been officially declared the state nut of Louisiana.
You can find all the bills signed by Gov. Edwards during the legislative session in two separate lists HERE and HERE.
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