FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 14, 2023
Contact: Gene Mills
225-344-8533
info@lafamilyforum.org

PRESS: LFF Releases 2023 Legislative Scorecard

(BATON ROUGE) – Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) has released its 2023 Legislative Scorecard, which surveys votes cast during the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature as well as the Veto Override Session.

“This year, LFF evaluated support or opposition for: religious and personal liberty, the protection of children against sexual politics, experimental and harmful “gender-care,” election integrity, school choice and busting the expenditure cap,” said Gene Mills, President of LFF. “The Scorecard serves as a snapshot of how elected officials voted and where divisions existed in House and Senate votes on critical faith and family issues. The public will be able to use this tool to inform conversations and engage lawmakers.”

Eighteen (18) representatives earned the Outstanding Family Advocate Award by scoring 100 percent on LFF’s Scorecard. These legislators will receive LFF’s esteemed Patrick Henry Award at the LFF 2023 Legislative Annual Gala planned for Thursday, September 28th, at Healing Place Church Arena in Baton Rouge. Additionally, 67 lawmakers will be honored with the Family Advocate Award for scoring 80-99 percent on LFF’s Scorecard.

Ten lawmakers earned the prestigious Life and Liberty Award for authorship of key new laws:

• Senator Heather Cloud - SB7 - Protection of Children in Public Libraries
• Senator Beth Mizell - SB63 - Religious Freedom Amend. and SB41 Maternal Centers tax credit
• Senator Caleb Kleinpeter SB 94 - Regulation of Kratom
• Representative Raymond Crews - HB457 - Commemorative Certificate of Non-Viable Birth Act
• Representative Rick Edmonds - HB443 - Adoption Credit and HB462 Schoolboard Transparency
• Representative Valarie Hodges - HB68 - Allows History and Literature of Bible in public schools
• Representative Dodie Horton - HB8 - "In God We Trust" in every classroom
• Representative Blake Miguez - HB311 - Prohibition of private funding for election expenses
• Representative Chuck Owen - HB291 - No Patient Left Alone Act
• Representative Laurie Schlegel - HB61 and HB77 - Protecting Children on the Internet

LFF’s highest award, the 2023 Gladiator of the Year, goes to Representative Gabe Firment for HB648, The Stop Harming Children Act. As a freshman lawmaker, Rep. Firment’s perseverance led to a historic override of the Governor’s veto and allowed Louisiana to protect minors from medical experimentation in the form of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries.

LFF Awards Gala is the highlight of our year as we host pastors, partners, friends, and family from across Louisiana to honor public servants who just wrote the most recent chapter of Louisiana public policy. This year will be especially memorable as LFF celebrates its Silver Anniversary.

The 2023 LFF Legislative Scorecard is available online.

For more information, contact LFF at info@lafamilyforum.org or 225-344-8533.