April 29, 2022 Dear Friends, Every year, as legislators assemble at the State Capitol, some work to move an agenda that is specific to their region and its needs; others to institute goals hostile to traditional values. For the most part, so-called ‘progressive’ ideas are shunned or gain little traction. But too many in Louisiana are unaware of the breadth and volume of dangerous ideas which are proposed and how important it is that they never become law.
In every session, we identify these brokers and their bad ideas. Two such ideologues have emerged in the Louisiana House: Rep. Mandie Landry (D) N.O. and Rep. Aimee Freeman (D) N.O. Just last year, Rep. Landry brought a proposal to decriminalize prostitution in Louisiana. Several hours of valuable legislative time was wasted with her proposal before it was defeated. This week, Landry was the lone vote against a bill, (HB 142 Schlegel) which protects children from exposure to online pornography. The vote was 96-1…WOW…what a NORTH star for Louisiana values!
Rep. Landry has another very bad idea: remove parental prerogative in assisting children dealing with gender-dysphoria, a clinical condition treated by licensed counselors as a confusion of identity and gender. HB 605 follows the hyper-sexual politics of the national Democrat party and the current administration and seeks to prohibit counselors' speech when assisting children with sexual confusion.
Landry’s bill oozes with hostility toward religious expression and is blatantly unconstitutional with regard to free speech. Louisiana government, by affirming what I call "sexual-politics" as a protected class, necessarily requires a submission and restraint, backed by the police power of the state, to enforce its compliance. Landry's bill would use a legitimate institution (state licensing boards) to advance illegitimate purposes, suppression of free speech and prohibit a scientifically provable point of view.
HB 605 prefers an expanding, undefined and indiscernible list of sexual behaviors, which place professional counselors in the cross hairs of licensing boards, equipped by punishment powers. Exactly what speech is prohibited and what type of therapy would be allowed is excessively vague and subject to varied interpretations. The most likely outcome and intent of this bill is to send a warning to Christian counselors regarding Landry's newly minted, prohibited and permitted government speech. This is tyranny.
Similarly, Rep. Aimee Freeman's HB 303, which seeks to deprive property owners of discretion in leasing or selling real estate when they might have moral or ethical objections based on sexual-politics as well, passed House Commerce. Rep. Freeman also has a misguided HCR 64 which attempts to investigate, harass and enforce licensing requirements against life-affirming pregnancy care centers in Louisiana for the "crime" of providing alternatives to abortion!
This analysis is not merely a disagreement about substantive measures. Neither is it an ad hominem attack on authors who disagree with LFF. This is a war of worldviews. These instruments are advocated by authentic proponents' bad ideas. We should not ignore their flawed logic, retreat from their unfounded charges or forfeit a full-on engagement on the propriety of their ideas. No matter the emotional tales of woe they use to justify these measures, we respect the imago Dei in every human for whom Christ died; that respect, though, never requires embracing dangerous ideas that deny the underlying truths that God created...male and female. That the world and the rest of the legislature may know!  HB 47 by Rep. Edmonston – Provides form for exemption from school mandated vaccinations. PASSED HOUSE EDUCATION HB 80 by Rep. Edmonds - Requires that the state budget only use 98% of expected revenue. PASSED HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS HB 125 by Rep. Newell - Legalizes recreational marijuana. FAILED IN HOUSE JUDICIARY HB 359 by Rep. Beaullieu - Prohibits federal interference in Louisiana elections. PASSED THE HOUSE HB 459 by Rep. Owen - End of life protection to provide care as requested by patient or representative. PASSED THE HOUSE HB 526 by Rep. Edmonds - A fiscal transparency measure for school systems. PASSED HOUSE EDUCATION HB 555 by Rep. Owen, HB 597 by Rep. Freeman, and HB 639 by Rep. Pressly - Streamlines the occupational license to put people to work. PASSED HOUSE COMMERCE HB 953 by Rep. Seabaugh - Requires the government to provide protections and prevents discrimination against places of worship. PASSED HOUSE CIVIL LAW HB 989 by Rep. Crews - Requires courts to obtain info on minors who undergo abortion and establishes required court proceedings. PASSED HOUSE HEALTH AND WELFARE SB 104 by Sen. Mizell - Prohibits abortion facilities from preventing patient communication with others outside the facility. PASSED THE SENATE SB 131 by Sen. Mizell - Colleges and other post-secondary institutions must block access to pornographic and sexually harassing material. PASSED THE SENATE SB 342 by Sen. Jackson - An update to Louisiana law which protects pre-born babies should the US Supreme Court return authority to regulate abortion to the states. PASSED SENATE JUDICIARY SB 388 by Sen. Hewitt - Prohibits the sale of abortion drugs through the mail. PASSED THE SENATE You can always find out the latest on important bills we are watching by going to our website and clicking on “Bills To Watch.” | 
