Louisiana Voice

In just over a month (March 9) the 2026 regular 60-day session of the Louisiana Legislature convenes in Baton Rouge. Sessions in even-numbered years such as 2026, are for 60 days while in odd-numbered years, sessions last for 85 days.

No measure levying or authorizing a new state tax, increasing an existing state tax, or legislating with regard to state tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions, or credits shall be introduced or enacted during even-numbered years, according to the 2026 Regular Session Information BULLETIN issued by the House Legislative Services.

But, hey, that doesn’t mean those 144 lawmakers (105 House and 29 Senate members) can’t inflict harm on the citizens of Louisiana, so it would behoove folks to at least attempt to keep tabs on what goes on in Baton Rouge.

Remember in 2014, they almost slipped through a major but illegal windfall for then Louisiana State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson. The bill, by State Sen. Neil Riser (R-Columbia) would have pumped up Edmonson’s retirement considerably and the amendment was sneaked into the final day of the legislative session. Only a tip by an anonymous reader allowed LouisianaVoice to break the story and open the way to Sen. Dan Claitor’s successful lawsuit to quash the effort.

 But there are plenty of other mischief afoot when lawmakers, lobbyists and campaign contributions come together.

Take last year, for example. A couple of Shreveport senators, Alan Seabaugh and Thomas Pressley co-authored SB 134 which eventually became Act 342 with Gov. Jeff Landry’s signature.

That law makes it more difficult to SUE NURSING HOMES in Louisiana.

The state already had a bad reputation for quality of care in nursing homes. Remember BOB DEAN AND HURRICANE IDA?

SB 134 sailed to passage, getting final HOUSE approval by a 59-37 vote and breezing through the SENATE with a comfortable 26-11 margin.

So, why would the legislature pass a measure that protects nursing homes from being held accountable for possible abuse and/or neglect?

For that answer, let’s boil down the numbers.

Between Jan. 1, 2023 (the last statewide election year) and Jan. 1, 2026, nursing homes, their political action committee and their various owners contributed more than $146,000 to 85 members of the two chambers who voted for passage of SB 134. That averages out to a little more than $1700 each—but it’s only an average. Some got considerably more.

Let’s start with Senate President Cameron Henry (R-Metairie) and Sen. Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville). It just so happens that the two are members of a 10-PERSON OWNERSHIP GROUP for the Acadia St. Landry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Church Point and Hensgens is the nursing home’s administrator. Two other members of his family also are part of the ownership group, according to records on file with the Secretary of State.

Both senators did pretty well in raking in contributions from nursing home interests. Henry received $35,300 and Hensgens accounted for $31,600 in contributions.

Did either senator abstain from voting in favor of SB 134 because of a possible conflict of interests? Don’t be absurd. This is Louisiana where ethics go to die.

Pressley, one of the bill’s co-authors, received $22,100 from nursing home interests during the same time frame and the other co-author, Seabaugh, got $6400 in nursing home campaign contributions.

Riser, who way back in 2014, attempted to reward his friend Edmonson with that generous retirement increase, received another $15,300.

Statewide candidates also got in on the act, though we did not factor in their contributions when giving amounts received by legislators.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry received $20,000 while Gov. Jeff Landry was the recipient of $27,500 in nursing home contributions, Attorney General Liz Murrill got $18,200 and State Treasurer and current congressional candidate John Fleming received $16,500.

So, you see, every action taken in Louisiana politics (and we can only assume elsewhere, as well) has a back story and that story is almost always preceded by dollar signs.

Why do you think the legislature passed that dreadfully draconian CAMRA bill that prohibits citizens from lodging air quality complaints on the basis of readouts from private monitors?

There is only one group on the face of the earth that would benefit from such a detestable piece of legislation: the oil and chemical industry, particularly that 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans affectionately known as CANCER ALLEY.

It’s anyone’s guess how much money the fossil fuel and chemical interests have poured into the campaign coffers of Louisiana’s politicians over the years. The same would go for any state agency with oversight powers over any given industry—such as the LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERCICE COMMISSION and its questionable TIES to utility-related businesses.

So, as we cautiously ease into the upcoming legislative session, you might want to keep one eye on Baton Rouge and most of all, follow the money.