The Louisiana Legislature wrapped up the 2019 session last week failing women and families yet again. Here’s a rundown of what these lawmakers rejected and what they passed.

Economic Justice

Lawmakers failed to make progress on the minimum wage, paid leave, equal pay for women and a host of other issues that would have helped women, workers, and families.

This has been a really difficult week, not just in Louisiana, but in the nation. Georgia, Alabama and Missouri all passed extreme abortion bans. Not to be outdone, Louisiana moved forward with it's own version of a six week abortion ban, with no exceptions for rape or incest. SB 184 passed the House Health and Welfare Committee with no objections. Find out what you need to know about Louisiana's Six Week Abortion Ban. 

This week, the Louisiana legislature moved forward some important proposals, including SCR 2 to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Committees also advanced SB 155, a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide on raising the minimum wage to $9.00/hour, and SB 136, which would end pay secrecy to ensure fair pay for women. All these bills now head to the full Senate and your Senator needs to hear from you! 

Louisiana lawmakers have an opportunity to vote to exempt diapers and feminine hygiene products from state and local sales and use taxes. Louisiana leads the nation in single-family households, children in poverty and single family households led by women. Ending this tax would save families $6.4M and females $3.2M each year.

We already exempt necessities such as food, residential utilities, and prescription drugs - so this tax exemption on products that women and babies need for their health and well-being is, just simply, the right thing to do!