Temporary sales tax could be extended, detoured to Louisiana road construction

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana state senator has attached an amendment to an unrelated bill, calling for extending a sales tax that’s scheduled to expire in 2025 and dedicating the money to road and bridge construction.

House Bill 514 in its original form called for establishing taxes on raw marijuana smoked for medicinal use. The money would be dedicated to road construction, early childhood education and the board that oversees legal representation for defendants who can’t afford to hire attorneys.

Raw marijuana is not part of the state’s therapeutic marijuana program, though a separate bill pending in the Senate would change that.

Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, amended the bill Wednesday to halt the scheduled 2025 expiration of a 0.45% sales tax established in 2018 to stabilize the state’s budget. Over three years, an increasing portion of the money would be redirected from the state general fund into a fund dedicated to roads and bridges until all of the proceeds are going into the latter fund, with 75% going to major projects and 25% for maintenance.

Ward said the change could raise about $370 million for infrastructure once the full amount is dedicated.

“We promised the people we were going to roll it off,” said Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, a New Orleans Democrat who objected to the amendment and described the sales tax as “regressive,” meaning it imposes a greater burden on low-income consumers.

Ward said he didn’t make that promise. He said lawmakers need to wean themselves off using the sales tax for general spending and described the extension as a way to address infrastructure needs that legislators always can end later.

“Give it a chance,” Ward asked his colleagues.

The amendment was approved with a 27-10 vote. The bill was sent to the Senate Finance committee to discuss the fiscal implications of the change.

In other legislative action Wednesday:

• The House gave final passage to Senate Bill 34, which would require the state’s Council on Peace Officer Standings and Training to develop and implement curriculum about the duty to intervene by Jan. 1. Also by the beginning of next year, law enforcement agencies that use body cameras would be required to create specific policies to govern when the cameras should be on or off. Dashboard vehicle cameras would have to be activated when officers turn on their emergency lights.

Choke holds would be prohibited “except when the officer reasonably believes he or another person is at risk of great bodily harm or when deadly force is authorized.” Executing a search warrant without knocking generally would be allowed only during the day, with a district court judge’s approval and “where the surprise of a no-knock entry is necessary to protect life and limb of the law enforcement officers and the occupants.”

• The Senate passed House Bill 286, which calls for extending the in-person early voting period for presidential elections from seven to 11 days.

• The Senate approved House Bill 219, which provides for delivery of pre-mixed, ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages from restaurants.

• The House approved Senate Bill 124, which requires playing the national anthem before sporting events at facilities paid for wholly or in part by state government. The bill does not include an enforcement mechanism or penalties.

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