Latest news with #Chenevert
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana House passes bill that would eliminate DEI programs
BATON ROUGE, La. (LSU Manship School News Service) – The Louisiana House Monday night passed a controversial bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion offices, training and hiring policies in state agencies and public colleges. The bill passed 57-32 after an emotional and deeply divided debate that largely fell along racial lines. House Bill 685, by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, now moves to the Senate. It is part of Gov. Jeff Landry's legislative agenda. Ten Black representatives spoke in opposition to the bill, calling it divisive, unnecessary, and racially insensitive. 'This is the most racially oppressive piece of legislation I have ever had to debate since I have been in office,' said Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans. The bill would ban mandatory DEI training and race- or gender-based hiring or admissions preferences. It also would eliminate public DEI offices and initiatives, including prohibiting required DEI coursework at public universities. As Trump targets DEI, Republican-led states intensify efforts to stamp it out Chenevert said the bill aims to keep Louisiana compliant with President Donald Trump's executive orders and protect the state's federal funding. The Trump administration is investigating several universities nationwide, though Louisiana universities have not been targeted so far. She stressed the bill does not ban teaching DEI concepts, only the requirement of DEI-focused coursework for graduation. She also raised concerns about fairness in sports. 'My biggest concern is that it has hurt more female athletes across this country than it has helped,' she said. 'Biological men have taken the places of biological women.' Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, called the bill 'a step backwards' and accused Chenevert of ignoring the benefits DEI programs have provided, especially for white women. 'Are you aware that more white women, like you, have benefitted from DEI than whoever you're referring to?' Marcelle said. 'If we had equal opportunity to be at the table, there would be no need for the program.' She added she was appalled a woman would bring this bill. Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, sworn in just hours before the vote, said voters he spoke to during his campaign were not focused on DEI. 'They're worried about schooling for their children, the economy, state issues,' he said. 'This bill is unnecessary.' Rep. Rodney Lyons, D-Harvey, questioned the bill's economic impact, particularly the elimination of the Department of Agriculture's Minority Affairs Program, which supports minority and veteran farmers, a large portion of the state's agricultural community. Marcelle also warned the bill could interfere with police training on race and community relations. Supporters said the legislation promotes unity and merit. 'I keep hearing diversity is what makes us strong, but it is not,' said Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, defending Chenevert. 'What makes us strong is unity… There's only one race, and it's human.' Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Rosepine, expressed his frustration with the debate. 'I see us talking past each other,' he said. 'I hear us talking past each other.' The bill requires annual compliance reports and tasks the legislative auditor with enforcement. An accompanying fiscal note projects minor cost savings, including $174,000 from cutting the Agriculture Department's DEI office. If passed by the Senate and signed into law, Louisiana would join a growing number of Republican-led states rolling back public DEI policies. Chenevert became emotional in her closing remarks, saying everyone views the issue differently. She framed her perspective from a biblical viewpoint, emphasizing that no matter our skin tone, 'we all share the same blood.' Americans are divided over DEI programs on college campuses, an AP-NORC poll finds Trump administration set to limit COVID-19 shot approvals to the elderly, highest-risk New Orleans jail worker accused of helping inmates escape is arrested Trump pitch fails to move GOP holdouts on agenda megabill Louisiana House passes bill that would eliminate DEI programs Hannah Kobayashi speaks out after disappearance, father's death Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Needlessly divisive': Louisiana advances anti-DEI policy despite Black Caucus pushback
Democratic lawmakers stand together to oppose Rep. Emily Chenevert's House Bill 685 (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill Monday that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices across state government and prohibit state universities and colleges from requiring certain race and gender-based curriculum for undergraduate students. House Bill 685 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, advanced from the House on a 57-32 vote, narrowly clearing the 53-vote threshold for passage. Sixteen members, including several moderate Democrats and Republicans, were absent for the vote. In an unusual move, every Democratic lawmaker present stood together in solidarity behind the House floor lectern, while nearly every Black lawmaker took turns making speeches against the bill. 'To me, this is an anti-Black bill,' Rep. Edmond Jordan of Baton Rouge said. 'It's not just divisive. It's offensive.' 'This is the most racially oppressive piece of legislation that I think I've seen,' Rep. Candace Newell of New Orleans said. Republican Reps. Beth Billings of Deshrehan, Vincent Cox of Gretna and Jeff Wiley of Maurepas joined Democrats in opposing the bill. 'It was needlessly divisive,' Billings said in an interview when asked why she opposed the bill. In tearful comments after the speeches, Chenevert said her bill is not racist. 'This is not divisive,' Chenevert said. 'This is protecting every Louisianian. This is about equality for all.' Chenevert's bill has been dramatically rewritten from her original legislation, which only banned DEI practices in state government. As is, the bill would prohibit required classes that cover any of the following subjects: Critical race theory White fragility or white guilt Systemic racism, institutional racism or anti-racism Systemic bias or implicit bias Intersectionality Gender identity Allyship Race-based reparations Race-based privilege Amendments added to the bill on the House floor would allow any of the subjects to be taught if it is 'included at the discretion of the faculty member, is not prescribed by the institution as a program requirement, and is part of a broader pedagogical objective.' Opponents of the bill said even with the amendments, the legislation could have a chilling effect on faculty's academic freedom and freedom of speech. The bill also makes an exception for majors, minors and certificates that are specifically related to race or gender studies. The Louisiana chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a letter to lawmakers Monday asking them to oppose the bill. 'This legislation would stifle the 'marketplace of ideas' and infantilize our students, forcing faculty to avoid concepts the legislature dislikes and presenting only those that have gained their favor,' the letter reads. 'This is antithetical to freedom in a democratic society and hurts our students as they transition into fully enfranchised citizens.' The Southern University Foundation, which is affiliated with Louisiana's largest historically Black university, also opposes the bill. Chenevert's bill will next be discussed in a Senate committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana colleges could be prohibited from requiring race, gender classes
Rep. Emily Chenevert presented her bill to the Senate Education Committee on May 15, 2024. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator) A Louisiana legislative committee has dramatically rewritten an anti-DEI policy proposal for state agencies that would now prohibit schools from requiring certain race and gender-based curriculum for undergraduate students. The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a substantially re-written version of House Bill 421 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, which would prohibit compulsory classes that cover any of the following subjects: Critical race theory White fragility or white guilt Systemic racism, institutional racism or anti-racism Systemic bias, implicit bias or unconscious bias Intersectionality Gender identity Allyship Race-based reparations Race-based privilege The use of pronouns Courses that include these topics could still be taught, but the classes could not be required for graduation. The bill makes an exception for majors, minors and certificates that are specifically related to race or gender studies. In its original state, Chenevert's bill would have prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion practices in state agencies, but an amendment made public late Wednesday night drastically re-wrote the bill, focusing it on college and university curriculum in addition to forbidding DEI trainings. Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, objected to Chenevert putting forward major and controversial changes to the bill with little notice. Committee members voted 10-6 to advance the proposal. Contacted for his reaction after the vote, LSU Faculty Senate President Dan Tirone said the measure would restrict subject matter experts from determining what topics are necessary for students to learn, though he said he appreciates the bill does not place a blanket ban on those subjects. 'Having state statutes which limit what can be taught in many of the mandatory introductory courses across a wide array of fields … seems to be the imposition of a bureaucratic process which will diminish the ability to adequately prepare our students and substitute policymaker preferences for the professional expertise of our professors and instructors,' Tirone said in a statement. Opponents of Chenevert's revised bill include the Southern University Foundation, the NAACP Baton Rouge chapter, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Louisiana Democratic Party. 'It's been a known fact that there have been pervasive instances of racial and gender discrimination in our state and nation,' Louisiana Democratic Party chairman Randal Gaines said. 'Those particular consequences have not been eliminated. So DEI programs not only help to remedy those consequences, but they make sure that they're not repeated.' Conservative groups supporting the bill include the Foundation for Government Accountability and the Louisiana Family Forum. Chenevert told committee members that Gov. Jeff Landry supports the legislation. While Chenevert said she believes her bill promotes equality and eliminating bias, Black lawmakers on the committee raised concerns with eliminating practices they view as necessary. 'I've only been able to get jobs in government agencies because they were forced to see me, they were forced to give me an opportunity,' Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, said. 'Because with my three degrees, I still was not given opportunity based on my merit because the color of my skin, and the gender that I was born kept me out of those places.' Marcelle also expressed concern that the bill's language could prohibit law enforcement from receiving racial bias recognition training. Chenevert said she did not believe the bill would prohibit that training, but she indicated she was open to amendments that would clarify that. As it reads now, the legislation would prohibit any training, policies or procedures 'designed in reference to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.' Last year, Chenevert sponsored legislation to require K-12 schools, colleges and universities to issue reports to the legislature on their DEI spending. Schools at all levels reported minimal expenditures on DEI activities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Charge upgraded for man accused of Denham Springs hit-and-run crash after woman dies
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man accused of a Denham Springs hit-and-run that claimed the life of 20-year-old Jody Mann has been booked into jail again on a new charge. Mann was struck and killed in March while walking home from a friend's house along Louisiana Highway 1023, just south of Highway 63. Suspected driver Brandon Chenevert, 30, was reportedly seen on surveillance footage returning to the scene. He was initially arrested on April 2 and released on bond the following day. Jail records show Chenevert was re-booked on Monday and is now facing a charge of negligent homicide. Authorities say he also faces several other charges, including felony hit-and-run and obstruction of justice. Court records reveal a lengthy criminal history for Chenevert, with prior charges dating back to 2014. His record includes offenses such as careless operation of a vehicle, driving while intoxicated, and simple assault. 72-year-old man dead after being hit by two cars in Baton Rouge, state police say Trump, first lady to attend Pope Francis funeral Student loans in default will be sent to debt collection, education officials say Charge upgraded for man accused of Denham Springs hit-and-run crash after woman dies Livingston Parish councilman apologizes after DWI arrest: 'I made a serious mistake' US flags to fly at half-staff for Pope Francis Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana lawmakers dissect personal injury laws as attorney-legislators protest
Getty Images House lawmakers advanced six bills targeting personal injury lawsuits Tuesday in the opening salvo of the Louisiana Legislature's ongoing debate over high insurance rates. 'I guess we can say this is opening day, and here's your first pitch,' Rep. Jay Gallé, R-Mandeville, said to the House Civil Law Committee while presenting one of six so-called tort reform bills the committee considered Tuesday. Out of the six bills, one of the most hotly contested would limit the ability for people to recover damages for injuries sustained in accidents for which they are mostly at fault. House Bill 431 sponsored by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, cleared the committee in an 11-4 vote along party lines. Her bill would change Louisiana's comparative fault statute, which assigns a percentage of blame to each party in an accident and allows for the recovery of damages in proportion with those percentages. The statute often arises in cases that involve multiple negligent acts by multiple people, some more to blame than others. In theory, someone partly at fault for an accident can potentially recover some of the awarded damages. Chenevert's bill would change that to prohibit any amount of recovery by a party who's 51% or more at fault. 'You should not be able to collect if the accident is mostly your fault,' Chenevert said. 'I would say that's common sense. Should we reward negligence?' But Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, pointed out that the bill only modifies comparative fault on the plaintiff's side and not the defendant's. As a result, a defendant would still be protected by the liability proportions. 'There's a double standard here that the plaintiff is going to get zeroes if he's 51% at fault, and the defendant is only gonna pay 51% if he's 51% at fault,' said Brown, who is an attorney. '… The plaintiff is more imperiled than the defendant.' Chenevert said 34 other states have a version of the law. The committee similarly advanced House Bill 34, sponsored by Rep. Brian Glorioso, R-Slidell, in a 11-3 vote. His measure would change state law to allow any party to introduce evidence related to medical expenses. Currently, the law prevents juries from seeing what accident victims actually pay for medical treatment and only allows them to see what a doctor billed. In many instances, however, medical providers don't actually receive the full amounts that they bill. At other times, Glorioso said, some lawyers work with doctors who inflate their medical billings just to get an increased payout. Glorioso's bill would limit a claimant's recovery of medical expenses to 'reasonable' amounts, which would be left for a judge or jury to decide. 'Let's let the jury see all of the evidence,' he said. 'Let's not blindfold them and just let them see one side.' Brown countered, saying defendants get to hide details from jurors, such as whether insurance coverage is available for injuries a victim claims. He said he supports leveling the playing field between plaintiffs and insurance companies. The committee saw Republicans prevail in another vote on House Bill 443, sponsored by Rep. Chance Henry, R-Crowley. His bill would require plaintiffs to notify defendants of an intent to file a lawsuit within 10 days of retaining a lawyer. Currently, plaintiffs' lawyers can gather evidence and prepare for a lawsuit for almost two full years before a defendant is even aware a suit is coming. Henry said his bill would give a defendant the same amount of time to prepare for a claim as a plaintiff.. Democrats on the committee said if plaintiffs will be required to provide such a notice, then defendants should at least be required to respond to that notice with similar information – such as contact information for the insurance company's lawyer and claims adjuster. Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, said many of the insurance companies he deals with in his law practice won't return calls or even provide email addresses for anyone at the company. Rep. Nick Muscarello, R-Hammond, questioned how the requirement would even be enforced and encouraged Henry to work with the concerned lawmakers on potential amendments before the bill is debated on the House floor. Henry said he would. House Bill 434, sponsored by Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Alexandria, advanced to the floor in an 11-2 vote but saw no debate. The proposal would limit bodily injury claims by plaintiffs who did not carry auto insurance at the time of the accident. It also would forbid uninsured plaintiffs' recovery on the first $100,000 worth of damages. Other bills the committee advanced include House Bill 450, sponsored by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, and House Bill 291, sponsored by Gallé. Melerine's bill would end the Housley presumption, a standard of evidence explained in a 1991 Louisiana Supreme Court ruling that applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and other injury lawsuits. In a nutshell, the Housley presumption says courts should assume a plaintiff's injuries resulted from the accident in question if they were in good health beforehand. Lawmakers have tried repeatedly to revoke Housley, but those attempts either failed or were vetoed in previous years. This year is expected to be different as Gov. Jeff Landry recently signaled support for the measure. Gallé's bill would extend the filing deadline, called a 'prescriptive period,' for wrongful death lawsuits from one year to two, aligning Louisiana with the deadline found in most other states. Proponents of the bill have argued that a shorter prescriptive period attracts more frivolous lawsuits by essentially forcing people to quickly file claims so as to not lose their litigation rights. The proposal also complements a similar measure lawmakers approved last year to extend the deadline for filing personal injury claims. The committee quickly advanced both bills without objection. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
