Latest news with #EmilyChenevert
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding issues delay City of St. George school district creation bill
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Plans to create a new school district for the City of St. George were delayed after the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) raised objections, prompting lawmakers to defer the bill. Senate Bills 25 and 234, authored by Sen. Rick Edmonds and Rep. Emily Chenevert, seek to allow St. George to break away and form its own school district. The board said it doesn't oppose voters having a say. However, members worry that the current bills would put 'unfair burdens' on the school system. At the heart of the board's opposition is a $360 million unfunded liability for retiree health and life insurance benefits. The resolution states that SB 234 doesn't clearly explain how to manage this debt if the new district forms. This leaves EBRPSS with all the financial responsibility. The resolution also criticizes a part of SB 234. This part would let students from the new St. George district access EBR magnet programs forever. Board members say this would reduce chances for EBR students. Many magnet programs already have long waiting lists. In the resolution, the board said this bill would lock in an unequal system and take control away from both districts. It passed during a special meeting Monday night. On Tuesday, Edmonds asked the House Education Committee to temporarily defer consideration of SB 234. SB 25, which passed 8-2 in committee, suggests a constitutional change to fund the new district. However, the board wants lawmakers to delay both bills until they amend SB 234 to address their concerns. The resolution tells the board's general counsel to send copies to all members of the East Baton Rouge legislative delegation as the bills go to debate in the House. Lifeguard shortage delays opening of Liberty Lagoon New Hampshire bakery wins free speech case over a painting of doughnuts, pastries NOAA predicts above average 2025 hurricane season: How many storms US could see Baton Rouge youth choir talks about going viral, new album releasing this summer SCHEDULE | Race day for the Indianapolis 500 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House bill seeks to eliminate DEI programs in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Louisiana House Committee will debate a bill to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs inside state government. House Bill 421, from State Rep. Emily Chenevert, abolishes all DEI programs, offices, positions, and employee performance requirements. The bill would also require state agency heads to submit a written report to the Commissioner of Administration at the end of the year outlining what actions they've taken to comply with the proposed law. In turn, the Commissioner of Administration will have until February 2026 to submit a report to lawmakers detailing what's been discovered and provide any recommendations regarding DEI. Louisiana bill proposes penalties for officials hindering immigration enforcement The House Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
