[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6256228,"mediaKeyId","3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a","parentId",3158131,"title","Committee clears bill to allow synthetic nicotine pouches; small-business owner warns law favors big tobacco","audioSeconds",1289,"startMs",3146000,"endMs",4435000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a&start=3146&end=4435","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a/thumbnail_3146000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6256228/Louisiana/Committee-clears-bill-to-allow-synthetic-nicotine-pouches-small-business-owner-warns-law-favors-big-tobacco","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256228-4403ab39968ea807262582f92405621e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770704178&Signature=Ye~C5qFhTzWdpLszmzZDM9O6LNOmLidNwuhQS7FpKy9hPrLvRVTuy8kuYT2G~kgqiXTciGVX5BHw5htHF0dVK3rdDuXdlLkUJ7Cg4doufdfUEecpeBiefYXUnlWPGQ~78rdkLEWcp0Z6KOLoWvBYqndbkGtJmMq~LFoa20qDducZOWYlv~im5fG2g6gAjXYbh4ifV3FWYR-i~cYLZY~imd6CCSlqDi5NkLGbbtrACJCFpcX1EOaLePfkMHRecLRhF808ua3yU8OOMWttHk6BWjqRtI7RIxKoarKLFgeX6~xEME69H4Q2cUJdpVVc2gqB3rTVemTtuajWKp~pSscqjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","BATON ROUGE — The House Judiciary Committee voted to report House Bill 412, a measure from Representative Romero to permit sales of non-tobacco (synthetic) nicotine pouches in Louisiana under regulatory conditions tied to federal review.

Proponents — including company representatives and the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control — told the committee the bill is intended to align state rules with federal regulatory timelines and to allow legitimate manufacturers to compete in the market while state regulators and law enforcement step up enforcement against illicit imports.

Ashley Keane, director of state government affairs for ITG Brands, described the regulatory timeline for synthetic nicotine. She told the committee that Congress clarified FDA jurisdiction over synthetic nicotine in April 2022 and that her company filed a premarket tobacco application in 2022. “We continue to be under review with the Food and Drug Administration,” she said, and asked the committee to allow products in the regulatory queue to be sold here while they undergo FDA review.

Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Leger testified the ATC supported the bill and described the state’s 2023 product directory and the reason the committee had originally adopted a 2020 cutoff tied to FDA guidance. Leger said the amendment and bill changes would allow “a product, a cessation product that would normally meet the requirements, to be included … as a product legally for sale within the state of Louisiana,” and stressed the department’s intent to strengthen enforcement of illicit online sales.

Opposition testimony came from Chad Rogers, a former vape-shop owner who told the committee that regulatory changes in prior years and an excise-tax increase shuttered many small retailers. Rogers said the earlier registry law “did not clean up the industry. It wiped out the people trying to do the right thing.” He argued the committee should avoid creating a pathway that advantages large national manufacturers while small American vapor manufacturers and independent retailers remain disadvantaged.

Committee members pressed industry and regulators on the statute’s dates and the meaning of FDA review. Representative Jordan asked about the April–May 2022 dates; Keane and ATC staff explained the dates reflect the timeline for Congress and FDA jurisdiction and the practical problem that many products remain in a long federal review queue.

Representative Green moved the bill favorably; the committee reported HB412 out without recorded opposition at the Judiciary committee level.

Committee members said they expected additional technical amendments on the House floor to strengthen enforcement, limit illicit imports and clarify online-sale enforcement. The transcript records multiple support cards from trade groups and manufacturers and a single in-person opposition witness.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary Apr 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Judiciary Committee reported HB412 to allow sales of synthetic (non‑tobacco) nicotine pouches in Louisiana under conditions tied to federal review, after supportive industry testimony and an opposition statement from a small-business owner.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6256231,"Judiciary panel advances bill to report noncitizens requesting public assistance to ICE after heated debate",846,1665000,2511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a&start=1665&end=2511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6256231/Louisiana/Judiciary-panel-advances-bill-to-report-noncitizens-requesting-public-assistance-to-ICE-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256231-403771c4857e8ca8e974b87ef2772c5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770704178&Signature=I-y5ISNZ8bh3WwNv~ICG4Fxy0Ug6lRck9zkcKHzLB~u9idZ1wWAhxeXT5WEO5betTDHL3S6hyyzJgdbztx1nFBBYtF2o7sFkah6aKrBpMg3LbRJImPHA1OCTLe8qJfT0nZQhwcaYjgtDJS6cL3Jsy-b6zs1f8Vmsvn93mOvnRxICIvjNkLcENXFPfuoaVPdR7Mm~RurvrleZ8E07wA3XONtzOV3UBsTXPLZihpTGS1g6vXmRG5uY5a-t3Dzq1vJXHagUpNXQi33aFsVj7vkvt~4Z5NMVxpLvrgAfDeioc5dfJcu8qvG4kO18N~MeBdJXc-sm5XMtHidL5rw0NtJSAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana House Judiciary Committee on an otherwise routine morning voted to report House Bill 307, a measure by Representative Henry that would require state agencies and political subdivisions to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when an applicant for public assistance is not a U.S. citizen.

Supporters said the bill merely aligns state practice with federal law and helps the state enforce eligibility rules for public benefits. Opponents and several committee members described the measure as potentially harsh toward vulnerable people and questioned how agencies would determine immigration status in practice.

Representative Henry, the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation would require agencies to report “individuals who seek public assistance that are not citizens of the United States to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.” He also described an adopted amendment that adds the secretary of state to the list of entities covered by the reporting requirement.

Alan Compton, president of FGA Action, testified in favor and told the committee, “Federal law currently prohibits illegal aliens from receiving any federal, state, or local public benefit. And federal law also clearly allows for and encourages, local government, state and local governments to communicate citizenship status or immigration status of individuals with ICE.” He said the measure is consistent with federal limits on benefits and would help Louisiana enforce immigration laws.

Several members pressed the sponsor about scope and consequences. Representative Landry questioned whether the bill would be “cruel” by exposing people seeking help — including pregnant women and very poor households — to federal immigration enforcement. Representative Henry replied the bill does not prescribe what ICE will do after a report and said the requirement would rely on standard eligibility checks; he pointed to the absence of a Social Security number as one common “cue” that an applicant is not eligible.

Committee discussion also noted that some state entities filed white cards rather than testify; representatives said child-welfare and social-services agencies were listed as interested parties but did not speak during the hearing.

On procedure, the committee considered and adopted an amendment requested by the secretary of state to make that office subject to the reporting obligation. A motion to defer the bill was made and then withdrawn; finally, the committee took a roll-call vote on the motion to report the bill favorably with amendments. The clerk recorded 10 yeas and 5 nays, and the chair announced, “Bill is reported favorably.”

The measure drew both organized support and opposition on paper: the Foundation for Government Accountability’s policy arm testified in support, while the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families and the Sierra Club Delta Chapter filed written opposition cards but did not speak during the hearing.

HB307 will next go to the House calendar with the committee’s favorable recommendation and the adopted amendment. The bill text reported out of committee specifies only the reporting requirement and the entities subject to it; it does not set federal enforcement outcomes or penalties for agencies that fail to report.","The House Judiciary Committee voted to report HB307, a bill by Representative Henry that would require state agencies and political subdivisions to report noncitizen applicants for public assistance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after debate and amendment. The measure passed out of committee 10–5 on a roll call.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6256221,"Bills advanced by House Judiciary Committee — votes and outcomes at a glance",0,87000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a&start=87&end=87","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a/thumbnail_87000.jpg","/articles/6256221/Louisiana/Bills-advanced-by-House-Judiciary-Committee-votes-and-outcomes-at-a-glance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256221-e81fa0a2d3b86911a1f35deee5249ca7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770704178&Signature=hI4AIgyzd8oA-T~-m~-Apgv0sZJ1WvaCiOETaYnpUECyNISo-EoDJbS3nKLZnnSC0-NXlw1-qjIY-GvelSmjLpJgl3~~S2q~~Ur8KUKq0Bc~bTkZoT9ktgkfbRBO3xqHuO1bU4YXc6vYUM7prnTVaMPpgPiuNn5GheRSfHqDl3E6C5qN3ZkXPHIpIzaKIRyqH2NkfxikenvkmVekUshRQNDez5yVM2KUfE59NDHTPqNLx7f2Iy8EToCBqNyUZiwByGwP-lfO-PII7fjotwbymrXMWxIxOTeAj72iI-DEw5u7nlqyfRYW1ano8e239OVkjVgz2TIfeE8B68N2j54fHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BATON ROUGE — Below is a concise list of bills the House Judiciary Committee considered during the recorded session and the committee’s disposition as shown in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- HB 80 (Representative DeWitt): Classify utility linemen/utility workers as first responders. Committee action: moved forward by unanimous consent (no objection). Notes: sponsor emphasized quicker power restoration for hospitals, dialysis centers and residences that rely on oxygen machines.

- HB 273 (Representative Spell): Establish the official state children’s Christmas book (Cajun Night Before Christmas). Committee action: reported favorably with adopted amendments. Notes: sponsor and the publisher emphasized cultural significance; governor’s office indicated support.

- HB 26 (Representative Weibel): Expand Washington Parish fair holiday days. Committee action: reported favorably (no objection).

- HB 113 (Representative Weibel): Sales of alcoholic beverages in Washington Parish (local bill). Committee action: reported favorably (no objection).

- HB 563 (Representative Lacombe): Changes affecting manufacturers and brewers, including provisions to allow certain on-premise sellers to participate in farmers markets with notice to ATC. Committee action: reported favorably with amendments; stakeholders (Brewers Guild, Beer Industry League) testified in support.

- HB 307 (Representative Henry): Require agencies to report noncitizen applicants for public assistance to ICE. Committee action: reported favorably after roll-call (10 yeas, 5 nays); amendment added secretary of state as a reporting entity. Notes: contentious; organized support from FGA Action and written opposition from child-welfare and environmental groups.

- HB 212 (Representative Orgeron): Container-size technical corrections for high‑alcohol beverages (adds small-pack sizes and clarifies exceptions). Committee action: reported favorably with amendments.

- HB 134 (local marshal bill, Representative Green): Allow marshal to use designated salary account to pay reserve deputies for special events. Committee action: reported favorably (no objection).

- HB 412 (Representative Romero): Allow non‑tobacco (synthetic) nicotine pouches under conditions tied to federal review. Committee action: reported favorably; committee signaled further enforcement-focused amendments expected on the floor. Notes: industry and ATC support; opposition from a small vape-shop owner.

- HB 96 (Representative Knox): Add the U.S. Space Force to statutory definitions of the U.S. Armed Forces. Committee action: reported favorably (no objection).

Summary notes

- The committee processed a mix of noncontroversial local and technical bills by unanimous consent or without objection. The most contested item was HB307, which drew extended questioning and a recorded roll-call. HB412 drew industry and small-business testimony and will be accompanied by further enforcement-focused amendments.

- Where the transcript records a roll-call, the counts are reproduced above. For bills advanced by unanimous consent or without roll call, the committee chair announced the outcome in the transcript.","A roundup of bills the Louisiana House Judiciary Committee acted on during the session covered in the transcript, showing motions, committee outcomes and brief notes on each item.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":92,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":94,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6256225,"Committee advances bill to deem utility linemen first responders to speed disaster response",399,486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158131-e0d7e17074299aa8975850b1f2d9031a&start=87&end=486","/articles/6256225/Louisiana/Committee-advances-bill-to-deem-utility-linemen-first-responders-to-speed-disaster-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256225-ba3d00cffb19e2b6e50cf72a9a709ccd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770704178&Signature=fc5SO-0C0HvBEJaNJYYl8DgDQb9heq4V~lotTu8vBZfDHYrgzUeIFp6AFsZhWX9t49E~OwXBo4cGJCzux9k-tMTGZxDpbXJ7yUr7GpTV4I3vUkVLcstVIcQIDL4KO9OX3qs4Fm3BjEIbSy1Bf15soNL358JLzBFPDQJzqCtLgbbgbC8ZygiYMKvqR0dbxGM~3TNJjrSi666DPztHwGrSn~y9GqA5Mhn7tu1XjiaPrbPYHDspyc8VOwPagGKUHxrGR8H9YbS~aE4MY~GyM8dNmDS1CxiyrqxxVRSJx-JORhOEQEaxGlYADeC-LNJ4QFTKVCRtZSH67AvY98eOF0J6lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BATON ROUGE — Lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee moved forward House Bill 80, a measure by Representative DeWitt that would designate utility workers — commonly referred to as linemen — as first responders so they can be integrated into emergency incident-command systems and gain priority access during declared disasters.

Representative DeWitt told the committee the change is intended to ensure crews can restore power quickly to hospitals, dialysis centers and residences that rely on oxygen machines. “Basically what this does is get these guys in the incident command system,” DeWitt said, adding that several other states have enacted similar statutes after hurricanes and other disasters.

Supporters appeared on the record without opposition. A witness who identified herself as Ms. Haney thanked the utility companies and said many linemen are local and perform dangerous work during storms. Representative Wiley said the bill recognizes the danger utility workers face and will prevent them from becoming delayed in traffic.

After brief discussion and public testimony indicating industry support, the committee asked if there were objections to moving the bill forward; the chair said there was “no objection,” and the bill was advanced to the next stage.

The transcript records no amendments to HB80 and no roll-call vote in committee; the chair announced the bill was moved forward by unanimous consent.","House Bill 80, carried by Representative DeWitt, would classify utility workers such as linemen as first responders to give them priority access in declared emergencies and integrate them into incident command systems. The Judiciary Committee moved the bill forward without objection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee clears bill to allow synthetic nicotine pouches; small-business owner warns law favors big tobacco

Judiciary panel advances bill to report noncitizens requesting public assistance to ICE after heated debate

Bills advanced by House Judiciary Committee — votes and outcomes at a glance

Committee advances bill to deem utility linemen first responders to speed disaster response