[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6256184,"mediaKeyId","3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07","parentId",3158076,"title","Committee holds confirmation hearings for board, corrections and public‑safety nominees","audioSeconds",1404,"startMs",7225000,"endMs",8629000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07&start=7225&end=8629","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07/thumbnail_7225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6256184/Louisiana/Committee-holds-confirmation-hearings-for-board-corrections-and-publicsafety-nominees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256184-9334bbbad478e2c7ebe3a941c17eb11a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102190&Signature=loX~VHMioZz2wj1knMd4Ziv5qL67ESWYmCxusXde8ygIZxHeh-BhhO4FLCDfjhCgVlR8RdftOQXkns6MGbWdF91EH2I9pxkc9Tx6YRv4G2wAV1Ki2kuxGgjG1iR7FhWUKdocFP-8WDEshe7LTxxcpsCKUNEhS9aYtfehwZMCjlLjKzKR3oC6HjNkxdQxk6t3k0pWNqghMfMT3lurtyi7s1R7Yi3GZzZJOBtGXZGgO0g-zfm~P4gdXC6yHUWiPFZJUZwJYGWmYwPKg-CvDx7KH-IsrSVbQC1XSu9PUbpBD55HnlgKfE4hcMDNj7EVOj6WtFoNl673C-zlnkTus4wWSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 30 conducted confirmation hearings for multiple gubernatorial nominees, including candidates for the State Board of Ethics and senior posts at the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Board of Ethics nominees introduced themselves early in the panel. Jason Amato described 36 years in industry and prior service as a St. James Parish councilman; Ricky Nowen (Nowlan in the hearing) described elected experience as Natchitoches Parish president and a professional background as a licensed electrical engineer; and Judge Vanessa Guidry Whipple summarized three decades on the appellate bench and prior service on the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana. Each described public‑sector experience and pledged to be accessible and to treat matters impartially.

The committee then heard nominees for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Derek Ellis, who returned from retirement to rejoin corrections leadership, outlined 30 years of corrections experience including senior operational roles in probation and parole and prison operations. Gary Westcott, serving as secretary, described a lengthy corrections career that includes National Guard service, regional administration and later work as a jail warden; he told senators that staffing retention, facility vacancies and program alignment were top priorities.

Other nominees included Renee Deluche, a career probation and parole professional detailed to the assistant secretary role, and Dale “Ed” Branch, who described a career at the State Fire Marshal’s Office and promised accountability and availability if confirmed. Nominees generally said they had consulted their home senators and provided brief biographical summaries when asked.

Committee members thanked the nominees for their service and asked procedural and policy questions on staffing, overdetention, transfers and departmental management. Several senators emphasized the importance of responsiveness to legislators’ requests and to managing vacancies and inmate records; nominees described staffing pressures, vacancy counts in prisons, and steps to improve calculations and data sharing.

No formal confirmation votes are recorded in the transcript for these nominees during the hearing; the committee indicated it would follow up and be in touch with the nominees.

Ending: The committee completed the hearings and will notify nominees of next steps; senators and nominees emphasized open lines of communication on transfers, staffing and operational issues.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate & Governmental Apr 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 30 conducted confirmation hearings for nominees to the State Board of Ethics and leadership positions in public safety and corrections, hearing biographical statements and questions from senators.","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},6256189,"Committee approves Senate confirmation requirement for Port of New Orleans commissioners",150,136000,286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07&start=136&end=286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6256189/Louisiana/Committee-approves-Senate-confirmation-requirement-for-Port-of-New-Orleans-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256189-0dee2dbc57208c7cc74bb45a6913b4e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102190&Signature=FHeHVuJIYD4Xph6zdfdCQA3pH3fpPQVQV4tlLfzI80NaCeqhLOvOCXOPg6drIj-~i5WhQmfRw74UMmhThjr43X03VNOz509nxNv3VZl10~5hkG~9~AUFUzFojtFEX8exT~JM8SVabh0IUmUEbru9tVFheX69P9GdPZsmnwXb0iek1xvup7yYCBVkU5xk-EYyaN5UmZq9Z3XGhxIhMfhga~mb1FAjG2-JO8JRvkZb2SO4YcUkfUyPHhdiaPU1~up3JWZdyv700xcZT9rcNWWl8TkR3sC5oiMVjT6wENlfFKpSG7fmd-08GDYsNAJfzIKsgo~NzojNx~TvgbqWEIRN7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 30 heard testimony on Senate Bill 89, a measure by Sen. Buie that would require the members of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans to be confirmed by the state Senate. Committee members voted to report the bill favorably.

Sen. Buie described SB 89 as a cleanup measure to place the Port of New Orleans on parity with the other deep‑water ports in Louisiana, explaining that several other ports already require Senate confirmation. “All it simply does is to provide for the members of the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans the same senate confirmation process that all of the other deep water ports in the state has,” Buie said.

Committee members voiced support for increased legislative oversight of an entity many described as a statewide economic engine. Sen. Miller moved to report the bill favorably; the motion carried without extended debate.

A green card in support was filed by a representative of Louisiana Citizen Advocacy, though the witness was not present to speak. The bill was reported favorably and will proceed through the legislative process.

Ending: The committee approved a favorable report for SB 89 after brief discussion noting parity with other ports and the port’s statewide economic significance.

","Senate Bill 89 would subject members of the Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners to Senate confirmation, bringing the port in line with other deep‑water ports in the state. The committee reported the measure favorably after brief discussion.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6256193,"Committee endorses bill to ban wagering on elections in Louisiana",123,329000,452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07&start=329&end=452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07/thumbnail_329000.jpg","/articles/6256193/Louisiana/Committee-endorses-bill-to-ban-wagering-on-elections-in-Louisiana","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256193-4f78ea1eb8a0f2d3b493250f8eeb0238/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102191&Signature=SHhAJhzIPW~ipDhq8k2kb9Ki-MZPBHQ~dC8UwnzEXcsQVvC175eVlp-rpZWmxuh2AHfK75zvpmF1v07DIiRRqaCdPq4WBTG6JmU-cSayF~PhvIxN7al2YgaZJ3ZXmgolpt6LXDLjP1lqykm4vDahiDu0rienMW2RH2xtl1Q~l5AoV~eeBStRo254jynJIwOuR95FBj3PSRNglAEDeirL5b-0Y4alkYkel5xvE-zy9ENjc8IjZA7E~uE3nRK~402ihB9pqPIEdVpB9IM4~V8dtfeceUs7etjf2QcypxDXz9XZVemyqdtZNUl6MTMzfOnbkg2fsdElPuiBru9G8Yxryw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 30 reported Senate Bill 90 favorably. The bill, carried in committee by Secretary of State Nancy Landry and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Edmonds, would codify a statewide prohibition on wagering on elections into the state election‑offenses statute.

Landry told the committee that 31 states already have statutes banning or restricting wagering on election outcomes and that online platforms have made placing bets on contests easier. “My concern stems from the lengths people will go to ensure a a certain financial outcome incentivizing bad actors or actions,” Landry said, explaining that the state already bars election staff from wagering and that a statewide ban closes a potential loophole.

Committee members signaled support. Sen. Womack moved to report the bill favorably and there were no objections. Witnesses filed green cards in support from industry representatives and civic groups; some firms listed their support but did not ask to speak.

What’s next: SB 90 is reported out of committee and would continue through the legislative process if brought to the full Senate.

Ending: Supporters framed the measure as part of a broader voter‑protection package; the committee advanced the bill without formal dissent.

","The committee advanced SB 90, authored by Sen. Edmonds and carried by Secretary of State Nancy Landry, to prohibit wagering on elections statewide. The bill was reported favorably with no objections from committee members and drew support from the secretary of state and several organizations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6256198,"Senate committee advances constitutional change to let Legislature add unclassified state jobs",6188,693000,6881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07&start=693&end=6881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3158076-d6c0cca6a21b1bea1eea60eedee61a07/thumbnail_693000.jpg","/articles/6256198/Louisiana/Senate-committee-advances-constitutional-change-to-let-Legislature-add-unclassified-state-jobs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6256198-28a8069fccc03625f60600dc73d33e6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102191&Signature=a0ooxDrfLiIO55tM7ZqC5rbdj8tMAtVFSTXwfrTbznZVO5wwFr-mT1ForHed5iPeT1dZu3vZd4Ddm15DwPb5TZHX2x3NRFiODQCbQAnrx2erccM6h0XFOxb-pxF5pCZwj5I3qJEvJRr12hwoumS3jIZqio3kO3smNpDF-rrDYrOrQWu084iHY~2eW1r4iSu13oSQtQvFamzkg5ehtAw1sQ5~9WAfaRfQ5IyexHXxQuvm1anFSn~nMQkKqgiO9Xe5lFe4K~YtLpugi7aoL~U5fvjKKo7qstj1wCmjIPJOj8KPC4CAeF~r7ZdpGcFPGP37FNYMRWGA7d58DowIEYR5ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 30 reported favorably on Senate Bill 8, a proposed constitutional amendment by Sen. Morris that would allow the Legislature to add positions to the state’s unclassified service by statute. The committee vote on the motion to report the bill with amendments was 5 in favor and 2 opposed.

The amendment adopted in committee removes proposed changes to the composition of the State Civil Service Commission and instead focuses on giving the Legislature authority by law to designate officers, positions or employees as unclassified and to make those placements removable only by the Legislature.

Supporters, led by Sen. Morris, said the change is aimed at increasing government efficiency and giving the state more flexibility to recruit specialized workers. “I’m proposing that the legislature has the ability to pass laws to, declassify employees if it so chooses,” Morris said during committee discussion. Morris and other proponents pointed to reforms in other states and argued the constitution currently prevents the Legislature from making such statutory changes.

Opponents and dozens of public witnesses urged caution. Douglas Bordelon, a long‑time state employee and human‑resources practitioner, warned the measure “may achieve its short term goal of increasing administrative flexibility, but it would also likely be disastrous for public servants and for the public sector.” Steven Procopio of the Public Affairs Research Council and other witnesses urged a comprehensive study and a clear implementation plan modeled on other states’ multi‑step reforms. “We support civil service reform. We’d like to work with you on that,” Barry Irwin of Leaders for Better Louisiana said, while urging more groundwork before a constitutional change.

Multiple witnesses described existing protections and processes under Louisiana State Civil Service. Adrienne Bordelon, who served as general counsel for state civil service, noted current counts and practical distinctions: “There are currently approximately 39,000 classified employees in the state of Louisiana. There are approximately 26,000 unclassified employees, for which 22,000 are in higher education.” She added that moving a job to the unclassified service would remove statutory minimum‑qualification requirements for that job.

State Civil Service Director Byron Decoteau told the committee the bill would permit the Legislature to carve out positions that are currently classified: “It opens up the ability to have the legislature, by law, create positions that are going to be in the unclassified service or basically say these positions in the classified service are now gonna be unclassified.” Decoteau and several witnesses emphasized the budgetary and management implications of creating large numbers of unclassified jobs, noting the potential cost of higher pay and the administrative burden of pay hearings.

Committee members pressed both sides on practical consequences and next steps. Some, including Sen. Jenkins, said the proposal needs broader study of pay, hiring, discipline and due‑process issues before being presented to voters. Sen. Morris said the constitutional language is necessary to allow the Legislature to act and that statutory safeguards could be added later.

The committee adopted Amendment 899 to remove language changing the commission’s composition and to clarify that the Legislature may, by specific law, place officers, positions or employees in the unclassified service and that those placements may not be revoked by the commission but only by legislative action. The committee then voted to report the bill favorably with the amendment; the roll call recorded five yes votes and two no votes.

What’s next: The bill is reported out of committee with amendments and would follow the normal legislative path for a constitutional amendment (passage by the Legislature and approval by voters if it continues to advance). Supporters and opponents both told the committee they want more structured study and public explanation before the measure reaches the ballot.

Ending: Committee testimony showed a split between advocates who framed SB 8 as a tool to modernize hiring and management and critics who said the change should be part of a comprehensive reform package, not a piecemeal constitutional grant of authority.

","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs voted 5–2 to report favorably on a proposed constitutional amendment (SB 8) that would let the Legislature place positions into the unclassified service by law. Supporters said the change would increase flexibility; opponents warned it risks political patronage and urged a broader study first.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds confirmation hearings for board, corrections and public‑safety nominees

Committee approves Senate confirmation requirement for Port of New Orleans commissioners

Committee endorses bill to ban wagering on elections in Louisiana

Senate committee advances constitutional change to let Legislature add unclassified state jobs