Action through Advocacy
Statewide Issues Supported by the Chamber The Jefferson Chamber serves as the voice of business for Jefferson Parish, but also on local, regional, and statewide issues. The Chamber listens closely and acts proactively on the issues and concerns of its members and the business community. The Jefferson Chamber supported numerous pieces of state legislation that were WINS in the 2020 legislative session: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: A bill recreating the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission was passed; existing early care and education funding was not cut; federal stimulus money was used wisely to assist the struggling child care industry; and a dedicated funding stream for the Early Childhood Education Fund was found through a tax on fantasy sports betting. AUTO INSURANCE: Legal reform to lower auto insurance rates was a priority for both the regular and special session. Louisianans received a major win with the Civil Justice Reform Act of
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Jefferson Review 2021
2020 being signed into law during the special session. This resolution lowers the jury trial threshold to $10,000, reforms direct action, repeals the seat belt gag rule, and addresses collateral source which allows judges the discretion to award no more than 40% of the difference between the amount billed and the amount paid after the verdict. GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESS: The Coronavirus Local Recovery Allocation Fund was signed into law, creating the Louisiana Main Street Recovery Program administered by the State Treasurer. This resolution took $300 million of Louisiana’s CARES Act funding to establish a special fund to provide relief grants to small businesses. ECONOMIC RECOVERY: Our goal was to provide
a resolution limiting liability for restaurants that provide food-to-go during a declared state emergency; a resolution providing limited liability protection for COVID-19 exposure to individuals and entities, including local or state government, that follow government standards and guidance during a state of emergency; a resolution seeking to ensure that liability protections are in place for individuals and local or state government that has operated in accordance with public health guidelines during the COVID-19 crisis. Looking forward into 2021, we expect the major statewide issues important to the business community to be tax reform and infrastructure. Specifically, to simplify the tax code, repeal personal and corporate income taxes, establish
businesses confidence to reopen without fear of COVID-19 related liability claims. These resolutions were all signed into law: a resolution limiting liability of persons who provide relief or recovery equipment or services during a declared state emergency;
a centralized sales tax collector (or equivalent), phase out the state’s inventory tax and franchise tax, reduce severance taxes, and fund infrastructure upgrades through a gas tax. Of course, additional funding for early childhood care and education will remain a priority.
