LA Session Update – One Month to Go

With just a month remaining in Louisiana’s legislative session—dedicated primarily to budget, tax, and financial matters—we’re making every moment count to advance heart health across the state.

Our top priority this session is to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in schools. Building on last year’s success requiring high school coaches to be certified in CPR and AED use, we’re pleased to share that the House budget currently includes funding for their two-year certification. We’re working hard to ensure this funding remains in the final state budget.

We’re also actively engaged on several tobacco-related issues that could significantly impact public health. We are encouraged that lawmakers are considering the creation of a Youth Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Fund, which would provide critical support to local health departments and cessation programs. This is especially important in light of recent federal funding cuts. The legislative path for this proposal is still evolving and we’ll keep you informed as it progresses.

At the same time, we strongly oppose HB 325, which would drastically reduce the tax on high-end cigars (over $120) from 20% to just 50 cents per cigar. Combustible tobacco products like cigars pose serious health risks and should be taxed accordingly. Lowering these taxes undermines efforts to reduce tobacco-related disease and death.

We’ll continue to keep Heart Powered advocates updated as the session unfolds. Your voice and advocacy are vital to our mission. United, we can change the future of health in Louisiana.

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Written by Julie M. Howell, Sr. Region Grassroots Lead, Southeast