Louisiana Legislature will open 2024 with Special Sessions on Congressional map, crime

Louisiana lawmakers won't have much time to find their footing in 2024 with two special legislative sessions out of the gate before they meet for the Regular Session March 12.

Republican Sen. Cameron Henry, who is set to be elected Senate president, and Republican Rep. Phillip DeVillier, who is set to be elected House speaker, sent emails to legislators telling them to plan for a Special Session to redraw the Congressional boundaries from Jan. 15-23 and a second to address crime from Feb. 19th-March 6.

Republican Gov.-elect Jeff Landry guided both leaders on the prospective dates that he will likely target.

There had been speculation Landry might call a Special Session to address Louisiana's insurance crisis, but lawmakers will have to tackle that in their Regular Session.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm excited about the opportunities," said DeVillier, of Eunice. "We're going to have things in order."

Last month, a federal appeals court upheld federal Judge Shelly Dick's earlier ruling requiring Louisiana's Congressional map be redrawn to include a second majority Black district.

Last year, the Legislature crafted a map that left a single majority Black district out of the state's six, which Dick ruled violated the Voting Rights Act because Blacks make up about a third of the state's population.

The court originally gave the Legislature a Jan. 15 deadline to craft a new map, but Dick extended the deadline because a Special Session can't be called until after the Jan. 8 inauguration and there must be a five-day waiting period before lawmakers can gavel in.

"We certainly know what Judge Dick is saying - either we get it done or the court will," DeVillier said.

Henry, of Metairie, echoed DeVillier's assessment.

"If we don't draw it she will," Henry said in an earlier interview with USA Today Network.

A Special Session to address crime will be guided in part by recommendations to be made by a task force appointed by Landry.

Landry campaigned on a promise to crack down on crime.

Two recent studies ranked Louisiana as the most dangerous state in America, noting the state is first for most murders per capita and fifth or most assaults per capita.

Three Louisiana cities — Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport — have recently ranked in the top 10 worst U.S. cities for crime.

Last week Landry announced a partnership with the attorney general and Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams to take the lead on certain prosecutions as part of his plan for that city.

Landry said the partnership and commitment to keep a State Police presence in the city "demonstrates our commitment to New Orleans."

Earlier this week Shreveport's City Council asked its Mayor Tom Arceneaux to declare a state of emergency on gun violence and violence against women and children.

Last spring, Louisiana residents listed crime as their top concern in the annual survey conducted by the LSU Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs for the first time in 20 years.

"Jeff ran on crime," DeVillier said. "We can provide the best tax policy, the best roads, but it's not attractive to come here or stay here is crime is out of control.

"I'm anxious to see what the tax force comes up with. If we want to stop out-migration we have to control crime."

More: Meet next Louisiana House speaker, Senate president with Gov.-elect Jeff Landry's support

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Sessions on Congressional map, crime face Louisiana lawmakers in 2024