Pressure is mounting for lawmakers to hold a veto override session this month following the governor’s rejection of numerous bills from the 2023 regular session, including some approved by wide margins.
About two dozen vetoes from Gov. John Bel Edwards nixed the phase out the state’s corporate franchise tax, clarification of school immunization requirements, increased transparency in health care pricing, mandated notification for insurance companies, and three transgender-related bills.
Edwards has also used his line-item veto authority to rework the state budget, restoring $100 million to the Department of Health that was removed during a chaotic finale to the session last month. Other line-item vetoes cut local funding for lawmakers who opposed Edwards’ spending priorities.
While lawmakers have yet to decide whether to return to Baton Rouge, several in both chambers are ready and willing to make the trek.
The state constitution requires an override session unless a majority of lawmakers from either chamber vote to skip it. Republicans failed to override any vetoes during the first override session in state history in 2021, but successfully reversed Edwards’ veto of congressional redistricting legislation last year.
Lawmakers have until July 13 to decide, with a five-day session scheduled for July 18. Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both chambers required to override the governor.
