Louisiana Legislative Session Concludes with Budget Cuts and Controversy.

The Louisiana legislative session ended in chaos as fiscal conservatives clashed with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder over the budget's final minutes. While Governor John Bel Edwards and Senate President Page Cortez secured funding for state construction projects, conservatives passed bills targeting the freedoms of gay people and transgender youth, which Edwards vowed to veto. The fiscal conservatives also reduced the Louisiana Department of Health's budget by $100 million and secured approval for school employee stipends instead of permanent raises. The session ended with lawmakers passing the annual operating budget, multi-year construction budget, and a third budget bill containing pet projects for legislators' districts.