Insurance, immigration headline state lawmakers’ town hall
A Thursday night town hall, hosted by three local state lawmakers and City Councilwoman Liz Hebert, began with a focus on legislative reforms to injury lawsuits and insurance costs and veered into a more pointed discussion of immigration policy.
Co-hosted by Sen. Brach Myers and Reps. Annie Spell and Josh Carlson, all Lafayette Republicans, the event was a platform for the lawmakers to report back on their work in Baton Rouge this year. Around 50 people, plus a heavy police security presence, attended the forum at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.
Carlson touted Louisiana’s growth in education rankings from 49th to 32nd in the nation and urged residents to vote for an amendment on the April 2026 ballot that would pay off debt in the state teacher’s retirement fund and would make raises for teachers financially easier. The proposal revisits an amendment that failed earlier this year.
“This is a way to take money that’s generating very little money each year for education, and say: Let’s pay off debt. Let’s free up money at the state and local level,” said Carlson.
However, the discussion eventually shifted toward matters of national politics, with several questions about Louisiana’s approach toward federal immigration enforcement.
Constituents asked for the legislators’ stances on six immigration law passed by the legislature in the last session.
Published:August 191:14 pm New immigrant-tracking laws take effect in Louisiana Two new Louisiana laws, authored by Acadiana representatives, that require some state agencies and higher education systems to collect and share data on undocumented migrants are now in effect.
This includes Act 419 and Act 351, which involve the collection of immigration information for applications to Medicaid as well as higher education, and reporting that information to immigration enforcement.
The lawmakers focused their responses on HB 436, which restricts the right to damages for drivers who are in the country unlawfully. Spell and Carlson defended the bill, pointing back to car insurance costs and road safety discussions earlier from the town hall.
“If you’re not here legally, you’re not supposed to be driving,” said Carlson.
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