Without objection, House Ways & Means approves Republican Rep. Beau Beaullieu's bill to lower severance tax on certain oil drilling from a 12.5% rate to 8.5% over eight years. The state is estimated to lose $99M in taxes across five years, a loss growing in later years. #lalege The tax cut would lessen collections for the state treasury by $10M in the 2025-26 budget year (the same year the 0.45% temporary sales tax is slated to expire). That tax cut would grow over time to $79M a year by the 2032-33 year, according to a financial analysis. #lalege

Joint Transportation Committee APPROVES @LaGovJeffLandry reworked 50-year toll plan to pay for a new $2.1B Interstate 10 bridge project in Calcasieu Parish, a few months after House Republicans on the committee blocked a toll plan from then-Gov. John Bel Edwards. #lalege #lagov Senate committee members agree without objection for tolling plan. House committee members vote 11-2. Committee membership, governor and toll rates have changed since last vote. Tolls would cover part of project cost. Federal/state dollars would pay for the rest. #lalege #lagov