COVID-19 has created a public health and economic challenge in 2020 the likes of which has not been experienced in the United States in over 100 years. Louisiana government’s response to help meet this historic challenge will unfold in phases including an immediate term (May through June) period during which the Louisiana Legislature and the Administration must enact legislation and state and local agencies must adopt policies required to responsibly start the new state fiscal year that begins July 1, 2020.

During the 2019 election cycle, the RESET Coalition developed a set of strategic priorities to improve Louisiana’s long-term outlook in Education, State Finances, Criminal Justice/Public Safety, and Transportation Infrastructure. Given the COVID-19 challenge we currently face, RESET has developed the following priority recommendations for the immediate term.

The Legislature performs an essential role for Louisiana. But not everything it normally does is essential under the circumstances of a pandemic. That is the great challenge for the most social branch of state government as it re-enters the Capitol.

When the Louisiana Legislature reenters its 2020 session, it will be faced with unprecedented challenges brought by the coronavirus crisis. Time will be short. Procedures will change for health reasons. Revenue streams have been drying up and timely data for the current fiscal year will be lacking. The forecast for next year’s state revenue will be a grand guessing game with a dark downside. The governor’s earlier proposed budget is by now outdated because of the demands for the state to respond to the pandemic.