Michael Echols

This bill makes modifications to the state’s Angel Investor Tax credit program (a tax credit for wealthy individuals to invest in smaller businesses) by adjusting rules and expanding qualification criteria for businesses under the program. CPAC opposes this bill because it expands a narrow investor tax subsidy and undermines tax reform by levying the cost on taxpayers, and distorts market competition by favoring select businesses. The house passed the bill on May 12, 2025 by a vote of 87-9, and it later became law.

This bill establishes a new recreation and park district for the City of Central and creates a division between it and the Baton Rouge’s BREC system and authorizes a new tax authority. CPAC opposes this bill because it increases government by creating a new taxing authority, duplicating existing services, and burdening taxpayers with additional costs. The house passed the bill on May 7, 2025 by a vote of 67-24, and it later became law.

This bill restructures the governing board of BREC by increasing the number of office-based members from three to five and reducing the number of appointed members from six to four, thereby reducing local authority. CPAC opposes this bill because it increases state authority by undermining local governance and injects politics into local recreation management. The house passed the bill on May 7, 2025 by a vote of 89-6, and it later became law.

This bill creates a new income tax credit upwards to $10,000 per homeowner who installs a fortified roof on their house. CPAC opposes this bill because it expands government through a subsidy and uses the tax code to pick winners rather than using the free market to drive property improvements. The house passed the bill on July 8, 2025 by a vote of 99-0, and it later became law.

This bill provides an extension and modification to the tax credit subsidy for sound recording and music production within the state. CPAC opposes this bill because it extends another handout that compels taxpayers to subsidize private entertainment. The house passed the bill on May 19, 2025 by a vote of 89-7. This bill did not become law.

This bill makes several changes to the process by which convicted people may challenge their conviction or sentence if they believe that they are innocent. Specifically, the bill emphasizes finality in sentences and stricter limits. CPAC opposes violent crime and its perpetrators, supports providing closure and relief to victims of crime, and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 10, 2025 by a vote of 81-14, and it later became law.

This bill outlines specific resignation rights that pertain to union membership. With the bill in effect, employees can leave unions at any time and must be notified by their employer of union membership and dues. Additionally, employees must consent to union membership annually, reducing compelled association and increasing work related freedoms. CPAC supports right to work laws and accountability for unions and supported this bill. The bill died in the house on July 10, 2025 after rejecting the senate’s amendments.

This bill ensures that ideological and preferential education or hiring practices, such as those pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion narratives, are prohibited in schools and the government. CPAC opposes DEI and all forms of educational or professional discrimination and supported this bill. The house passed the bill by a vote of 57-32 on May 19, 2025.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment that allows the state legislature to create new unclassified service positions and abolish previous unclassified service positions, effectively shifting state jobs out the civil service system and embracing efficiency. CPAC believes in accountable government and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 11, 2025 by a vote of 70-28, and it later became law.

This bill outlines the role of voter registrars and how they may be evaluated or removed. CPAC supports secure elections and maintaining the integrity of elections and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 10, 2025 by a vote of 99-0, and it later became law.

This bill allows U.S citizens who are nonresidents in the state to apply for concealed handgun permits. CPAC supports the right to bear arms and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 22, 2025 by a vote of 71-16, and it later became law.

This bill defends manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of firearms and ammunition from being held liable in third party cases that cause harm. CPAC supports the right to bear arms and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 12 by a vote of 81-14, and it was later became law.

This bill, also referred to as the T.R.U.S.T act, meaning Transparent Responsible Use of State Tax-dollars, creates requirements for nongovernmental organizations to report their use of state taxes in a database. CPAC supports political transparency fiscal responsibility and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 9 by a vote of 72-28, and it later became law.

This bill requires agencies to track undocumented immigrants and their children that use government benefits/services, and to ensure that only legal citizens benefit from such services. CPAC opposes illegal immigration, supports policy action taken to mitigate it, and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 9, 2025 by a vote of 74-27, and it later became law.

This bill establishes that in civil lawsuits relating to automobile accidents, unauthorized aliens cannot recover general damages, meaning they’re unable to benefit from public services, in particular state courts, due to their unlawful presence. CPAC opposes illegal immigration, supports policy action taken to mitigate it, and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 27, 2025 by a vote of 74-24, and it later became law.

This bill changes the procurement of voting machines in order to make the system more efficient and flexible. CPAC supports secure elections and maintaining the integrity of elections and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 7, 2025 by a vote of 98-0, and it later became law.

This bill creates a unit within the office of the attorney general that is granted statewide arrest authority to pursue violent offenders, cooperating with law enforcement and ICE. CPAC opposes violent crime and its perpetrators, supports law and order and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 20, 2025 by a vote of 99-0, and it later became law.

This bill establishes the office of motor vehicles to notify any non-citizens that voting (without citizenship) is a felony and provides this information through a restriction code or notice in the mail. CPAC believes in safekeeping elections, supports efforts to use immigration enforcement and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on May 6 by a vote of 75-21, and it later became law.

This bill establishes an enhancement of rights pertaining to victims through the creation of a human trafficking task force. CPAC believes that human trafficking is a pressing problem, supports efforts to limit it, and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 9, 2025 by a vote of 100-0, and it later became law on June 11, 2025.

This bill concerns coerced abortion and the reporting requirements associated with that particular crime. It entails the broadening of coercion as it relates to abortion, meaning even if an abortion as not occurred but a woman was pressured to do so, the individual may be held liable. CPAC believes that abortion is always a human tragedy, supports efforts to restrict its practice and supported this bill. The house passed the bill on June 9, 2025 by a vote of 81-19, and it later became law.