Legislative Preview: Constitutional Amendments Would Strip Veto Override Session Opt-Out, Line Item Veto

A Thibodaux lawmaker has prefiled a constitutional amendment which would remove the ability of legislators to call a veto session unnecessary.

Under current law, a veto override session can be avoided if a majority of lawmakers deem it unnecessary, but HB31, filed by state Rep. Dee Richard, would remove that provision and require legislators to enter into such a session of the governor vetoes a bill.

A companion bill, HB32, would strip the Louisiana governor of the line item veto.

"We ought to have the will and the power to make necessary changes, not only for the short-term but for the long-term," Richard told the Houma Courier earlier this month.

Both bills require a two-thirds majority of both the House and the Senate, and it must be approved by voters.