BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A legislative agency will be required to hold its meetings in public buildings, under a bill headed to the governor, aimed at cutting spending on swanky hotel gatherings.
The Louisiana State Law Institute, which studies complex legal issues for the Legislature, holds meetings of its decision-making council at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans.
A financial analysis shows travel and other expenses for seven meetings since July have cost the state nearly $175,000.
The bill by Republican Sen. Rick Ward, of Port Allen, calls for the meetings to be held in public buildings "available without charge or at a reduced cost," starting Jan. 1.
The Senate voted 35-0 for the final version, and the House sent it to the governor with a 96-2 vote Sunday.