(The Center Square) − As Louisiana’s legislative session continues, lawmakers are considering multiple bills aimed at increasing oversight of regulatory actions and tightening the rules for how taxpayer money is spent.

One of the early measures gaining traction is Senate Bill 59 by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, which would require legislative approval before any state agency rule with a significant fiscal impact — defined as at least $200,000 per year or $1 million over five years — could take effect. The bill passed a key Senate vote and now awaits consideration in the House.

Supporters say the bill would improve accountability by ensuring that major regulatory decisions are reviewed by elected officials. The proposal is similar to the so-called “REINS Act” model being promoted in legislatures across the country.

Under current Louisiana law, agencies must include fiscal impact statements with proposed rules, but they are not always subject to legislative approval. SB 59 would expand that oversight, requiring the fiscal office to assess potential costs and trigger committee hearings for high-impact rules. Emergency regulations would also be subject to additional fiscal scrutiny under the bill.

Meanwhile, another piece of legislation — SB184 by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Allen — would implement new standards for nongovernmental organizations that receive public dollars.

The bill, which is scheduled for further debate in the Senate Finance Committee, would require recipient organizations to provide detailed financial audits, outcome data, and statements of public purpose before receiving state appropriations.

Nonprofits would also need to be registered in Louisiana for at least one year, keep administrative costs under 15% of expenditures, and maintain a physical office in the state. Groups that fail to submit required documentation could face a five-year ban from receiving state funds.

The legislation would consolidate existing data into a searchable portal through Louisiana’s Checkbook platform to allow the public and lawmakers to better monitor how funds are spent.

“These bills are part of a broader effort to increase transparency and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer money,” Cloud said during a recent hearing.

In addition to the legislative activity, Governor Jeff Landry has launched a new initiative—the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE)—tasked with identifying ways to reduce waste and improve performance in state government.

Landry appointed Steve Orlando as Fiscal Responsibility Czar, who is expected to work closely with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

A news release from the governor’s office says residents are encouraged to submit suggestions for improving government efficiency via email.

The DOGE initiative has drawn both support and criticism. Supporters see it as a step toward greater fiscal accountability, while critics, including some legislators, question whether it duplicates existing oversight functions already handled by the legislature and the state auditor.

“Legislators create and pass the state’s annual budget, which the governor then signs, with a line-item veto,” Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, said in a statement. “A new, bureaucratic entity cannot and should not supersede these constitutional powers.”

(The Center Square) – Having discovered an employee in his office not commuting to work and living outside of North Carolina, state Auditor Dave Boliek’s office checked state agencies and found 1,011 with out-of-state addresses on W-2 forms.

Many are simply outdated after moves to North Carolina.

The Rapid Response Division of the auditor’s office says 317 of those were not in bordering states South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. It did not give a number for the border state of Georgia. The total was within 13 state agencies.

A release from Boliek’s office says, “Multiple agencies reported back that employees had not properly updated the address on their W-2 form since relocating to North Carolina. OSA confirmed with the state agencies the employees were accounted for. Through proactive engagement, OSA assisted other agencies in properly updating the address on employee W-2 forms.”

The report concludes with the recommendation, “State agencies should annually remind all employees to update their contact information as well as tax information and annually verify said contact information and tax information is up-to-date and correct.”

Tax laws identify residents, part-time residents and nonresidents with respect to paying state income tax.

A nonresident “resides in North Carolina for a temporary or transitory purpose and is, in fact, a domiciliary resident of another state or country,” or “does not reside in North Carolina but has income from sources within North Carolina and is, in fact, a domiciliary resident of another state or country.”

Part-time means having moved in or out and having residency in another state during the tax year. The Filing Requirements Chart determines if there is need to file a state income tax return.

Residents of the state must file income tax returns each year, per the requirement chart.

(The Center Square) – Three naturally-derived food coloring additives are set to replace some petroleum-based dyes in the American food and medicine supply, per an announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday.

Butterfly pea flower extract, Galdieria extract blue, and calcium phosphate have now received approval or expanded approval for use in a variety of snacks and beverages, the latest step forward in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s plan to substitute synthetic dyes.

“For too long, our food system has relied on synthetic, petroleum-based dyes that offer no nutritional value and pose unnecessary health risks,” Kennedy said in a statement. “We’re removing these dyes and approving safe, natural alternatives – to protect families and support healthier choices.”

In April, the FDA and HHS announced a phaseout timeline for petroleum-based food additives – which are correlated with several health problems in children – and promised to accelerate the approval process of natural alternatives to assist the transition.

The American food industry has until the end of 2025 to remove Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2 from their products, as The Center Square reported. 

Butterfly pea flower extract is an antioxidant-rich coloring derived from flower petals that can produce blues, purples, and greens. Already approved for use in candies, beverages, dairy products and gum, the FDA’s decision expands allowable use for cereals, snack mixes, and chips.

Galdieria extract blue, which produces a color similar to petroleum-based Blue 1 but is derived from red microalgae Galdieria sulphuraria, has been approved for candies and multiple fruit and dairy related foods, including juices, smoothies, frozen desserts, puddings, whipped toppings, and frostings.

Food ingredient companies Givaudan Sense Colour and Fermentalg, celebrated the FDA’s decision as it allows for expanded use of their product Everzure™ Galdieria, a natural color additive made from Galdieria sulphuraria.

“Natural ingredients developed with the help of biotechnology hold the promise of delivering better, cleaner and more enticing food experiences for consumers,” Raja Chouket from Sense Colour said. “This approval will allow us to advance into production and commercialization, making this long-awaited solution available to the market.”

Calcium phosphate, a natural compound found in bones and teeth, is now approved for use of white colorant in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, doughnut sugar, and sugar for coated candies. 

“On April 22, I said the FDA would soon approve several new color additives and would accelerate our review of others,” FDA Commissioner Martin Makary said Friday. “FDA staff have been moving quickly to expedite the publication of these decisions, underscoring our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based dyes in the food supply and provide new colors from natural sources.”