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F r i d ay, J u n e 13, 2025

2025 LEGISLATURE

Pharmacy bill killed on last day of session Governor says he will call legislators back over issue

$2.00X

Ex-wildlife official pleads not guilty in federal court Montoucet indicted in kickback scheme involving contract

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR

Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, waves as Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe, thanks Miller for his work on House Bill 264 during the final minutes of the 2025 legislative session on Thursday. BY ALYSE PFEIL and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN

Staff writers

INSIDE ä Legislature approves $51 billion budget on final day of session. Page 5A ä Attorney general investigating CVS over mass text messages lobbying against pharmacy legislation. Page 7A ä Landry names new head of Department of Transportation and Development. Page 1B ä Compromise reached on measure for cleaning up old drilling sites. Page 1B

With just an hour left in the regular session, the Louisiana Senate on Thursday killed a controversial bill that would have barred companies from owning both pharmacy beneﬁts managers and pharmacies. That decision defied Gov. Jeff Landry, who said he would call the Legislature back in for a special session to address the issue. “Yes we will have a special to lower prescription drugs for our citizens. It’s that important!” Landry said in might issue that call. Senate President Cameron Henry, a statement through a spokesperson. It was not clear when Landry R-Metairie, said senators had con-

cerns about the rapid pace at which House Bill 358 was being considered — it only emerged from a conference committee with the language addressing PBMs on Wednesday afternoon. “There’s a legislative process for a reason,” Henry said. “That amendment did not have one ounce of public testimony through the process.” Henry pointed out that the bill would not have taken effect until 2027 anyway, had it passed, which meant the Legislature could simply vote on the bill next year. “I don’t know why you would call a special session for a bill that doesn’t

ä See PHARMACY, page 4A

Jack Montoucet, former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, made his first appearance Thursday in federal court in Lafayette after being indicted in May in a kickback scheme involving a statewide department contract. Appearing before federal Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst, Montoucet, 77, pleaded not guilty to five charges contained in the indictment. If convicted, he could face time in prison and up to $1 million in fines. Montoucet was released Thursday on a $15,000 unsecured bond and ordered to surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the United States and turn in any weapons he owns. The former state legislator was appointed to head the department by former Gov. John Bel Edwards in January 2017. Montoucet resigned abruptly in April 2023 a day after The TimesPicayune | The Advocate identified him as the high-ranking department official implicated in the scheme. A federal grand jury in Lafayette indicted Montoucet in May on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Whitehurst said if convicted he could face:

ä See PLEADS, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Jack Montoucet, former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, leaves the federal courthouse in Lafayette on Thursday.

Federal investigation targets Lafayette Parish jail workers

The parish government is re- Cormier, of the Lafayette Parish ly conducted on anyone entering terproofing, which has a purchase Contractor’s order dated June 2 with Lafayette quired by law to provide a jail fa- Sheriff’s Office, said routine back- the jail, Cormier wrote. This is the employees in country Consolidated Government to do cility, which the Sheriff’s Office ground checks on workers at the first recorded instance to occur at waterproofing repairs operates. jail revealed several people hired LPCC, he said. without documentation emergency The detentions come amid a naat the Lafayette Parish Correction“It is LCG’s procedure, as part by the contractor appeared to be

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

A federal investigation is underway after at least ﬁve people working at the Lafayette Parish jail were found to be in the country without proper documentation. It appears that the individuals were employed by Stumpf Wa-

WEATHER HIGH 85 LOW 75 PAGE 10C

al Center, Jamie Boudreaux, LCG chief communications ofﬁcer, said Thursday. According to the company’s website, Stumpf Waterprooﬁng is based in Holden and was established in 2015 by David Stumpf, a third-generation waterproofer. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

of our General Vendor Terms & Conditions, that vendors agree to ascertain and comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations,” Boudreaux wrote, “and are responsible for their own actions and agents. At no time did LCG provide or contract directly with workers of Stumpf Waterprooﬁng.” A news release from Chris

in the country without proper legal documentation. Homeland Security Investigations, Cormier wrote, was contacted to conﬁrm the workers’ legal status. HSI determined further investigation is appropriate, he wrote. HSI detained ﬁve people they determined were in the United States without legal documentation. Background checks are routine-

Business ......................6A Commentary ................3B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................4B Living............................5C Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

tional debate over recent immigration tactics that have included sweeps at Home Depots and raids on car washes and construction sites. The recent raids culminated in protests in California and President Donald Trump’s deployment of the military in response to the protests. The Lafayette Parish investigation is ongoing.

100TH yEAR, NO. 348