Women, Families, & Children
“Reproductive rights were lost in state houses - and they will only be regained in state houses. ”
Rep. Landry knows that no one has the right to tell anyone else what to do with their body. Her principles and growing concern for Louisiana women is what lead her to run for office in 2019. Since being elected, Mandie has worked hard on behalf of women and new parents, while also fighting back against constant harmful legislation introduced in Louisiana.
Mandie’s expertise on reproductive issues makes her a strong advocate and educator on reproductive rights in Louisiana. As a longtime lawyer, she represented one of the state’s last three abortion clinics, a fertility clinic, and minors seeking permission from the court for an abortion (judicial bypass). Louisiana has never elected a person who has represented an abortion clinic to office.
It is more critical now than ever, post Roe, to have legislators who are knowledgeable and experienced with issues surrounding maternal health and reproductive rights. Since being elected, a big focus of Mandie’s work has been on improving and expanding maternal health care in Louisiana.
Mandie has worked hard two years in a row to have clear language in Louisiana law that a woman will not be arrested for having an abortion. It’s important to have people like her in the legislature who know what they’re doing on this critical issue.
There is now over $20 million dollars more in the state budget for new moms because of Rep. Landry’s legislation. Because of her 2021 legislation, and with hard work by the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana became the first state in the nation to expand Medicaid post-partum from 60 days to one year for all new mothers. Louisiana has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country. This new provision will provide immediate care to over 14,000 new mothers, and result in an almost $20 million increased investment in maternal health care in the state with combined state and federal funds.
In 2022, Rep. Landry passed HB 516, which requires public high schools to adopt policies regarding attendance, breastfeeding, and child care for all students who are pregnant or parenting. We know that most teen parents do not graduate from high school, and we want to do all we can to help them out - especially now post Roe, where we expect unplanned pregnancies to increase.
In 2020, Rep. Landry passed HB 344, which prohibits solitary confinement for incarcerated people who are pregnant or who have just given birth. This was the first change to the state’s solitary confinement law in over a century, and it has paved the way for other solitary confinement reform measures. For example, in 2021, Rep. Landry worked with the Stop Solitary Coalition to end solitary confinement for those with mental health issues.
During the 2021 session, Rep. Landry passed HB 301, which provides a refundable tax credit for funeral expenses related to pregnancy related deaths.
In 2022, Rep. Landry passed HB 64 to ensure that 17 year old abuse victims and witnesses are provided the same legal protections as all other minors.