April showers bring May flowers in much of the U.S. — but in Louisiana, those May flowers are followed by a whole mess of government regulation.
Unlike the other 49 states, Louisiana is the only state to license florists. To obtain a “retail florist license,” which allows the owner to arrange and sell floral designs as well as cut flowers, a Louisianan must pass a test and pay more than $200 in fees.
And if one simply wants to sell cut flowers, but under no circumstances arrange them, the fee is a downright bargain at only $90.
These examples highlight the absurdity of our onerous occupational licensing requirements in the Pelican State.
That’s what makes the outcome of Tuesday’s vote in the Louisiana Senate Agricultural Committee so disappointing. Despite the overwhelming lack of evidence of any health or safety risks related to arranging flowers, the committee voted down a proposal to repeal the license by a vote of 6-1.
Only state Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Shreveport, voted in support of the proposal to repeal the requirement.
In the hearing, florists testified that they felt disrespected by the prospect of ending the florist license and removing the testing requirement to arrange flowers. That’s a wrong way to look at this. Instead of looking to the government for validation, florists should see their value in being able to successfully compete in a free and open market and provide an important service to their clients.
The argument we hear repeatedly from those who are lucky enough to have an occupational license usually has something to do with protecting the health and safety of consumers. This argument often carries the day because it’s the only one legislators hear.
But there is little proof all the florist requirements are necessary to protect consumer health and welfare. And the only winners from heavy-handed occupational license requirements are those who profit by keeping competitors out of the market.
As frustrating as this result is, there is still hope that Louisiana can reform its standing as the sixth-most broadly and onerously licensed state. A bill is moving through the Senate that would put a set of eyes on each license in a revolving five-year process.
This is a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Republican state Rep. Julie Emerson and vocally supported by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Rather than attempt to roll back individual licenses, this bill would require that these regulations are analyzed by the executive branch, which will then send a report to the legislature with recommendations. Lawmakers could then choose whether to act within the regular legislative process.
The citizens of Louisiana deserve a regulatory system that works for both consumers and workers. Rather than allowing occupational licensing requirements to persist indefinitely, it only makes sense to reconsider them to ensure they are still necessary.
Like anyone with a green thumb knows, without tender love and care, gardens will become overgrown with weeds. The Louisiana legislature needs to have the tools at their disposal to better understand the licenses required by the state and pluck the damaging licenses from the garden so more people can find meaningful employment in the state.
John Kay is Louisiana state director at Americans for Prosperity.
