Louisiana lawmakers have finalized a sweeping overhaul of the state's tax system, passing a package of reforms aimed at reducing income taxes, increasing sales taxes, and scaling back or eliminating certain tax credits.

Final passage of the package during the special legislative session represents a major political victory for Gov. Jeff Landry, although lawmakers bowed to the pressure of special interests and scrapped major portions of his package that sought to eliminate tax breaks to simplify the complicated tax code.

According to the Tax Foundation, Louisiana’s average combined local and state sales tax rate is 9.56 percent, the highest in the nation. Tax Foundation analyst Manesh Bhatt says there’s a chance lawmakers could eventually bring down that tax rate.

Gov. Jeff Landry continues to push for the controversial removal of a New Orleans area homeless encampment ahead of Thanksgiving.

A Louisiana judge has halted plans for state agencies to forcibly remove homeless encampments in New Orleans by Thanksgiving

A judge halts homeless sweeps in New Orleans with a restraining order, escalating tensions between Governor Jeff Landry and city officials over homelessness solutions