Louisiana lawmakers are headed back to Baton Rouge this week to tackle state issues like teacher pay, construction projects, tax reform, and whether or not marijuana should be decriminalized.

The 2021 regular legislative session began in Louisiana this Monday. Louisiana legislators say they're focused on protecting their constituents and working on the issues they believe are important.

Rep. Royce Duplessis says they'll be working on a lot of bills that have been introduced on tax reform for the state. Duplessis believes we need a smarter approach to tax reform that is good for both Louisiana residents and businesses.

Rep. Stephanie Hilferty says she would like to see a more centralized sales tax collection system. She went on to say Louisiana is different from other states because we have multiple tax collectors. Hilferty said a new system would be better for Louisiana businesses, and the current system is a burden with multiple tax remittance policies.

Rep. Mandie Landry has filed a bill that would expand the background check for gun purchases. Landry wants background checks to even take place when an individual sells a gun. She calls it a loophole that must be closed.

Many of the Democrat lawmakers are saying they will support the decriminalization of marijuana in the state. They say that when talking with their constituents, they overwhelmingly feel residents shouldn't be jailed over marijuana possession.

Other bills that will be worked on in the 2021 regular legislative session including a teacher pay raise, huge construction projects, a higher state minimum wage, and how to spend money from the federal American Rescue Plan.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

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