| Josh Carlson | |
| State House: | Louisiana |
| District: | 43rd |
| Term Start: | January 8, 2024 |
| Education: | University of Louisiana at Lafayette (BS) |
Josh Carlson is an American politician serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 43rd district. A member of the Republican Party, Carlson has been in office since January 8, 2024. His current term ends on January 10, 2028.[1]
Carlson attended Lafayette High School and obtained a BS in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.[2] For ten years, Carlson volunteered as a Youth Pastor.[3] Carlson's father, Gerald Carlson, was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.[4]
On November 19, 2019, Carlson was elected to the Lafayette Parish Council, representing District 3.[5]
On October 14, 2023, Carlson was elected to represent Louisiana District 43, receiving 84% of the votes (9,342), while Ludwig Gelobter garnered 16% (1,770).[6] [7]
In 2024, Carlson introduced House Bill 414, which aimed to eliminate exceptions for public libraries from the state law on obscenity.[8] This bill died in committee.[9] Carlson also introduced House Bill 974, which proposed removing the requirement for directors of parish library systems to obtain state certification. This certification mandates that librarians pass an exam and hold a master's degree in library science. This bill passed successfully.[10]
Additionally, Carlson opposed House Bill 98, introduced by Representative Mandie Landry, which aimed to remove the language from the Louisiana Constitution that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Carlson argued that the proposed constitutional amendment "tramples on the religious values that have been upheld and are valued by a majority of the state of Louisiana."[11]