Tenure
On January 7, 2024, Landry took a ceremonial oath and delivered his inaugural address on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol; the event was held a day before he took office as governor due to expectations for bad weather. The Louisiana state constitution requires gubernatorial terms to begin at noon on the second Monday in January.
Two weeks after taking office, on January 22, 2024, Landry signed a redistricting bill the state legislature had passed to redraw Louisiana's congressional districts, in order to comply with a federal court order requiring that a second Black-majority district be created in the state under the terms of the Voting Rights Act. In May, he signed a bill that redrew Louisiana's seven State Supreme Court districts for the first time in over two decades, creating a second Black-majority district in the process per the recommendation of five of the state's Supreme Court justices.
Several political and civil rights groups have claimed the proposed maps are still gerrymandered, with Landry signing the legislation with the intent of unseating Congressman Garret Graves, who endorsed Stephen Waguespack during the gubernatorial election.
In March 2024, Landry signed several bills that reversed criminal justice reforms initiated by the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiative. He eliminated parole, dramatically cut the ability of convicts to earn points for good behavior in prison, increased penalties for carjackings and weapons offenses, and permitted two more methods of execution (nitrogen gas and electrocution). Within the first two years of Landry's tenure, the number of state prisoners increased by about 8%. He signed a bill to allow people to carry concealed handguns without permits.
On February 10, 2025, Landry announced that Louisiana had finalized its new execution protocol, allowing executions to be carried out there for the first time in 15 years. On March 18, 2025, Jessie Hoffman Jr., who was convicted of murder in 1996, was executed by nitrogen hypoxia, becoming the first person executed in Louisiana since 2010; Louisiana also became the second state to conduct a nitrogen gas execution, after Alabama.
In June 2024, Louisiana became the first state to mandate posting the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Landry signed the bill into law and called it "one of my favorites". Days before signing it, he said: "I can't wait to be sued" over the law. Hours after its signing, four civil liberties groups challenged the law. Landry said that the law's implementation showed that the Republican "majority gets to rule" in Louisiana, while instructing parents who were opposed to the display of the Commandments: "Tell your child not to look at them". A district judge blocked the bill but Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill revealed plans to appeal the decision.
On February 20, 2026, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated U.S. District Judge John DeGravelles's November 2024 preliminary injunction (Rev. Roake v. Brumley) by a 12 to 6 vote. The law may thus be implemented while challenges are pending. The case Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, concerning a similar law in Texas, is also under the jurisdiction of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 18, 2026, the ACLU of Louisiana filed to have the case brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In June 2024, Landry enacted a law that excludes acts of civil disobedience from free speech protections on college campuses. Senate Bill 294, introduced by Senator Valarie Hodges, was presented as a pro-free speech measure aiming to "shore up protections" for campus speech, and Hodges made several references to the pro-Palestinian protests that have become common on campuses since the outbreak of the Gaza war. "This bill protects free speech for everyone but makes it very clear that criminal activity and pro-terrorist, giving support to terrorist groups, does not belong on our college campuses", Hodges said.
In October 2024, Landry held a press conference at LSU's Memorial Tower to announce an executive order aimed at enhancing the protection of free speech on public university campuses. The executive order was signed in collaboration with LSU's chapter of Turning Point USA. The order addresses concerns about campus reporting systems that allow students to report behavior they perceive as discriminatory based on factors such as age, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. While these reporting systems are intended to address issues of marginalization, the order warns that they may unintentionally discourage open dialogue and expressive conduct on public post-secondary campuses. It suggests that, although designed to promote inclusivity, such systems could limit free speech by creating an environment where people feel hesitant to share differing viewpoints.
In November 2024, Landry urged LSU to take disciplinary action against professor Nicholas Bryner, the director of LSU's Climate Change Law and Policy Project. During a class, Bryner commented on the 2024 presidential election, and someone later forwarded a video of those comments to Landry, who shared it on social media. Bryner said, in part, "And I don't know if anybody falls in that category, but if you voted for Trump on the idea that you don't like him personally but that you like his policies, I just want you to think about the message that that sends to other people and how you can prove that by treating other people in a way that matches that sentiment." On January 14, 2025, during a class, tenured LSU law professor Ken Levy criticized Landry for his treatment of Bryner. He also commented on recent changes in case law related to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments and shared his views on Donald Trump. Additionally, Levy identified himself as a Democrat. Afterward, he received a letter notifying him of his removal from his teaching position. On January 31, Judge Donald Johnson, a district judge in East Baton Rouge Parish, ruled that LSU must allow Levy to return to teaching immediately. Johnson issued a temporary restraining order stating that LSU cannot violate Levy's free speech rights and must refrain from any further harassment or retaliation against him. On February 4, a three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that it was premature to require LSU to reinstate Levy, but affirmed that LSU may not interfere with his employment or infringe upon his free speech or due process rights. Landry criticized Levy's behavior on social media, saying, "No judge would tolerate this conduct in their courtroom or any legal professional setting. It should not be tolerated at our taxpayer funded universities either." On February 11, Judge Tarvald Smith ruled that LSU must allow Levy to return to teaching. The judge determined that LSU had not adhered to its policies in the removal process. During the hearing, LSU President William Tate said he had decided to remove Levy. Additionally, LSU lawyer Carlton Jones was dismissed for discussing the case with LSU Law School dean Alena Allen, who had been subpoenaed as a witness. On X, Landry wrote, "This ruling is absurd! It not only disregards the law and the facts, but it also disrespects the many Louisiana citizens who are demanding a higher level of professionalism in our universities. The judge ignored the facts, the law, and the Constitution — but unfortunately, that is what we have come to expect."
On June 11, 2025, Kimberly Terrell, the director of community engagement at Tulane University's Environmental Law Clinic, resigned. Terrell's research focuses on the health impacts of Louisiana's petrochemical industry and that sector's racial disparities in hiring practices. In an email exchange, Marcilynn Burke, the dean of Tulane's law school, disclosed that Tulane president Michael Fitts was concerned that the clinic's efforts could jeopardize support for the university's anticipated downtown expansion project. Terrell said she had been told that Landry threatened to veto any state funding for the expansion unless Fitts "took action" regarding the clinic. A spokesperson for Landry said Terrell's claim was "not accurate".
On July 22, 2025, Landry signed an executive order for Louisiana to join the state university systems of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas in becoming part of the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE). This organization serves as an alternative accrediting body to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Conservative politicians have raised concerns about SACS due to its diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements, as well as its restrictions against outside influence, including political interference, in public higher education.
Landry faced criticism for his response to the 2025 New Orleans truck attack. Hours after the January 1 attack, he posted a photo of himself smiling and giving a thumbs-up with his wife and others outside a steakhouse in the city. He captioned the photo, "Ate dinner tonight in New Orleans. Proud to be a part of this incredibly resilient city. See everyone at the game tomorrow!" This referred to the Sugar Bowl, which had been postponed due to the attack. In response to the criticism, Landry said: "It’s important to understand that we have many visitors in the city of New Orleans right now. Safety is our top priority, and we want our guests and the world to know that Louisiana does not cower to radical Islamic terrorists. Our restaurants and all that New Orleans has to offer remain open for business!"
Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Landry invoked emergency powers to destroy the encampments and order the busing of more than 100 unhoused people to a "transitional center" he arranged under a no-bid contract. The site lacked heating or blankets. Press was not permitted to enter the site. Landry's administration requested that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reimburse $50 million the state spent to enhance security and operate the temporary shelter. The final cost was just over $52 million: $43.5 million for equipment and services and $8.6 million for personnel. The federal government denied the request, citing insufficient supplemental FEMA funding.
On October 26, 2025, a day after the Tigers dropped to 5–3 overall with a home loss to Texas A&M, LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly.
Landry told reporters that the LSU Board of Supervisors would form a committee to find the next coach rather than leaving the decision to athletic director Scott Woodward. "I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach", he said at a press conference. "Hell, I'll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it. He loves winners. You know, I'm not going to be picking the next coach, but I can promise you we're gonna pick a coach and we're gonna make sure that that coach is successful." He added, "We're gonna make sure that he's compensated properly and we're gonna put metrics on it because I'm tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill." US News and World Report ranks Louisiana 49th in its Higher Education subcategory, which informs its overall Best States rankings.
Landry criticized the contracts that Woodward reached with the last two football coaches that he hired, Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Kelly at LSU. A few years after Woodward left Texas A&M for LSU, Fisher signed a lucrative extension in 2021, the year LSU hired Kelly.
On October 30, it was announced that Woodward and LSU athletics had parted ways after Landry's decision to exclude Woodward from the hiring of the new coach.
