In fact, Louisiana is the only state that regulates its florists in such a way--despite a recent attempt by the House of Representatives to change the law.
Since 1939, would-be Louisiana florists have had to pass a written exam, as well as arrange flowers in front of a panel of judges, to legally practice their occupation. Some issues, such as whether their flowers are spaced effectively, whether the greenery is picked properly, or whether the design has a proper focal point, have been called overly subjective by critics. Over the past four years, the passing rate has been 41.5 percent.
This spring, state Representative Billy Wayne Montgomery proposed replacing the exam with a college-level class. His bill was amended to eliminate the licensing requirement and passed the House comfortably. A Senate committee, however, unanimously voted it down. "When I walked in, I said, 'Oh, that's an ambush,'" recalls Montgomery, referring to the florists who had filled the committee hearing room to oppose the measure.
Since then, the Institute for Justice, a Washington-based libertarian law firm, has taken up the cause. The firm is representing three plaintiffs, all of whom failed the test at least once, in a pending lawsuit against Louisiana in federal courts.
