Clay John Schexnayder (; born February 25, 1969) is an American businessman and politician from Ascension Parish, Louisiana. A Republican, he has been a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives since 2012, and has been speaker of the House since 2020.
Early life and education
Schexnayder is the son of Perry P. Schexnayder and the former Dorothy Ann Demars (1937–2009). His grandfather Harold "Pocahontas" Schexnayder was a longtime Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries game warden, and he spent much of his childhood in the Maurepas Swamp area.Mike Smith, He grew up in the swamp. Now Clay Schexnayder hopes to see it revived (February 12, 2013).
In 1989, Schexnayder graduated from French Settlement High School. Two years later, he graduated from the Allen Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, where he trained as an automotive mechanic.
Career before politics
In 1998, Schexnayder opened Car Craft and Rubber Company Automotive, in Sorrento, a town in Ascension Parish, and has operated the business since that time. On the side, he was a racecar driver, participating in races from 1997 to 2013 on the competition circuit in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Political career
State House tenure before speakership (2012–2019) Schexnayder was first elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2011 from District 81,Louisiana speaker of the House announces run for secretary of state, WDSU (April 13, 2023). which encompasses parts of four parishes: Livingston, Ascension, St. James, and St. John the Baptist.
In 2016, Schexnayder sponsored legislation to repeal Louisiana's motorcycle helmet law, making it legal for motorcyclists ages 21 and up to ride motorcycles without head protection; the bill failed to pass on a 48–32 vote, falling short of the 53 votes required for the bill to advance.
In 2016, Schexnayder was named to the Executive Committee of the Louisiana Legislative Rural Caucus for the 2016–2017 term.
As chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Schexnayder opposed a bill in 2018 to allow florists to work without passing a 40-question licensing exam. Louisiana is the only state that requires occupational licensing for florists. The bill, introduced by Representative Julie Emerson, was supported by Governor John Bel Edwards, and was supported by various organizations favoring occupational-licensing reform, such as Institute for Justice and Americans for Prosperity. Schexnayder defended the florist-licensure requirement, framing it as a consumer-protection measure. Despite Schexnayder's opposition, the bill passed the House committee on an 8–6 vote. However, it failed in the state Senate.
In 2019, Schexnayder sponsored legislation to permit and regulate industrial hemp cultivation in the state, and to authorize licensed retailers to sell hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD oil); The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Edwards.
Speaker of the state House (2020–present) In January 2020, Schexnayder won the post of speaker of the House after some Democrats supported him, while most of the Republican representatives supported a different candidate for the post, Livingston Republican Sherman Mack. In the House floor vote, Schexnayder defeated Mack, 60–45, thus surpassing the 53 votes needed to win the speakership. Schexnayder won by winning the votes of all 35 House Democrats; 23 of the House Republicans; and two representatives with no party affiliation. The other 45 Republicans voted for Mack.