SB 105 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

TOPS: Provides relative to TOPS eligibility. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 105 amends Louisiana's TOPS program to expand eligibility for the TOPS-Tech Award to veterans honorably discharged from U.S. military installations located in Louisiana. To qualify, veterans must earn a 17+ ACT score (or equivalent SAT/ACT WorkKeys silver level) and submit their DD-214 discharge documents. The bill specifically applies to the 2020-2023 academic years and targets veterans who served at Louisiana military bases. It modifies existing eligibility rules without changing funding or creating new benefits, focusing solely on qualifying veterans for technical college financial aid.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 22, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB105 Original → SB105 Act 355 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Louisiana TOPS-Tech Award eligibility criteria by removing specific academic year restrictions and changing the requirements for military veterans. Instead of requiring a minimum test score, the bill now allows individuals to qualify by providing official documentation of military service.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the TOPS-Tech Award by removing the restriction that limited eligibility to specific academic years (2020-2023) and broadens the qualification criteria for military veterans.

TIMELINE

Removed the limitation that restricted TOPS-Tech Award eligibility to the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 academic years.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the qualification requirement for military veterans from needing a specific test score (17+ on ACT/SAT or Silver on ACT WorkKeys) to simply providing a Certificate of Release or DD Form 214 to verify service.

REQUIREMENT

Added the requirement for applicants to submit a copy of their military discharge papers (DD Form 214) to verify their service.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title to reflect its status as an enrolled Act (Act No. 355) and added the full list of co-sponsors.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2026 · House May 18, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Apr 15, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 12, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (16-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

May 7, 2026

Committee

Read by title, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (10-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.

upper

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors