HB 313 moves $144 million in one-time surplus funds from Louisiana's State General Fund (using FY2024-2025 budget surplus) to the Budget Stabilization Fund. This is a routine budget adjustment that reallocates existing state treasury funds without creating new programs or affecting specific groups. The bill authorizes the state treasurer to make this transfer and specifies it becomes effective after gubernatorial action or legislative override. It directly affects state financial management but does not change laws or services for citizens.
HB 394 proposes changes to Louisiana's parole process for inmates requiring rehabilitative programs before release. It creates "conditional parole" allowing prisoners to be released pending completion of specific reentry programs - such as regional reentry initiatives or workforce development programs at Louisiana State Penitentiary or the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women - within a 24-month window. If approved, prisoners must complete the program and then appear before the parole board for a final release decision. The bill directly affects inmates in Louisiana state prisons who need such programs to ensure public safety and successful reintegration. The bill is currently pending in the Legislature's Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice (prefiled February 2026).
HB 818 limits the time Louisiana public school students spend on standardized tests to no more than 2% of annual instructional time starting in 2027-2028, excluding college exams, accommodations for students with disabilities, and teacher-selected classroom assessments. It requires schools and the state education department to publish annual, publicly accessible schedules of all required tests online by specific deadlines, listing details like test names, grade levels, administration dates, and time estimates. The bill mandates that these schedules exclude locally developed tests not required by federal or state law and must be updated within 10 business days of any changes. This directly affects Louisiana public school students, teachers, and school districts by standardizing test transparency and restricting testing time.
HB 289 sets a minimum three-day waiting period between a felony conviction and sentencing in Louisiana courts. It requires courts to delay sentencing for at least 24 hours after denying a motion for a new trial or arrest of judgment. Defendants may waive this waiting period by pleading guilty or expressly agreeing to immediate sentencing. The bill directly affects felony defendants in Louisiana criminal cases by standardizing timing between conviction and sentencing. It does not change sentencing guidelines or penalties, only the procedural timeline.
HB 726 increases penalties for abandoning boats or vessels in Louisiana by doubling the fines for this specific violation. The bill directly affects boat owners who intentionally leave vessels on public property, private land without permission, or in state waters. It amends existing law to explicitly double the criminal penalties for abandoning boats or boating accessories, as outlined in Section 2531.1(A)(2). This change applies to all vessels covered under the littering statute, including boats and related equipment. The law focuses on strengthening enforcement against vessel abandonment as a form of illegal disposal.
HB 548 updates Louisiana's rules for certifying and regulating certified public accountants (CPAs), directly affecting current license holders, applicants seeking licensure, and out-of-state CPAs wanting to practice in Louisiana. It sets new education requirements (150 semester hours including an accounting concentration) and experience rules (1-2 years depending on education), while creating a "substantial equivalency" system to recognize other states' licensing standards. The bill expands the State Board's authority to investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and adopt rules governing CPAs, and establishes clear pathways for out-of-state CPAs to practice without reapplying if their credentials match Louisiana's standards. These changes aim to standardize licensing and simplify cross-state practice for qualified professionals.
HB 749 authorizes Louisiana’s Tuition Trust Authority to hire a private program manager to administer three existing savings programs: ABLE (for people with disabilities), START (for college savings), and START K12 (for K-12 education). It allows the authority to contract with this manager for account management and investment of funds after December 31, 2026, or when the contract is signed - whichever comes later. Until that date, the state continues managing interest rates, investments, and fund transfers under current rules. The bill updates statutes to formalize this transition and requires coordination with the state treasurer and legislative leaders. This change affects how Louisiana’s education savings programs operate, shifting administrative control to a contracted provider while maintaining existing program structures.
SB 398 establishes new regulations for manufactured and modular housing in Louisiana. It creates a Residential Contractors Subcommittee to oversee licensing, sets minimum installation standards, and defines key terms like "manufactured home" (built to federal HUD safety standards) and "modular home" (built to local building codes). The bill affects manufacturers, developers, residential contractors, and homeowners by requiring licenses, warranties, and adherence to safety rules for factory-built homes. It repeals outdated sections of law and clarifies enforcement by municipalities and the fire marshal.
HB 867 changes how the chief of police is selected in the town of Fordoche, Louisiana. It requires the mayor to appoint the chief (with majority approval from the town's board of aldermen), replacing the previous system where the position was elected by voters. The appointed chief serves the same term as the mayor and aldermen, reports directly to the mayor, and has specific duties and qualifications set by the aldermen through an ordinance. The bill does not affect current officeholders until their term ends or the position becomes vacant.
HB 772 updates Louisiana's bail procedures by requiring defendants and bail sureties (including bail companies) to provide accurate mailing addresses and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers on bail documents. It mandates that courts send arrest warrant notices to defendants, bail agents, and sureties within 30 days of a missed court appearance, using the addresses provided under the new rules. The bill also sets a 60-day deadline for sending notice to commercial sureties, after which they are released from bail obligations. These changes, found in Articles 329 and 333 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, aim to ensure proper notice delivery while clarifying procedural requirements for bail forfeiture cases.
HB 256 clarifies that school employees, including those in charter schools, must follow existing mandatory reporter laws. It directly affects teachers, staff, and other school employees who are already required to report suspected child abuse under Louisiana law. The bill amends two statutes to ensure school employees comply with training and reporting requirements previously mandated for child care providers, removing any ambiguity about charter schools being exempt. This creates a consistent policy requiring all school employees to complete Department of Children and Family Services training and report suspected abuse.
HB 433 renames the "Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce" to "Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership" and updates its role in appointing members to boards governing six East Baton Rouge Parish economic development districts (including Downtown, Inner City, Florida Boulevard, and Plank Road districts). The bill requires the Chamber to submit nominee lists for specific board seats, such as one appointment to the Downtown Development District board and one to the Plank Road Business District board. It also formally defines this renamed entity as a "regional economic development organization" in Louisiana law, affecting how these districts are governed. The changes apply directly to the governance structures of these economic development entities and their board appointments.
