Finance

This bill requires the Louisiana Department of Health to set minimum reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation services used by Medicaid recipients. It establishes a minimum payment of $14.50 per trip plus $2.10 per mile for transportation providers. The Louisiana Department of Health must implement these changes by October 1, 2026, through a Medicaid state plan amendment. This policy change directly affects transportation providers serving Medicaid patients and the state's healthcare administration.

HB 1 is Louisiana's budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, allocating state funds for the ordinary operating expenses of all state government departments and offices. It specifies funding amounts for departments like the Executive Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of State, and others, covering day-to-day operations such as administrative costs, elections, and state programs. This bill does not create new policies or programs; it directs existing budget resources to maintain current government functions. It directly affects state agencies by providing their operational funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

HB 312 allocates $144 million in supplemental funding from the 2024-2025 state budget surplus to pay down existing pension obligations for Louisiana's state retirement systems. It directly affects retirees covered by the Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, and Teachers' Retirement System. The bill uses specific dollar amounts ($4.8M, $1.8M, $60M, and $77.7M respectively) to cover unpaid pension liabilities for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, drawing solely from the state's surplus funds without new taxes or fees. This is a routine budget adjustment to fulfill existing financial commitments, not a new policy change.

This bill establishes the comprehensive capital outlay budget for Louisiana state government, institutions, and public entities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, allocating specific funding amounts for designated projects and improvements. It outlines how funds will be sourced from the state treasury, federal funds, and self-generated revenues, with particular attention to general obligation bonds and their priority system for funding projects. The legislation sets rules for project prioritization, allowing the State Bond Commission to fund higher priority projects first while permitting exceptions for emergencies or impractical situations, and requires legislative approval for changes to project descriptions or priority designations.

HB 983 allocates approximately $229.6 million in state funds to cover the operational expenses of Louisiana's judicial system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, and related judicial bodies by providing financial support for salaries, administrative costs, retirement benefits, and specialized programs. Key provisions include funding for judge and staff compensation, the Judicial Administrator's Office, the Judiciary Commission, the Law Library, the Judicial College, and various support services such as the Louisiana Protective Order Registry and the Families in Need of Services Program. The legislation also covers information technology expenses and contributions to judicial retirement and pension systems.