HB 75 modifies Louisiana's gaming regulations to set new limits on how casinos can deduct promotional play (free gaming credits or comps) from their taxable revenue. It establishes two limits: a fixed annual cap of $5 million for promotional play deductions, or a rising percentage of taxable revenue (4% starting 2027, 7% in 2028, 10% after 2029), whichever is greater. This directly affects licensed casino operators in Louisiana by restricting how much they can offset their taxable income through promotional activities. The bill updates definitions in Sections 27:44 and 27:205 to implement these deduction rules, effective from 2027 onward.
This bill authorizes the city of Slidell, Louisiana, to potentially impose a tax on hotel room occupancy, but only if voters approve it through a local election. The tax would be limited to a maximum of two percent on hotel room fees and would be collected from guests when they pay for their stay. If approved, the city government would create the tax through an ordinance and could contract with tax collection agencies to administer it. Any revenue generated from the tax must be used to fund recreational facilities or other tourism-related projects specified in the voter-approved proposition.
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 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.
HB 383 establishes and manages special "ancillary funds" (like internal service or enterprise funds) for Louisiana state agencies to cover operational costs of services they provide to other state departments, such as IT support or employee benefits. It appropriates $2.17 billion for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, primarily funded by fees and self-generated revenues (e.g., $2.17B for the Office of Group Benefits covering state employee health insurance). Agencies must return unspent funds by August 14, 2027, if not renewed, and larger agencies must implement internal audit oversight. This bill directly affects state agencies managing internal services, not the public, by standardizing how they finance and account for these operational costs.
This bill amends Louisiana state laws to allow the city of St. George to levy a premium tax on insurance and to charge new developments for their share of public infrastructure costs. The legislation authorizes the city to collect these funds to help cover essential government expenses and expand roads, drainage, water, and wastewater systems needed due to new construction. To ensure fairness, the law requires the city to prepare detailed plans and hold public hearings before implementing any charges on new projects. These changes specifically apply to municipalities incorporated after 2010 that are located within large parishes, aiming to provide a predictable way for local governments to fund infrastructure growth.
This bill requires Louisiana Medicaid to cover FDA-approved weight loss medications for eligible adults over eighteen. To qualify, patients must have a BMI of 30 or higher with at least one related health condition like diabetes or hypertension, or a BMI of 35 or higher without additional conditions. Coverage will require prior authorization limited to verifying these eligibility criteria, with initial approval for six months and continued coverage depending on documented clinical improvement. The bill also prohibits step therapy requirements for these medications and mandates that the Department of Health implement the coverage while maintaining fiscal sustainability.
HB 324 sets specific salary increases for Louisiana judges starting July 1, 2026, directly affecting justices of the Supreme Court, appellate and district court judges, and city/parish court judges. It provides immediate raises of $12,129 for Supreme Court justices, $11,431 for appellate judges, and $10,723 for district judges, with city/parish court increases matching district court percentages. Future increases of 2.7% in 2027 and 2.1% in 2028 are contingent on annual approval by the Louisiana Supreme Court and Judicial Budgetary Control Board, pending sufficient funding. The 2026 adjustments are funded by judiciary reserves, while future increases may be suspended if funding is insufficient.
This bill establishes a framework for Louisiana to manage its state capital improvement projects through a five-year bond program. It repeals outdated bond authorizations that cannot be used due to inflation or impracticality while authorizing new bonds for essential projects. The State Bond Commission will issue general obligation bonds to fund capital improvements, with some projects requiring dedicated revenue streams like student fees to cover debt payments. This legislation creates a systematic process for updating bond authorizations annually to ensure only feasible and necessary projects receive funding.
HB 549 creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide grants to eligible Louisiana employers for workforce training. The program uses a state fund to award up to $2,000 per qualified employee for training lasting no more than six months that results in industry-recognized, transferable credentials. Funds cover classroom and on-the-job training costs but cannot be used for equipment, licensing, or basic skills training. Employers must be physically located in Louisiana, comply with state tax laws, and partner with approved training providers like community colleges or apprenticeship centers.
