Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 237: CHILDREN: Provides relative to child welfare. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 237 requires schools in Louisiana to immediately report allegations of physical or sexual abuse against school employees to the state Department of Education. It creates a database tracking these reports and mandates schools check this database before hiring new employees to identify potential patterns of abuse. The bill also requires the Department of Children and Family Services to notify the state child ombudsman within three business days of child abuse or neglect fatalities or near-fatalities, including specific details like prior department involvement. Additionally, it directs the child ombudsman to notify legislators within 24 hours of any child death linked to abuse or neglect investigations. These provisions directly affect schools, school employees, child welfare agencies, and state legislators.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school safety protocols for student protection, aligning with educational environment safeguards by requiring abuse reporting and background checks.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 342: EDUCATION/SPECIAL: Provides that a local education agency shall have the burden of proof in any special education due process hearing relative to the appropriateness of a student's current or proposed program or placement (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 342 requires local education agencies (LEAs) in Louisiana to prove the appropriateness of a student's special education program or placement during due process hearings, shifting the burden of proof from parents to the school district. This directly affects parents of students in special education and the LEAs (like school districts) involved in these disputes. The bill specifies that LEAs must meet this burden by showing the program or placement is appropriate "by a preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The change applies to both current and proposed educational plans in formal due process hearings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationShifts burden of proof to LEAs in special education due process, requiring them to prove program appropriateness, strengthening student protections in educational disputes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 352: STUDENTS: Provides relative to behavioral health services for public school students (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 352 requires Louisiana public school districts to create and publish policies enabling behavioral health services for students during school hours. It allows services in classrooms during instructional time (including core subjects) if parents provide a provider-approved evaluation and treatment plan showing medical necessity, with in-person supervision by certified behavior analysts required. The bill defines key terms like "medically necessary services" and mandates that schools collaborate with providers to schedule services without disrupting school operations or testing. It directly affects public school students needing behavioral health support, their parents, school administrators, and behavioral health providers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires behavioral health services during school hours, enhancing student support and access to mental health care within educational settings.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school policies for behavioral health services during school hours, improving student mental health access and aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 312: APPROPRIATIONS/SUPPLEML: Makes supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses $144M surplus to fulfill pension obligations, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and funding essential retiree benefits without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds Teachers' Retirement System pensions ($77.7M), directly supporting educator benefits per bill's allocation to the Teachers' Retirement System.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 12, 2026

HB 314: REVENUE SHARING: Provides for the Revenue Sharing Distribution for Fiscal Year 2026-2027

HB 314 defines which local governments and special districts will receive state revenue sharing funds for fiscal year 2026-2027. It specifies eligible entities including parishes, school boards, fire protection districts, and water districts (like Red River Waterway District), while excluding certain levee districts and special taxing areas in specific parishes. The bill establishes that funding amounts will be calculated using population data from Louisiana State University’s annual estimates. This clarifies eligibility and distribution rules for Louisiana’s existing revenue sharing program, affecting hundreds of local taxing bodies across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncludes school boards as eligible recipients for state revenue sharing funds, directly supporting K-12 school funding allocation through fiscal distribution mechanism.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 42: RETIREMENT/TEACHERS: Provides relative to a phased retirement program within the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (EN INCREASE FC GF EX See Note)

HB 42 creates a phased retirement program for Louisiana teachers in the Teachers' Retirement System. It allows eligible teachers to gradually transition to full retirement by working reduced hours (e.g., 50% effort = 50% of full benefit) while receiving a proportionally reduced benefit based on their work percentage. During participation, their retirement benefit, compensation, and service credits are frozen at the program start date, and neither they nor their employer pay contributions to the retirement plan. Starting July 2027, employers will cover the full monthly administrative fee for the program, shifting from current cost-sharing. The bill is pending legislative action and would affect current teachers in the system who qualify for phased retirement under their employer’s policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPhased retirement program supports teacher retention by enabling gradual transition, preserving classroom experience, and maintaining educator stability in Louisiana schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 3: CAPITAL OUTLAY: Provides for the Omnibus Bond Act

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes bond framework to fund essential capital improvements and manages state fiscal resources through structured debt financing for public projects.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes bonds for capital improvements including potential student fee-funded projects, which can support school infrastructure and educational facilities.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 807: FUNDS/FUNDING: Establishes the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program to enhance workforce training programs to meet employer demand in certain industry sectors (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)

HB 807 establishes a special fund within Louisiana's state treasury to support the Community and Technical College System's workforce training programs. It directly affects community colleges and private-sector employers in high-demand industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology by providing funding to hire more instructors and expand training capacity. Key provisions include using the fund for rapid-response instructor deployment, recruitment incentives, temporary instructors, and salary supplements - while prohibiting these funds from replacing existing state higher education funding. The program requires annual reporting to legislative committees on fund usage, supported industries, and credentials awarded.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a state treasury fund to allocate resources for workforce training programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for public education and economic development.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes special fund to hire instructors and expand workforce training in community colleges, directly increasing funding for higher education programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds workforce training for healthcare industry sectors via instructor capacity investments, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and employer demand needs.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds IT workforce training programs to meet employer demand in high-demand tech sectors within Louisiana's Community and Technical College System.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 821: LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides for the establishment of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (EN +$250,000 GF EX See Note)

HB 821 establishes the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. The center will administer school and nonprofit security programs, develop statewide safety frameworks (including threat assessment models), and provide training on emergency planning, facility security, and crisis response to schools and nonprofits. It will coordinate with state agencies like the Department of Education and coordinate emergency notification systems while maintaining data privacy. The bill also creates a 13-member advisory council, including education and law enforcement leaders, to review safety frameworks and recommend grant priorities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes school safety center with DE coordination, developing threat assessment models and crisis response training to protect schools and students.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 325: TOPS: Provides relative to TOPS-Tech (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 325 revises Louisiana's TOPS-Tech scholarship eligibility by adding a new pathway for students to qualify. Instead of requiring only a minimum GPA or ACT score, students can now qualify by completing at least nine credit hours of early college coursework (through dual enrollment or technical programs) or equivalent validated skills. This change applies to first-time freshmen enrolling in college during or after the 2026-2027 academic year. The bill directly affects Louisiana students seeking this career-focused scholarship by expanding how they can meet academic requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds alternative pathway for TOPS-Tech eligibility via early college coursework, expanding access to higher education scholarships for Louisiana students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education