Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 1203: EDUCATION: Provides relative to parent-driven learning microschools

This bill amends Louisiana statutes to create legal protections for parent-driven learning microschools and public school learning pods. It allows parents to group their children together for personalized education in private homes or other buildings without triggering zoning changes or additional fire safety regulations. The legislation also exempts these microschools from standard licensure requirements and clarifies that they cannot be forced to register with government agencies. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of public school learning pods to include small group instruction settings and directs the state law institute to update related terminology.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by legalizing parent-driven microschools and removing licensure barriers, allowing more flexible learning options.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 1003: SCHOOLS: Provides relative to overcapacity of schools within certain school districts (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

This bill requires Louisiana school districts to create policies for identifying and addressing overcapacity, where too many schools exist relative to student enrollment and facility needs. It mandates that superintendents annually report on overcapacity status and recommend specific actions, such as closing schools or terminating charter contracts, to reduce the number of operating schools. The law allows school boards to end charter agreements early if overcapacity exists and prohibits new schools from opening in areas already facing excess capacity. Additionally, the bill clarifies that school districts can lease or sell vacant properties to charter schools without being subject to certain state requirements when these actions are taken to resolve overcapacity.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill aims to address school overcapacity by closing excess schools, which can improve educational quality and resource allocation per student.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 1058: TOPS: Requires the Board of Regents to establish and maintain a data administration system for the collection of uniform data on all state financial assistance (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill requires Louisiana's Board of Regents to create a data system for collecting consistent information on all state financial aid programs. It directly affects postsecondary institutions that accept students receiving Taylor Opportunity Program for Students awards, as they must submit the required data. The system will track financial aid trends, effectiveness, and student outcomes to help evaluate how well these programs work. Institutions must follow the specific data format determined by the administering agency to ensure uniform reporting across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes data system to track financial aid effectiveness and student outcomes, improving program evaluation and educational access for postsecondary institutions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 441: STUDENTS: Provides relative to programs for prekindergarten-aged children. (gov sig) (EN -$6,530 GF RV See Note)

This bill establishes and regulates prekindergarten programs in Louisiana by setting child safety and welfare standards for both public and nonpublic schools. It requires all prekindergarten programs to maintain specific staff-to-child ratios and ensure at least two staff members are present when more than four children are in a facility. The legislation also mandates that nonpublic prekindergarten programs be licensed as early learning centers and requires parents to acknowledge that these programs are not subject to federal daycare regulations. Additionally, the bill directs local school boards to develop mixed provider delivery models for full-day, year-round prekindergarten instruction starting in the 2023-2024 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes and regulates prekindergarten programs, setting safety standards and staff requirements to enhance early education access and quality.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 304: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Provides for accreditation for public colleges and universities. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 304 establishes new rules for accrediting Louisiana's public colleges and universities, giving the Board of Regents authority to set accreditation policies. It directly affects all public postsecondary institutions and their management boards (like those for LSU, Southern University, and community colleges). Key provisions require institutions to get management board approval before switching accreditors, mandate that new accreditors must prioritize student success, educational quality, affordability, and financial stability, and prohibit any accreditor from conditioning accreditation on legal violations. The bill also requires institutions to publicly post accreditation status updates on their websites.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates accreditors prioritize student success and educational quality, strengthening oversight for public universities per bill's core provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 363: STUDENTS: Authorizes students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in public school activities

HB 363 allows students enrolled in virtual schools to join public school extracurricular activities and sports teams at their neighborhood school based on where they live. It requires schools to treat virtual students the same as in-person students for tryouts, eligibility, and participation standards like grades and conduct. The bill prohibits schools from excluding virtual students from activities solely due to their enrollment type and bans participation in athletic associations that deny such students eligibility. This directly affects virtual school students in Louisiana and the public schools they reside near.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by requiring equal participation in activities for virtual students, removing enrollment-based barriers per bill language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 351: CORRECTIONS: Provides relative to the reentry preparation program (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 351 repeals two specific provisions related to Louisiana's reentry preparation program for formerly incarcerated individuals. It removes a requirement (R.S. 15:827.1(E)) about reentry programs and eliminates an entrepreneurial educational curriculum component within that program. This bill directly affects inmates participating in Louisiana's reentry programs by removing these specific policy requirements from state law. The change is procedural, with no new requirements or funding added.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves entrepreneurial curriculum from reentry program, reducing rehabilitation components per bill summary95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves entrepreneurial educational curriculum component from reentry program, directly eliminating an educational requirement for formerly incarcerated individuals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 399: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Creates the Louisiana Higher Education Research Security Council. (1/1/27) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 399 creates the Louisiana Higher Education Research Security Council to protect the state's colleges and universities from foreign adversaries. The law requires institutions to report and restrict gifts, contracts, research partnerships, and academic collaborations with entities from countries or groups designated as foreign adversaries, while prohibiting certain travel and gifts from such sources. It defines key terms like "foreign adversary" and "foreign source," and includes penalties for violations, such as the theft of trade secrets. The bill directly affects all Louisiana institutions of higher education that grant degrees or have a physical presence in the state.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts foreign research partnerships and gifts at universities, limiting academic collaborations per security mandates.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 522: SCHOOLS: Provides for approval for charter schools that specialize in vocational and technical education to meet workforce demands for high demand and high wage jobs. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

This bill creates a new pathway for establishing vocational and technical charter schools in Louisiana that bypass local school boards and go directly to the state board for approval. To qualify, these schools must offer programs aligned with high-demand, high-wage jobs in sectors like manufacturing, technology, and energy, and they must receive a formal resolution of support from the State Board of Commerce and Industry. The legislation allows up to 50% of student enrollment to be reserved for children of employees or residents working in the specific industry the school serves, while also permitting industry representatives to sit on the school's governing board. Additionally, the bill requires charter agreements to include memorandums of understanding with local businesses to provide support such as internships and career counseling.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a specific approval pathway for vocational and technical charter schools, expanding educational access and enhancing student programs for workforce preparation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 13: TEACHERS RETIREMENT: Provides relative to the determination of employer contributions and amortization of certain actuarial gains. (gov sig) (EN SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE FC)

SB 13 modifies how Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System calculates employer contributions and handles investment returns. It changes the method for applying excess investment returns to reduce the system's debt, specifically requiring reamortization (resetting payment schedules) when the system reaches 80% funding or every five years starting in 2019. This affects the state's payments into the retirement fund and directly impacts public school teachers' retirement benefits. The bill repeals outdated calculation rules and clarifies how future contributions will be applied to the system's debt.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill modifies retirement funding to apply excess returns toward debt reduction, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget management.92% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill modifies retirement system funding method, reducing state contributions by applying investment returns to debt reduction, directly impacting teacher benefits and potentially weakening retirement security.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentModifies retirement funding to secure teacher benefits by reducing system debt, preventing underfunding of retirement obligations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education