Education

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 912: COSMETOLOGY: Provides relative to cosmetology

HB 912 defines "alternative hair design" as styling techniques like braiding, weaving, or locking hair (using synthetic or natural hair) without chemical treatments, and creates a new certification for "alternative hairstylists." It requires the state cosmetology board to include one alternative hairstylist member and sets specific education requirements for obtaining this certification. The bill also establishes teacher certification pathways specifically for teaching alternative hair design and mandates that salons specializing in this service must employ a licensed manager (e.g., a cosmetologist or alternative hairstylist). These changes directly affect hairstylists, salon owners, and educators in Louisiana who practice or teach alternative hair design.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates teacher certification pathways for teaching alternative hair design curriculum, expanding vocational education opportunities within cosmetology training programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Louisiana · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 910: TAX CREDITS: Exempts the Dept. of Education from enrollment verification requirements for certain students

HB 910 exempts the Louisiana Department of Education from verifying student enrollment in public schools for scholarship recipients from school tuition organizations. Specifically, it removes the requirement that the Department check if students were enrolled in Louisiana public schools on October 1st or February 1st for those attending public elementary/secondary laboratory schools operated by colleges or universities. This change streamlines administrative processes for these specific students without altering the tax credit eligibility rules. The bill directly affects students in public lab schools and the Department of Education’s verification workflow. It does not impact other scholarship recipients or the tax credit amount itself.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves administrative barrier for scholarship students in college-operated lab schools, facilitating access to educational funding without direct funding increase.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 346: SCHOOLS: Prohibits the use of deepfake material against students enrolled in K-12. (8/1/26)

SB 346 prohibits K-12 schools and staff from creating or sharing deepfake audio or video content intended to coerce, harass, intimidate, or maliciously distribute against students. It defines "deepfake" as digitally altered media falsely appearing authentic (excluding political satire, news commentary, or clearly disclosed parodies), and requires the State Board of Education to develop implementation rules. The law directly affects all Louisiana public and private K-12 students and school employees, banning the use of manipulated media for harmful purposes. Key provisions include clear prohibitions on malicious deepfakes while preserving protected speech like satire, with enforcement through state education rules. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits deepfakes targeting students, enhancing school safety and protecting educational environment within K-12 context.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits malicious deepfake use in schools, protecting student privacy and digital rights from AI-generated harassment, aligning with data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 445: EDUCATION: Provides relative to the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 445 transfers Louisiana's STEM Advisory Council from the Department of Education to Louisiana Works and redefines its responsibilities. The bill requires the council to create a statewide STEM education plan, coordinate programs with workforce needs, encourage industry funding, and establish a resource clearinghouse. It creates a dedicated STEM Education Fund to support student-focused programs (including robotics competitions via FIRST) from pre-K through college, funded by legislative appropriations and private donations. The council must submit annual reports to education committees and meet quarterly, with members able to participate electronically. This bill directly affects STEM education programs, schools, and industry partners across Louisiana.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates dedicated STEM Education Fund for student programs (pre-K-college), including robotics, aligning with education funding and program enhancement indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds STEM education programs including robotics competitions via FIRST, directly supporting technology education and workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher 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

Sub-Topics School Safety Testing & Assessment

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 818: STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Provides relative to student assessments (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill limits standardized testing time burden, increasing instructional time for students and teachers, aligning with educational well-being and reducing testing stress.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers Testing & Assessment

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 274: HIGHER EDUCATION: Provides relative to initial eligibility requirements for the M.J. Foster Promise Program (OR INCREASE SD EX See Note)

HB 274 amends Louisiana's M.J. Foster Promise Program eligibility rules to allow students with certain criminal convictions to qualify for financial aid. It removes disqualification for 12 specific non-violent offenses (like second-degree battery, simple robbery, and aggravated arson) that were previously listed as disqualifying crimes. Previously, any conviction for a "crime of violence" barred applicants, but this bill creates exceptions for these 12 offenses under R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(f). The change directly affects students enrolled in two-year public colleges or qualifying programs who were previously ineligible due to these specific convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves disqualification for 12 non-violent offenses from financial aid eligibility, promoting rehabilitation access and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers to higher education financial aid by allowing students with certain non-violent convictions to qualify, expanding educational access under the M.J. Foster Promise Program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 317: STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Prohibits the assignment of prekindergarten or kindergarten students to an alternative school unless suspended or expelled for certain infractions

HB 317 prohibits Louisiana schools from assigning prekindergarten or kindergarten students to alternative schools for any disciplinary reason except when a student is suspended or expelled for serious misconduct involving drugs, weapons, assault, or battery. This directly affects young children in early education, preventing their placement in alternative schools for minor behavioral issues like disruptions or minor conflicts. The bill changes existing discipline practices by restricting alternative school assignments for these grades to only the most severe infractions defined in state law. It aims to limit early exclusion of very young students from mainstream learning environments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents minor behavioral issues in young children from triggering alternative school placements, reducing early criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to avoid school-to-prison pipeline.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents early childhood students from being moved to alternative schools for minor infractions, protecting their access to regular education settings and promoting positive school environments.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime K-12 Education

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 256: SCHOOLS/EMPLOYEES: Provides that school employees are subject to existing requirements pertaining to mandatory reporters, including certain training provided by the Department of Children and Family Services

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures school employees comply with mandatory child abuse reporting laws, removing charter school exemptions and strengthening student safety protocols in educational settings.90% confidence

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 142: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Requires postsecondary education management boards to continue to comply with the conditions on all Board of Regents Support Fund matches. (gov sig)

SB 142 requires public university management boards in Louisiana to maintain compliance with the original conditions attached to Board of Regents Support Fund matches. Specifically, it ensures that nonstate contributions matched with public funds (through endowment programs) must continue to follow their initial terms, including preserving the original matching funds' purpose and not altering the combined corpus of state and nonstate contributions. This directly affects all public postsecondary institutions receiving these matched funds, as they must uphold the same rules governing how those funds are used, invested, and protected. The bill does not create new programs but reinforces existing requirements for handling these specific state-matched endowments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires compliance with original conditions on matching funds for public universities, protecting existing support structure and preventing diversion of state/nonstate contributions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education