Education

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 628: EARLY CHILDHOOD: Authorizes a school board to engage in a cooperative endeavor with a licensed early learning center to operate a microcenter at a school

HB 628 allows Louisiana school boards to partner with licensed early learning centers (Type III providers) to operate "microcenters" within schools for three-year-olds. These microcenters must meet all standards required of licensed early learning centers and prioritize serving economically disadvantaged children. The bill creates a formal framework for school boards and early learning centers to collaborate on early childhood education and care programs in school settings. It directly affects school districts, licensed early learning centers, and three-year-old children, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. The policy change establishes a new operational model for early childhood education without altering existing licensing requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes school-early learning center partnerships to expand early childhood access for disadvantaged students, directly advancing educational access and program development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 448: STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Authorizes scholarships provided for firefighters and police officers injured in the line of duty and spouses of firefighters and police officers injured or killed in the line of duty to be used for any postgraduate degree (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 448 expands existing scholarship programs to allow firefighters injured in the line of duty (or their spouses if the firefighter was killed or seriously injured resulting in inability to work) to use their benefits for master's degree programs, not just bachelor's degrees. The bill maintains full tuition and fee waivers (including room and board) and a $250-per-semester book stipend for qualifying individuals who maintain a "C" average. Eligibility requires meeting college entrance requirements and academic standards as full-time students. The policy change, funded by Louisiana's general state fund, applies to both injured firefighters and their spouses directly affected by on-duty injuries or fatalities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship eligibility to include master's degrees for firefighters' families, enhancing higher education access and opportunity within existing funding structure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands educational benefits for firefighters injured on duty, supporting career advancement and worker welfare through master's degree eligibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 531: STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Provides relative to student disciplinary processes with respect to suspensions and expulsions

This Louisiana bill modifies student discipline procedures for suspensions and expulsions. It gives parents 5 days to request a school board review of expulsion recommendations and up to 10 school days to appeal to district court if the school board upholds the expulsion. The bill also repeals mandatory expulsion requirements for certain offenses. These changes directly affect parents and students in Louisiana public schools facing disciplinary action.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRepeals mandatory expulsions for certain offenses and adds due process, protecting students' educational access and fairness in disciplinary actions.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 935: TOPS: Provides for TOPS awards to students enrolled in graduate medical sciences at certain institutions (OR +$45,600 GF EX See Note)

HB 935 amends Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program to allow students who complete undergraduate degrees early (in under eight semesters) to continue receiving full scholarship benefits for graduate medical sciences programs. It applies only to nonpublic colleges or universities that meet four specific criteria: offering graduate medical sciences programs, being physically collocated with a public university since 2020, billing tuition through that public institution, and not being part of Louisiana's independent colleges association. Students must maintain academic standards to retain the award. This policy change expands TOPS coverage to graduate medical education at qualifying institutions without altering the core scholarship structure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends TOPS scholarship funding to graduate medical programs, expanding higher education access and financial support for students in specific STEM fields.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 935 expands funding for medical education by allowing TOPS scholarships for graduate medical sciences, directly supporting healthcare workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 133: CRIME/BATTERY: Provides relative to certain battery offenses against school employees (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

This Louisiana bill creates a specific offense for battery against school teachers, defined as battery committed when the perpetrator knows the victim is a teacher or targets them due to their job. It sets harsher penalties for non-student offenders (up to 5 years in jail or $5,000 fine) versus students (up to 1.5 years jail with 72 hours mandatory for minor cases, or up to 1 year for injuries requiring medical care). Juvenile offenders under 17 are handled under the Children's Code, requiring court-approved counseling (costs borne by the family) and secure detention for teens 14+ who commit this crime. The law applies to all school teachers during work duties and modifies juvenile court procedures for such offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates specific offense with harsher penalties for battery against teachers, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences beyond standard battery charges.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects teachers from assault with enhanced penalties, directly supporting educator safety in schools per bill's explicit focus on teacher-targeted battery offenses.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases penalties for battery against teachers (workplace safety), protecting workers from assault in professional environment per job targeting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice School Safety Teachers

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

Sub-Topics Special Education

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 651: TAX/TAX REBATES: Establishes the Instructor Share Rebate Program for an employer who allows employees to teach in the La. Community and Technical College System (OR DECREASE GF RV See Note)

HB 651 creates a tax rebate program for Louisiana employers who allow employees to teach at the state's community and technical colleges. It provides a 50% rebate on the employer's cost for this arrangement, with an annual cap starting at $1 million in 2027 (increasing up to $5.5 million yearly if demand is high). Employers must apply between January 1-March 1 each year, with rebates awarded on a first-come basis or pro rata if demand exceeds the cap. The program begins January 1, 2027, and funds come from existing state tax collections.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a tax rebate program (50% employer cost reimbursement) with budget caps, providing tax relief to incentivize employer participation in education, directly advancing tax policy for public service funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides 50% tax rebates to employers for teaching at community colleges, increasing funding access and expanding higher education opportunities through employer participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Higher Education

Track

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

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 285: SCHOOLS/BOARDS: Authorizes a school board to engage in a cooperative endeavor with a credit union or bank to operate a branch at a high school

HB 285 allows Louisiana high school boards to partner with credit unions to operate on-site branches at high schools. The bill requires these branches to be integrated into the state-mandated financial literacy course (R.S. 17:270), giving students hands-on experience managing personal finances. School boards must establish rules for outside use of buildings, including fees, under this new partnership framework. The policy directly affects high school students, school boards, and credit unions by embedding practical financial education into existing coursework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIntegrates credit union branches into mandatory financial literacy course, providing hands-on student financial management experience as part of curriculum.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 28: TEACHERS: Provides relative to associate teachers. (gov sig)

SB 28 lowers the minimum age requirement for associate teachers in Louisiana from 25 to 21 years old. This change directly affects individuals seeking to join Louisiana's associate educator program as new participants. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 17:7.8(B)(3)) to update this age requirement, with no other substantive policy changes described in the text. The bill is currently in early stages, having been prefilled and referred to the Education Committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLowers associate teacher age requirement from 25 to 21, expanding potential educator pool and supporting teacher recruitment in Louisiana's education system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers