Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 482: TOPS: Revises the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS-Tech award and provides for the award amount at public colleges and universities (EG +$3,200,000 GF EX See Note)

HB 482 proposes to increase the TOPS-Tech scholarship award amount to $4,500 annually for students enrolled in eligible programs at Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) institutions, effective for first-time freshmen enrolling in 2026-2027 or later. It revises eligibility by requiring students to meet only two of three academic benchmarks (minimum GPA, ACT score, or early college credits) instead of all three, and allows deferral of award acceptance until age 25 for LCTCS students. The bill also adjusts academic progress requirements, including a minimum 2.00 GPA and continuous enrollment standards, to maintain eligibility. These changes directly affect Louisiana students pursuing technical degrees at LCTCS colleges.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases TOPS-Tech scholarship funding to $4,500/year and lowers eligibility requirements, expanding access to higher education financial aid at LCTCS institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 105: TOPS: Provides relative to TOPS eligibility. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 105 amends Louisiana's TOPS program to expand eligibility for the TOPS-Tech Award to veterans honorably discharged from U.S. military installations located in Louisiana. To qualify, veterans must earn a 17+ ACT score (or equivalent SAT/ACT WorkKeys silver level) and submit their DD-214 discharge documents. The bill specifically applies to the 2020-2023 academic years and targets veterans who served at Louisiana military bases. It modifies existing eligibility rules without changing funding or creating new benefits, focusing solely on qualifying veterans for technical college financial aid.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access for veterans by modifying TOPS-Tech eligibility criteria without reducing funding.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands TOPS-Tech eligibility for Louisiana veterans with military discharge docs, meeting ACT score requirement, directly advancing educational benefits for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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 · 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 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

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

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

Sub-Topics Higher 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

Sub-Topics Higher 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

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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