HIGHER EDUCATION: Provides relative to initial eligibility requirements for the M.J. Foster Promise Program (EN -$1,100,000 SD EX See Note)
HB 407 lowers the minimum age requirement for Louisiana's M.J. Foster Promise Program, a state-funded higher education assistance program. The bill phases in reduced age thresholds over several academic years: applicants must be at least 20 for 2024-2025, 19 for 2025-2026, 18 for 2026-2027, and 17 for 2027-2028 onward. This change directly affects prospective college students seeking program eligibility based on their age at application. The policy modifies existing eligibility rules to allow younger applicants to qualify for tuition assistance at Louisiana public colleges and universities.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 25, 2026
Signed Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB407 Original
→
HB407 Act 642
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the M.J. Foster Promise Program by significantly lowering the initial age requirements for recipients and extending the program's timeline. It replaces the previous rule requiring applicants to be at least 21 years old with a phased schedule allowing eligibility starting at 20, 19, 18, 17, and 17 years old over several award years. The legislation also mandates a report to the legislature by January 1, 2028, to review the program's impact and future age requirements.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligibility for the M.J. Foster Promise Program by lowering the minimum age threshold from 21 to as low as 17 years old, allowing younger foster care alumni to access financial assistance earlier.
ELIGIBILITY
Replaced the single minimum age requirement of 21 years old with a tiered schedule allowing eligibility at ages 20, 19, 18, 17, and 17 for subsequent award years.
REQUIREMENT
Added a new requirement for the administering agency to submit a report to the House and Senate education committees by January 1, 2028, detailing applicant numbers, recipient ages, fiscal impact, and recommendations for future age limits.
TIMELINE
Updated the effective date of the new age requirements to July 1, 2026, aligning with the start of the 2026-2027 award year.
Floor votes · Senate May 27, 2026 · House Apr 8, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 27, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 25, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (12-2).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ed Larvadain
DDemocratic
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