HB 383 establishes and manages special "ancillary funds" (like internal service or enterprise funds) for Louisiana state agencies to cover operational costs of services they provide to other state departments, such as IT support or employee benefits. It appropriates $2.17 billion for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, primarily funded by fees and self-generated revenues (e.g., $2.17B for the Office of Group Benefits covering state employee health insurance). Agencies must return unspent funds by August 14, 2027, if not renewed, and larger agencies must implement internal audit oversight. This bill directly affects state agencies managing internal services, not the public, by standardizing how they finance and account for these operational costs.
This bill amends Louisiana state laws to allow the city of St. George to levy a premium tax on insurance and to charge new developments for their share of public infrastructure costs. The legislation authorizes the city to collect these funds to help cover essential government expenses and expand roads, drainage, water, and wastewater systems needed due to new construction. To ensure fairness, the law requires the city to prepare detailed plans and hold public hearings before implementing any charges on new projects. These changes specifically apply to municipalities incorporated after 2010 that are located within large parishes, aiming to provide a predictable way for local governments to fund infrastructure growth.
HB 776 updates Louisiana's Port Construction and Development Priority Program. It requires port authorities to provide local matching funds (10% for standard projects, 20% for large, 30% for very large) before state funds from the Transportation Trust Fund can be used. The bill also modifies how the department contracts with entities like LSU's Ports Institute for project evaluation and mandates quarterly public hearings for project prioritization. Projects not funded in one year retain their priority and carry forward to the next fiscal year, with the legislature prohibited from adding new projects to the approved list.
HB 324 sets specific salary increases for Louisiana judges starting July 1, 2026, directly affecting justices of the Supreme Court, appellate and district court judges, and city/parish court judges. It provides immediate raises of $12,129 for Supreme Court justices, $11,431 for appellate judges, and $10,723 for district judges, with city/parish court increases matching district court percentages. Future increases of 2.7% in 2027 and 2.1% in 2028 are contingent on annual approval by the Louisiana Supreme Court and Judicial Budgetary Control Board, pending sufficient funding. The 2026 adjustments are funded by judiciary reserves, while future increases may be suspended if funding is insufficient.
This bill establishes a framework for Louisiana to manage its state capital improvement projects through a five-year bond program. It repeals outdated bond authorizations that cannot be used due to inflation or impracticality while authorizing new bonds for essential projects. The State Bond Commission will issue general obligation bonds to fund capital improvements, with some projects requiring dedicated revenue streams like student fees to cover debt payments. This legislation creates a systematic process for updating bond authorizations annually to ensure only feasible and necessary projects receive funding.
HB 386 clarifies funding rules for Louisiana charter schools by requiring that Type 1, 3, 3B (non-LEA), and Type 4 charter schools receive per-pupil funding based on the state's minimum foundation program, adjusted for student needs. The bill allows these schools to operate as their own local education agency (LEA) for funding purposes with local school board approval, while Type 2 and 5 charter schools are automatically treated as the LEA. It also authorizes the state to withhold 0.25% of certain fees from charter schools to cover administrative costs for financial oversight. This affects all Louisiana charter schools receiving state funding and standardizes their financial relationship with local districts.
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.
HB 398 sets a federal benchmark for state travel expenses by requiring all Louisiana state agencies (judicial, legislative, and executive branches) to reimburse employees for lodging, meals, and incidental costs at rates not exceeding those established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). It directly affects state officials and employees traveling on official business, capping reimbursements at federal GSA rates unless specific conference lodging is proven cheaper than commuting. Exceptions allow full reimbursement for reserved conference lodging if documented cost savings exist. The rule takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to expenses incurred on or after that date.
This Louisiana state resolution asks the U.S. Congress to create a federal tax-advantaged savings account program for disaster-related expenses. The proposed federal legislation would allow individuals to open special accounts where contributions are tax-deductible, with funds that can be withdrawn tax-free only to pay for qualified costs like insurance deductibles and uninsured losses from floods, hurricanes, or windstorms. Similar programs already exist in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, where taxpayers are limited to one account per person. If the federal government adopts this idea, it would function similarly to existing health savings accounts but specifically for weather-related emergencies.
HB 145 creates a new program to cover uncovered medical and dental expenses for full-time firemen and law enforcement officers (including sheriffs, state police, municipal police, and university police) injured while performing job duties. It requires the Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Survivor Benefit Review Board to review claims within 60 days and authorizes the state risk director to pay up to $50,000 per injury for expenses not covered by workers' compensation or employer health insurance. The bill excludes coverage for injuries caused by intentional misconduct, intoxication, or gross negligence. This program applies to injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2023, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
