HB 370 increases the assessment rate for Louisiana's Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund from 0.04% to 0.08% on the value of regulated agricultural commodities sold to grain dealers and cotton merchants. The bill requires these dealers to pay the assessment at the first point of sale to the state commission. This directly affects grain and cotton dealers who handle regulated commodities in Louisiana, as they will pay a higher fee on each transaction. The change aims to bolster the fund, which provides financial assistance to farmers when crop losses occur due to natural disasters. The bill does not alter eligibility for fund benefits or the fund's purpose.
SB 13 modifies how Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System calculates employer contributions and handles investment returns. It changes the method for applying excess investment returns to reduce the system's debt, specifically requiring reamortization (resetting payment schedules) when the system reaches 80% funding or every five years starting in 2019. This affects the state's payments into the retirement fund and directly impacts public school teachers' retirement benefits. The bill repeals outdated calculation rules and clarifies how future contributions will be applied to the system's debt.
SB 17 establishes a funding deposit account to cover cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors in the Registrars of Voters Employees' Retirement System. It sets specific conditions for COLAs: up to 3% of a retiree's current benefit if the system is at least 70% funded and no COLA was granted in the previous three years, with an additional up to 2% for those aged 65 or older. These adjustments are funded from the system's investment earnings and surplus funds held in the new account, which must be used to cover COLAs when available.
SB 11 modifies the funding rules for the Louisiana State Police Retirement System to ensure stable benefits for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors. It requires automatic increases in employer contributions (capped at 2.35%) if projected contributions decrease, effective July 1, 2024. The bill mandates these adjustments to cover benefit increases without needing new legislative action each year. Funding will come from additional employer contributions as specified in the state constitution.
SB 96 creates a special "Fallen Heroes" license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, requiring at least 1,000 applicants to activate the plate. It mandates an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) for the plate, collected by the state motor vehicle department. The $25 fee is specifically directed to the Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation to purchase bulletproof vests for Louisiana peace officers. This is a procedural bill focused on license plate design, fee collection, and fund allocation, with no other substantive policy changes.
SB 19 changes the name and design of a specialty license plate for Louisiana state retirees. The bill creates a new "State Employee Retired RSEA" plate, requiring at least 1,000 applicants before issuance. It adds a $25 fee for the plate, with all revenue annually sent directly to the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System to reduce the state's unfunded liability. This affects state retirees who choose to purchase the plate, with no changes to retirement benefits or eligibility.
SB 180 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing surviving spouses of disabled veterans to transfer their property tax exemption to a new homestead property. Specifically, if a veteran with a service-connected disability (rated 50% or higher by the VA) received an expanded property tax exemption, their surviving spouse can transfer that exemption to a new home they own and occupy - once, and limited to the value claimed on the previous home. The exemption applies to properties where the veteran’s disability rating was 50%-70% (covering $10,000 in value), 70%-100% (covering $12,000), or 100% (covering all value beyond the homestead exemption). The transfer requires verification by the property assessor and is effective January 1, 2027, pending voter approval.
HB 165 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would require Louisiana voters to approve changing the state constitution to create a new lottery game specifically dedicated to funding benefits for Louisiana resident military veterans and their families. If passed, the amendment would direct annual appropriations from the Lottery Proceeds Fund - using revenue generated exclusively from this new game - to support veterans' programs, while also limiting funds for problem-gambling services to $500,000 annually. The bill does not alter existing lottery proceeds but mandates a new dedicated funding stream for veterans through a separate lottery game. Voters will decide on this amendment in the November 2026 statewide election. This is a procedural constitutional change requiring voter approval, not an immediate policy implementation.
This bill expands a property tax exemption to include specific aerospace manufacturing facilities that were previously only available to other types of manufacturers. By updating the relevant state statute from Section 1703.2 to Section 1703.4, the legislation allows these aerospace companies to qualify for reduced ad valorem taxes on their real estate and equipment. The change is designed to provide financial relief to aerospace businesses by lowering their annual property tax bills, while leaving the existing rules for other manufacturing sectors unchanged.
This bill creates a sales and use tax rebate program for purchases of equipment and materials used in aerospace facilities and activities in Louisiana. To qualify, aerospace facility owners must certify that their projects will create at least 200 new permanent jobs and invest at least $1 billion in the state between July 2026 and July 2031. The rebate applies to purchases made on or after July 1, 2026, and can be claimed annually by eligible contractors and facility owners through the Department of Revenue. If a facility fails to meet its job creation or investment obligations by July 2031, the state can terminate the agreement and require repayment of any rebates already received. The program is administered by Louisiana Economic Development, which certifies facilities and manages agreements that can be renewed for up to 10 additional years.
