Budget & Taxes

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 1075: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the judgment against the state in the suit captioned Dawn Marie DePedro et al. v. State of Louisiana et al.

This bill authorizes the Louisiana state government to pay a court judgment totaling approximately $1.6 million from the state general fund. The funds are designated to settle a lawsuit filed by Dawn Marie DePedro and her family against the Department of Transportation and Development. The money will be distributed among the plaintiffs to cover the judgment amount, court costs, and expert witness fees as determined by the court. The bill also establishes that interest will be paid according to legal requirements and that payment will only occur after the state treasurer receives the necessary documentation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to pay a court judgment, directly advancing fiscal management and budget execution by allocating resources for legal obligations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 25, 2026

HR 61: HOMELAND SECURITY: Memorializes congress to fully fund the United States Department of Homeland Security

This resolution asks the U.S. Congress to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security after its funding lapsed in February 2026. The bill directly affects federal agencies within DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Coast Guard, which have experienced service disruptions and unpaid work due to the funding gap. It requests Congress to restore normal operations and ensure compensation for essential federal employees currently working without pay. The resolution is a formal request rather than a law that directly changes funding or policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly requests full funding for DHS to restore operations and pay employees, directly advancing budget appropriations for essential federal services.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds DHS including TSA, which directly impacts transportation security operations and infrastructure75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tags Emergency Management

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 1020: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Alvin J. Clouatre, Jr. v. Eagle, Inc. et al.

This bill authorizes the Louisiana state government to pay a $40,000 consent judgment from the State General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The payment is for a legal settlement between the state, represented by LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, and Alvin J. Clouatre, Jr., regarding a civil case in Orleans Parish. Funds can only be used to cover the final judgment amount including principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees as specified in the agreement. The bill ensures the payment stops accruing interest once enacted and requires proper documentation before the state treasurer releases the funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $40,000 from state funds to pay a legal judgment, fulfilling a financial obligation and protecting state interests.75% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 1132: SCHOOLS/FINANCE-MFP: Provides for funding any laboratory school operated by a public postsecondary education institution in the University of Louisiana System through the minimum foundation program

This bill ensures that laboratory schools run by public universities in Louisiana, including those under the University of Louisiana System, receive state funding through the Minimum Foundation Program. It updates existing state law to classify these schools as public elementary or secondary schools, making them eligible for annual funding allocations based on a standardized formula. The change directly affects university-operated schools like those at Louisiana State University, Southern University, and institutions such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Monroe. By including these schools in the funding formula, the legislation aims to provide consistent financial support for their operations without altering their university affiliation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides state funding for laboratory schools through the Minimum Foundation Program, directly advancing public education budget allocations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides state funding for university-operated laboratory schools, classifying them as public elementary/secondary schools eligible for standardized funding allocations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1016: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Deborah L. Reynolds v. Beauregard Parish Police Jury et al.

This bill authorizes the Louisiana state government to pay a $25,000 consent judgment from the State General Fund to settle a legal case involving Deborah L. Reynolds and the state's Department of Transportation and Development. The funds are designated for fiscal year 2025-2026 and will cover the judgment's principal amount, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees as specified in the legal agreement. The legislation ensures that payment occurs only after proper documentation is submitted to the state treasurer and establishes that interest stops accruing once the act takes effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $25,000 from State General Fund to settle a legal judgment, directly funding a government obligation and ensuring fiscal management of state liabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1014: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for the payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Angela Melerine et al. v. DOTD

This bill appropriates $375,000 from the state general fund to pay a consent judgment against the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in a lawsuit brought by Angela Melerine and Eric Melerine, Jr. The funds are specifically allocated to cover the state's portion of the judgment, with $337,500 designated for Angela Melerine and $37,500 for Eric Melerine, Jr. The legislation authorizes payment of the judgment principal, court costs, and expert witness fees once the judgment is finalized, with interest ceasing to accrue on the effective date of the law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $375,000 from state general fund to pay a consent judgment, directly funding a legal obligation and protecting state fiscal management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House May 12, 2026

HR 80: LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR: Directs the legislative auditor to conduct a comprehensive fiscal audit of all state and federal funds expended by the Board of Regents and certain boards of supervisors, colleges, and universities under its jurisdiction relative to certain executive budget metrics (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

This bill directs Louisiana's legislative auditor to conduct a comprehensive fiscal audit of state and federal funds spent by public universities and colleges on a specific goal of increasing completers from underrepresented minority groups between fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2025-2026. The audit will examine expenditures across multiple institutions, including staff salaries, recruitment programs, scholarships, data systems, and performance-based funding tied to this objective. The auditor must produce a written report detailing how much money was spent and where it was allocated, which will be sent to key legislative committees and leaders before the 2027 legislative session. This measure aims to provide oversight on how public funds are used to meet the executive budget's diversity completion targets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates fiscal audit of state/federal funds, promoting government accountability and fiscal responsibility in public university spending.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 960: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Milton G. Brady v. The McCarty Corporation, et al

This bill allocates $65,000 from Louisiana's State General Fund to pay a consent judgment in a lawsuit between Southern University and several individuals. The funds will cover the principal amount, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees awarded in the February 2024 settlement. The money can only be used after the judgment is finalized and proper documentation is submitted to the state treasurer. Once paid, the state will no longer owe interest on this specific debt.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $65,000 from State General Fund to pay a consent judgment, fulfilling state financial obligations and preventing further debt accumulation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

passed · Louisiana · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SR 7: COASTAL PROTECT/RES AUTH: Approves the annual state integrated coastal protection plan for Fiscal Year 2027, as adopted by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.

This bill approves Louisiana's Fiscal Year 2027 annual state integrated coastal protection plan, which was developed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board. The plan outlines projects and programs to protect, conserve, enhance, and restore the state's coastal areas, including hurricane protection and land management initiatives. By approving the plan, the legislature authorizes its implementation and directs funding to priority projects based on the plan's identified needs. The resolution follows required public hearings and committee reviews, making the plan effective for the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill approves and directs funding for coastal protection plan, advancing state infrastructure and environmental management programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill approves and funds Louisiana's coastal protection plan, directly supporting environmental conservation, land management, and hurricane protection initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters Public Lands

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1039: TAX/SALES-USE, LOCAL: Provides for local sales and use tax audit procedures (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF RV See Note)

This bill updates Louisiana's local sales and use tax audit procedures to increase transparency and fairness for taxpayers. It requires tax collectors to randomly select businesses for audits rather than targeting specific ones without cause, unless there is documented evidence of tax violations. The law also mandates that collectors get approval from their governing board before starting any audit and must provide advance notice to taxpayers. Additionally, the bill prohibits collectors from forcing taxpayers to sign time-limit waivers as a condition of closing an audit and clarifies rules about interest and penalties on unpaid taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by increasing transparency and fairness in tax audits, preventing arbitrary targeting of businesses and requiring documented evidence for audits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Sales Tax