Budget & Taxes

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 1127: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Adds requirements for cooperative endeavor agreements between Louisiana Economic Development and nongovernmental entities

This bill requires nongovernmental partners working with Louisiana Economic Development to spend at least 35% of their funding on goods made within the state. It applies to new cooperative agreements formed after August 1, 2026, while excluding older programs established before that date. Partners must keep records proving compliance and provide them to the department when asked. The law does not affect existing economic development programs created before August 15, 2010.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens state economic development by requiring 35% of funding be spent on in-state goods, promoting local business and fiscal responsibility.75% confidence

Tags Economic Development

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 20: SCHOOLS/FINANCE-MFP: Provides for legislative approval of the MFP formula for FY 2026-2027 (OR -$12,159,331 GF EX See Note)

This bill approves a state funding formula for public schools in Louisiana for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which determines how much money each school district receives based on student needs and local financial capacity. The formula calculates funding through four levels: a base amount based on student enrollment and special needs like poverty or disabilities, an incentive for districts to exceed minimum requirements, specific allocations for staff pay raises and mandated costs, and additional funds for specialized programs and charter schools. The legislation applies to city and parish school systems, various types of charter schools, and state university lab schools, ensuring funds are used only for educational purposes such as instruction, staff salaries, and facility maintenance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill approves state funding formula for public schools, increasing financial resources for education services and student needs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill approves state funding formula for public schools, determining funding based on student needs and local capacity, directly supporting education funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education School Funding

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 958: APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Charles E. Parker v. Taylor-Seidenbach, Inc., et al

This bill allocates $50,000 from Louisiana's state general fund to pay a consent judgment in a lawsuit between the state and Charles E. Parker. The funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and cover principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees awarded in the case. The payment will only be made after required documentation is submitted to the state treasurer, and interest will stop accruing once the bill takes effect. The legislation does not change existing laws but provides specific funding to settle a legal obligation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $50,000 from state general fund to pay a consent judgment, directly addressing state fiscal obligations and budget management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 1123: FUNDS/FUNDING: Establishes the Transportation Backlog Fund to be used to fund certain transportation projects (OR -$20,000,000 GF RV See Note)

This bill creates a new Transportation Backlog Fund to address the imbalance where certain Louisiana parishes contribute more severance tax revenue to the state than they receive in benefits. The fund will be established with an initial $20 million transfer from the state general treasury and will earn interest on its investments. Money from the fund can only be used for transportation projects located entirely within parishes that have received the maximum constitutional severance tax allocation for natural resources, and projects must be included in specific state or federal priority programs. All fund disbursements require approval from the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works before being allocated to specific projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates Transportation Backlog Fund to address funding imbalance, providing $20M transfer and interest earnings for transportation projects in affected parishes, strengthening state fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes new Transportation Backlog Fund with $20M initial funding to address infrastructure imbalances and fund transportation projects in specific parishes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Transportation Funding

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 901: TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Provides for funding to certain entities for infrastructure related projects within the Department of Transportation and Development

This bill creates the Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank within the Division of Administration to provide financing for public infrastructure projects. The bank will be authorized to issue bonds and loans to governmental units and private entities participating in public infrastructure projects, covering transportation, water, energy, and resilience improvements. Funds for the bank will come from federal transportation trust funds, and the bank can offer various financial assistance tools like loan guarantees and interest rate subsidies. The new bank will be overseen by a board of directors that sets rules and coordinates with state agencies to manage the infrastructure fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes infrastructure bank to fund public projects, increasing state investment in transportation, water, energy, and resilience improvements through federal trust funds.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes infrastructure bank explicitly including energy improvements as eligible projects, providing funding mechanisms for energy infrastructure development.70% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes infrastructure bank to fund transportation projects through bonds and loans, directly advancing transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 900: TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Allocates money damages to highways to a state general fund (OR SEE FISC NOTE SD)

This bill creates a new Damage Recovery Fund for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to collect money recovered from traffic accidents that damage state highways. The fund will be used to repair damage caused by accidents on state property or to reimburse local authorities for repairs already paid, but it will not cover the costs of recovering the funds from responsible parties. This change establishes a specific financial mechanism to handle compensation for state property damage without altering existing procedures for collecting funds from at-fault parties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new Damage Recovery Fund to repair state highway damage, improving fiscal management and protecting state property assets.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates a Damage Recovery Fund to repair state highway damage from accidents, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 382: INSURANCE/GROUP-STATE: Provides relative to the authority of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 382 requires the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to review and approve any adjustments to state insurance contracts exceeding $1 million before implementation. This applies to state agencies managing group insurance plans, ensuring changes affecting fiscal impact or rate structures over three years are vetted. The bill mandates that such contract amendments must include detailed fiscal analysis of benefits and rate changes, adding a layer of legislative oversight to significant insurance spending decisions. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 3 sentences as required.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fiscal analysis and legislative review for major insurance contract adjustments, strengthening budget oversight and fiscal responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 209: TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Provides relative to the Local Government Fair Competition Act. (8/1/26)

SB 209 amends Louisiana's telecommunications laws to clarify how local governments can provide broadband and telecommunications services. It explicitly allows local governments to bundle services and engage in business practices similar to private competitors (§844.42(7)-(8)), while prohibiting cross-subsidization from tax dollars or other services (§844.53(2)(a)). The bill requires that bonds for broadband projects be repaid solely from service revenues (§844.52(C)), not general funds, and permits projects funded by federal programs like BEAD to proceed without restrictions. This primarily affects Louisiana parishes and cities seeking to expand broadband access, especially in unserved areas, by enabling competitive local government-led initiatives under defined financial and operational rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires broadband bonds repaid solely from service revenues (not general funds) and prohibits cross-subsidization from tax dollars, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly enables local governments to provide broadband services and bundle offerings, directly expanding internet access while prohibiting tax-dollar cross-subsidization.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 411: TAX/INCOME TAX: Reduces the rate of the state tax levied on the net income of individuals over a ten-year period (OR -$40,100,000 GF RV See Note)

HB 411, titled "The Pelican Promise: Zero in Ten Income Tax Freedom Act," gradually reduces Louisiana's individual income tax rates over 12 years, phasing out the tax entirely by 2039. It lowers the tax rate from 3% for 2027 to 0% for all income starting in 2039, with incremental reductions each year (e.g., 2.9% in 2028, 2.8% in 2029, etc.). The bill directly affects all Louisiana residents who pay state income tax, as it applies to taxable income beginning January 1, 2027. The key mechanism is a scheduled, step-by-step rate reduction, culminating in no state income tax on individual earnings after 2038. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and is scheduled to eliminate the tax entirely by 2039.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill phases out Louisiana's individual income tax entirely by 2039, providing direct tax relief to all residents who pay income tax, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax

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signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 296: CORRECTIONS: Repeals the Reentry Advisory Council and Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF RV)

HB 296 repeals Louisiana’s Reentry Advisory Council and the Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (specifically R.S. 15:1199.1-1199.16 and R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a)). This bill removes legal requirements for the advisory council, data collection on inmate workforce programs, and references to the Reentry Advisory Council in statutes governing work release programs (e.g., R.S. 15:827, 1113) and the Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit (R.S. 47:287.750). It directly affects correctional workforce development programs, state agencies managing inmate work programs, and businesses participating in work release initiatives. The repeal eliminates the council’s role and related administrative criteria, though work release programs themselves remain referenced under other statutes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit statute (R.S. 47:287.750), defunding a tax relief program.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRepeals mandatory offender rehabilitation programs and advisory council, eliminating workforce development requirements for inmates per repealed statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Corrections Probation & Parole