Budget & Taxes

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 183: FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for the creation, transfer, dedication, deposit, and use of certain funds. (gov sig) (OR SG EX See Note)

SB 183 establishes a new "Reserve Fund" as a special fund within Louisiana's state treasury. It allows money to be added to this fund through legislative transfers, donations, or appropriations, and requires all unspent balances from each fiscal year to remain in the fund. The state treasurer must invest these funds identically to the general fund, with all interest credited back to the Reserve Fund. Withdrawals from the fund can only occur through new legislative appropriations, not automatic spending. This bill creates a structured financial mechanism for managing state funds but does not directly affect specific individuals or organizations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates a Reserve Fund requiring unspent balances to carry over, promoting fiscal responsibility through sustainable fund management and preventing budget lapses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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signed · Louisiana · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 96: MOTOR VEHICLES: Creates the "Fallen Heroes" prestige license plate. (8/1/26)

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $25 annual fee to fund bulletproof vests for peace officers, directly allocating new revenue to essential public safety program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirectly funds bulletproof vests for law enforcement officers via license plate fees, supporting officer safety within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

failed · Louisiana · House May 28, 2026

HB 712: MTR VEHICLE/OFFICE: Provides relative to fee waivers by the office of motor vehicles for driver's licenses and state identification cards (RE1 DECREASE SG RV See Note)

HB 712 creates fee waivers for Class "E" driver's licenses and state identification cards for homeless individuals in Louisiana. It requires applicants to provide a letter from an approved entity (like a homeless shelter, healthcare provider, or school liaison) confirming homelessness, which includes people living at or below 100% of the federal poverty line. The waiver covers all fees for issuing, renewing, or replacing these credentials, but excludes individuals violating driver's license laws. This bill directly affects homeless residents seeking essential identification without cost.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesWaives fees for homeless (low-income) individuals on essential IDs, reducing government revenue barriers and aligning with fiscal relief for vulnerable groups.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingWaives fees for homeless individuals to obtain IDs needed for housing access, directly addressing homelessness per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 481: PUBLIC PRINTING: Provides for the cost of publishing official proceedings and public notices

HB 481 sets cost limits for publishing official government notices and proceedings in Louisiana. It requires parishes, municipalities, and school boards to contract with printers for these publications, capping rates at $0.03 per character or $2.76 per square inch for tables (smaller parishes) and $0.03 per character or $3.96 per square inch (larger parishes with cities over 100,000 residents). The bill establishes specific pricing rules based on notice format and publication size, with rates prorated for non-standard layouts. This directly affects local government entities responsible for publishing public notices and official records.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSets cost caps on government printing expenses to control spending, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management without altering tax rates or funding levels.85% confidence

passed · Louisiana · House May 13, 2026

HB 824: APPROPRIATIONS: Limits the amount of state general fund that may be appropriated in a fiscal year (RE SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 824 establishes an annual spending cap for Louisiana's state general fund by calculating a "Government Growth Limit" based on population growth and inflation (using U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data) from the previous five years. This limit restricts how much annual state funding can be allocated for ongoing expenses, requiring any amounts above the cap to fund one-time costs instead. Exceptions apply to funds from the Budget Stabilization Fund, federal funding replacements, or other designated sources. The bill affects all state budget decisions and requires the governor and legislature to adhere to this cap when proposing or approving spending.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill imposes annual spending cap on state general fund, restricting annual appropriations growth through mandatory one-time cost funding for excess amounts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget

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in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 373: SHERIFFS: Provides relative to state inmates housed in a parish jail or institution and establishes criteria for additional per diem funding. (gov sig)

SB 373 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections to pay parish sheriffs or jail operators a daily fee (currently $25.39) for housing state inmates in local jails when state facilities are unavailable or court orders delay transfer. It also establishes a new Transitional Workforce and Vocational Training Pilot Program within the department, providing job training in high-demand trades to inmates held in parish custody. The bill sets criteria for future funding increases tied to jail safety, sanitation, facility upgrades, and reporting requirements. This directly affects parish sheriffs (who receive payments) and inmates held in local jails instead of state facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding for inmate housing per diem and establishes criteria for new program funding, directly allocating budget resources to public safety services.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes vocational training for inmates in parish custody, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes vocational training for inmates in parish custody, directly advancing workforce development and employment standards through job training in high-demand trades.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Workforce Development

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 470: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Enacts the Louisiana Workforce Development Equity and Opportunity Act (OR +$10,000,000 GF EX See Note)

HB 470 establishes Louisiana's Workforce Equity and Opportunity Program to support low-income residents from underrepresented minority groups in high-growth sectors like clean energy, healthcare, and information technology. The bill provides grants to training providers (with at least 60% of participants meeting targeted criteria) and direct financial support covering training costs, living expenses during training, and certification fees for eligible individuals. It prioritizes Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges in low-income areas, allocating $10 million annually for implementation while requiring employer partnerships for guaranteed interviews and prevailing-wage jobs upon program completion.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state-funded grants and direct financial support for workforce training, increasing public spending on equity programs as part of fiscal management.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides grants and financial support for workforce training programs targeting underrepresented groups, expanding educational access to high-growth sectors.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly targets clean energy as a high-growth sector for workforce training, providing grants and financial support for clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTargets healthcare as a high-growth sector for workforce training, supporting medical professional development through grants and financial aid for training/certification.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides grants and financial support for training, living expenses, and certification fees to help underrepresented groups enter high-growth sectors, advancing employment opportunities and equity.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly targets information technology as a high-growth sector for workforce training, funding skills development and equity in tech careers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 75: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Provides for reimbursement to the state for cyber reinforcement support provided to noncompliant recipients. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG RV)

SB 75 requires local governments in Louisiana (such as parishes and municipalities) to meet cybersecurity standards to qualify for state assistance after a cyberattack. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security must create these standards and rules, which must align with national guidelines. Crucially, if a local government does not meet these standards but still receives state cybersecurity support, it must reimburse the state for those services. The bill establishes a clear financial responsibility for noncompliant local entities seeking state aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires reimbursement from noncompliant local governments for state cybersecurity support, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending and preventing misuse of public funds.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires local governments to meet cybersecurity standards for state assistance, reinforcing protection against cyber threats through mandatory compliance and reimbursement for noncompliance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity

died · Louisiana · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 328: EMPLOYMENT: Provides protections for employees who become living organ donors. (8/1/26)

SB 328, the "Louisiana Living Donor Paid Leave Protection Act," requires Louisiana state employers to provide up to 30 working days of paid leave for full-time employees (with at least 12 months of service) who donate organs like kidneys, livers, or bone marrow. Private employers must offer up to 30 days of unpaid leave for organ donation, with the option to provide paid leave and claim a 25% tax credit for the first 30 days of paid salary. The bill prohibits employers from firing, demoting, or discriminating against employees who take this leave and mandates physician verification for leave requests. This law applies to living organ donors (including bone marrow donors) and ensures leave is in addition to other existing benefits like medical or vacation time.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides private employers 25% tax credit for paid leave, constituting tax relief for businesses.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for organ donors, enabling access to healthcare services without income loss, directly supporting organ donation as a healthcare service.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 30 days paid leave for organ donors, prohibits retaliation, and expands employee benefits under labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Paid Leave

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 156: TAX/SEVERANCE TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to severance tax revenues remitted to parishes in which the associated severance occurs (OR1 SEE FISC NOTE GF RV)

HB 156 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Louisiana distributes severance taxes from natural resource extraction (like oil and gas) to local parishes. It would remove the current $850,000 annual cap on payments to parishes where resources are extracted, instead requiring 20% of those taxes to be remitted directly to the parish government. Future payments would automatically increase each July based on the Consumer Price Index to adjust for inflation. This bill directly affects parishes with resource production, potentially increasing their funding from extraction activities, and requires voter approval by November 2026 for implementation starting July 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes $850k cap on parish severance tax payments and mandates 20% remittance with CPI adjustments, increasing local government funding and promoting fiscal responsibility in tax distribution.95% confidence

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