Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 351: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: Provides relative to children and family assistance programs. (8/1/26)

SB 351 modifies Louisiana's Early Childhood Education Fund rules by requiring local entities receiving state funds to provide a 1:1 match from non-government sources to expand childcare slots for families in the Child Care Assistance Program. It specifically targets quality slots in centers serving children under 15 months, limiting eligibility to economically disadvantaged families as defined by the State Board. The bill also expands the Advisory Council's role to advise on early education programs like Head Start and the Child Care Assistance Program. These changes directly affect local childcare providers and low-income families accessing state-funded early education services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early education access for disadvantaged families by requiring 1:1 non-government match to increase childcare slots for under-15-month-olds.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 14: TEACHERS RETIREMENT: Provides relative to the reemployment of retired members of TRSL in positions eligible for TRSL membership and alternative retiree reemployment options. (2/3-CA10s(29)(F)) (7/1/26) (EN INCREASE APV)

SB 14 allows retired Louisiana teachers to return to eligible teaching positions while receiving partial retirement benefits, affecting those who retired before June 2010, are age 65 or older, or return within 12 months of retirement. Retirees can choose between two options: working with earnings capped at 50% of their original salary (receiving reduced benefits but no additional retirement credits) or suspending benefits to regain full membership during reemployment, with a supplemental benefit calculated upon leaving. The bill requires retirees to pay employee contributions during reemployment but refunds these contributions (without interest) upon termination, while employer contributions are retained. Disability retirees are excluded, and the bill includes reporting requirements with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables retired teachers to return to classrooms with partial benefits, supporting educator workforce stability and retention in K-12 education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 28: TEACHERS/CERTIFICATION: Provides relative to the appeals process for teacher certification applicants

HB 28 amends Louisiana's teacher certification appeals process to give the state superintendent of education new authority. It allows the superintendent to override a Teacher Certification Appeals Council's denial of certification if the denial resulted from circumstances beyond the applicant's control (e.g., administrative errors), but not if the certification would conflict with state or federal law. This applies to applicants denied certification after January 1, 2025, including retroactive review of past denials. The bill directly affects educators seeking certification who have been denied by the appeals council. The key change is adding this superintendent override option while maintaining the council's decision as final except under these specific conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends appeals process to allow superintendent override of administrative errors in teacher certification, protecting applicants from non-fault denials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HR 194: STUDENTS: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Department of Education to provide certain visual acuity screening data to researchers

This resolution asks the Louisiana Departments of Health and Education to share de-identified student vision screening data from 2018 to the present with independent researchers. The requested information includes details such as the year of screening, grade level, visual acuity results, and demographic categories to help analyze long-term trends in student eye health. While the bill does not change existing laws or require immediate action, it seeks to facilitate studies that could inform future decisions about student well-being and educational practices. If the agencies agree to provide the data, researchers will conduct the analysis and report their findings back to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill facilitates research on student eye health to improve educational access and student well-being.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill facilitates data sharing to analyze student eye health trends, aiding public health research and future policy improvements.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 201: SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOL: Provides for a State Seal of Fine Arts to recognize high school graduates who meet certain academic eligibility criteria (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 201 creates a State Seal of Fine Arts to recognize Louisiana high school graduates who complete specific arts coursework. To earn the seal, students must complete four credits in one arts discipline (like music or visual arts), maintain a 3.0 GPA in those courses, and complete an arts-related capstone project or portfolio. The state superintendent will provide schools with an insignia to affix to qualifying students' diplomas or transcripts, while schools must track recipients and the State Board of Education will establish detailed implementation rules. This bill directly affects Louisiana public high school students pursuing arts education and requires participating schools to administer the recognition program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates State Seal of Fine Arts to recognize arts coursework completion, promoting arts education and student achievement in curriculum without funding cuts or restrictions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 570: TAX/AD VALOREM TAX: Authorizes a taxing authority to levy a millage at a rate lower than the maximum authorized rate under certain circumstances (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF RV See Note)

HB 570 modifies Louisiana's property tax rules to allow local taxing authorities (like parishes, cities, or school boards) to adjust millage rates after reassessments. It permits elected bodies to raise rates up to the constitutional maximum with a two-thirds vote (no voter approval needed), while non-elected bodies face a 2.5% annual revenue cap on increases. Unspent rate allowances expire after 2024 (2023 for Orleans Parish), resetting to 2026 rates, and rates automatically decrease if reassessment increases property values. The bill directly affects local governments setting property taxes and property owners paying those taxes, effective January 1, 2027, pending constitutional amendment approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school boards (as elected bodies) to adjust property tax rates without voter approval, enabling potential increases in school funding. Directly supports education revenue generation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 285: SCHOOLS/BOARDS: Authorizes a school board to engage in a cooperative endeavor with a credit union or bank to operate a branch at a high school

HB 285 allows Louisiana high school boards to partner with credit unions to operate on-site branches at high schools. The bill requires these branches to be integrated into the state-mandated financial literacy course (R.S. 17:270), giving students hands-on experience managing personal finances. School boards must establish rules for outside use of buildings, including fees, under this new partnership framework. The policy directly affects high school students, school boards, and credit unions by embedding practical financial education into existing coursework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIntegrates credit union branches into mandatory financial literacy course, providing hands-on student financial management experience as part of curriculum.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 268: STUDENTS: Provides relative to career-related activities for public school students (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)

HB 268 requires Louisiana public schools to provide career exposure activities for students in grades 6-8, mandating at least six activities annually per grade level. Three of these activities must align with high-demand Louisiana jobs (via Louisiana Works), involve employer interaction, link to career pathways, or offer work-based learning. It also requires schools to provide at least one career awareness activity for K-5 students before fifth grade and document at least one activity per student in their Individualized Graduation Plan. School boards must annually certify compliance to the state Department of Education and maintain records of these activities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates career exposure activities for grades 6-8 and K-5, aligning with workforce needs and enhancing student career pathways per Louisiana Works requirements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 11, 2026

SB 305: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Requires the Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, and other state agencies to develop a publicly available statewide dashboard for career alignment that provides information related to educational and career opportunities. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 305 requires Louisiana's Board of Regents and state agencies like Louisiana Works to create a free, public online dashboard showing how college programs connect to job outcomes. The dashboard will display data such as graduate employment rates, typical wages, and alignment with high-demand jobs, disaggregated by program. It aims to help students, families, and schools make informed decisions while allowing policymakers to assess workforce needs. The bill explicitly states it won’t mandate program changes, force performance funding, or disclose personal student information.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates public dashboard for career-aligned education data, enhancing student decision-making and workforce readiness without funding cuts or restrictions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 11, 2026

SB 376: SECONDARY EDUCATION: Provides for the Learn and Earn Act. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)

SB 376, the "Learn and Earn Act," creates a new program allowing Louisiana public high schools to partner with businesses for paid, credit-bearing work-based learning opportunities. It requires school boards to establish career practicums through written agreements with businesses that ensure fair value exchange (e.g., businesses provide equivalent benefit for school resources used) and align with state-approved career pathways. The program directly affects high school students - especially in rural or underserved communities - by offering compensated job training in fields like healthcare or technology while meeting educational requirements. Key provisions mandate that these practicums operate exclusively within defined instructional boundaries, prioritize student safety/supervision, and integrate financial literacy and employability skills.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates paid, credit-bearing work-based learning opportunities for high school students, expanding educational access and aligning with career pathways per state-approved programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education