Education

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 28: TEACHERS: Provides relative to associate teachers. (gov sig)

SB 28 lowers the minimum age requirement for associate teachers in Louisiana from 25 to 21 years old. This change directly affects individuals seeking to join Louisiana's associate educator program as new participants. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 17:7.8(B)(3)) to update this age requirement, with no other substantive policy changes described in the text. The bill is currently in early stages, having been prefilled and referred to the Education Committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationLowers associate teacher age requirement from 25 to 21, expanding potential educator pool and supporting teacher recruitment in Louisiana's education system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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 · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 142: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Requires postsecondary education management boards to continue to comply with the conditions on all Board of Regents Support Fund matches. (gov sig)

SB 142 requires public university management boards in Louisiana to maintain compliance with the original conditions attached to Board of Regents Support Fund matches. Specifically, it ensures that nonstate contributions matched with public funds (through endowment programs) must continue to follow their initial terms, including preserving the original matching funds' purpose and not altering the combined corpus of state and nonstate contributions. This directly affects all public postsecondary institutions receiving these matched funds, as they must uphold the same rules governing how those funds are used, invested, and protected. The bill does not create new programs but reinforces existing requirements for handling these specific state-matched endowments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires compliance with original conditions on matching funds for public universities, protecting existing support structure and preventing diversion of state/nonstate contributions.90% 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 14, 2026

SB 98: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Adds certain school employees to the definition of "educator" relative to prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. (8/1/26)

SB 98 amends Louisiana law to expand the definition of "educator" to include school resource officers and security guards, in addition to existing roles like teachers and coaches. This change means the prohibition on sexual conduct between an educator and a student will now apply to these additional school staff members. The bill directly affects school security personnel and resource officers by bringing them under this legal protection, while extending coverage to students who interact with them. The amendment will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands legal protections for students by including school security personnel under educator misconduct prohibitions, strengthening student safety safeguards in K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Louisiana · Senate May 11, 2026

SB 338: SCHOOLS: Provides for preventing bullying in schools. (8/1/26)

SB 338 requires Louisiana schools to follow specific procedures for investigating student bullying reports. It directly affects schools, students involved in bullying incidents, and their parents or guardians. The bill mandates that schools take disciplinary action against bullies after confirming incidents, report criminal bullying to police, and require bullies and their parents to complete court-approved decision-making courses. The State Board of Education must develop these procedures, which include parent meetings before disciplinary steps. The bill is pending review by the Education Committee after being prefiled on February 27, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates bullying prevention procedures requiring investigations, disciplinary actions, and safety protocols to protect student well-being and educational environment in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Louisiana · House Apr 8, 2026

HCR 36: COMMENDATIONS: Commends Grambling State University on the occasion of the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of its founding and recognizes the university's contributions to higher education, leadership, and public service

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally commends Grambling State University on its 125th anniversary and recognizes its contributions to education, leadership, and public service in Louisiana. It does not create any new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as an official statement of appreciation from the state legislature. The resolution acknowledges the university's history, including its founding in 1901 and its motto "Where Everybody is Somebody," while extending best wishes to the university community.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill commends Grambling State University for contributions to higher education, leadership, and public service, recognizing its educational impact and history.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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