Labor & Employment

introduced · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SR 203: EMPLOYMENT: Creates the Louisiana Livable Wage Task Force.

This bill establishes the Louisiana Livable Wage Task Force to study the cost of living and make recommendations for improving economic security for workers and families. The task force will assess living expenses across urban, suburban, and rural areas, analyze wage gaps, and gather input from various stakeholders including employers, employees, and community organizations. Composed of appointed members from government agencies, labor groups, and business associations, the group is required to submit a final report with policy suggestions by March 1, 2027. The bill does not set a specific wage increase but creates a committee to evaluate options for raising wages to meet basic needs while considering impacts on businesses and the local economy.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes a task force to study living costs and recommend wage improvements, directly advancing economic security for workers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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introduced · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SR 207: TEACHERS: Expresses support for the governor's efforts to identify and implement any means authorized by law to fund a stipend for classroom teachers and support staff for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.

This Senate resolution expresses support for the governor's plan to find legal ways to pay a stipend to classroom teachers and support staff for the 2026-2027 school year. The bill acknowledges that the upcoming state budget does not currently renew this payment and encourages state officials to explore funding options, such as shifting money from non-instructional programs. It specifically directs that if funds are moved from the minimum foundation program to cover these salaries, the reduction should only apply to money designated for non-teaching activities. As a formal statement of support rather than a new law, the resolution does not create new rules but instead signals the Senate's backing for the administration's efforts to solve an immediate funding gap.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly supports funding teacher stipends and encourages exploring funding options to increase public service salaries.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly supports funding teacher stipends and encourages exploring funding options to pay staff.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly supports funding teacher stipends, expanding wages and benefits for educators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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failed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HR 357: ECONOMIC DEVELOP/DEPT: Urges and requests Louisiana Economic Development to consider certain eligibility requirements for companies applying for the High Impact Jobs Program

This resolution asks the Louisiana Economic Development agency to consider adding a rule that would disqualify companies from state job incentives if 20% or more of their employees qualify for SNAP benefits. The bill references a proposed law that would have implemented this restriction, noting that over one million Louisianans currently meet the poverty criteria for such assistance. However, the resolution itself is non-binding and was rejected by the House of Representatives, meaning it does not change any existing laws or program requirements. It serves as a formal request to agency leadership rather than a new policy mandate.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill seeks to restrict economic development incentives for low-income workers, effectively limiting government support for job creation in vulnerable sectors.75% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill proposes disqualifying companies from job incentives if many employees receive SNAP, effectively restricting hiring incentives for low-wage workers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed both · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SCR 80: SCHOOLS: Creates and provides for a task force to study the minimum foundation program formula and recommend permanent, predictable funding for pay raises for teachers and support staff.

This bill establishes a task force to examine Louisiana's Minimum Foundation Program formula, which determines how state and local funds are distributed to public schools. The group will study ways to create a stable, permanent funding source for teacher and support staff pay raises, ensuring these increases are not dependent on temporary or one-time money. The bill directly affects school systems, educators, and taxpayers by aiming to replace uncertain, short-term funding with a predictable long-term solution. By analyzing the current complex funding structure, the task force will provide recommendations to improve clarity and sustainability for school budgets and employee compensation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a task force to secure permanent funding for teacher pay raises, aiming to strengthen school budgets and ensure stable fiscal support for education.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a task force to establish permanent funding for teacher pay raises, directly supporting educators and school stability.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes a task force to secure permanent funding for teacher and staff pay raises, directly advancing worker compensation and job stability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 196: TEACHERS/LEAVE: Provides relative to personal leave days for teachers (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 196 amends Louisiana law (R.S. 17:1208) to establish that public school teachers (excluding those with annual leave) may use up to eight personal leave days per school year without pay loss. Teachers must provide 24 hours' notice to their principal, and this leave is deducted from their current year's sick leave balance. The bill specifies that personal leave cannot be carried over to future years or paid out upon retirement or death. It directly affects Louisiana public school teachers by clarifying their personal leave entitlements and integration with existing sick leave policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides teachers with additional personal leave days without pay loss, enhancing educator benefits and work-life balance per bill's direct provisions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides teachers with additional unpaid leave days without pay loss, expanding employment benefits under workplace leave policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 143: LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides relative to funding of bulletproof vests for peace officers. (gov sig) (EN SEE FISC NOTE EX)

SB 143 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety to provide bulletproof vests to all "peace officers" (full-time state, municipal, sheriff, or public agency employees whose duties include enforcing laws and making arrests) upon request. It creates a dedicated "Special Protective Equipment Fund" to finance the vests, funded annually by $8.5 million from the state general fund starting July 2026, plus donations or grants. The bill mandates vests meet U.S. Department of Justice standards and must be wholly manufactured in countries part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This law directly affects all eligible law enforcement personnel by ensuring access to standardized protective gear through state-funded provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $8.5M annually from state general fund for officer safety equipment, increasing public safety funding per budget management criteria.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides bulletproof vests for peace officers, enhancing workplace safety for law enforcement workers per DOJ standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 670: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Provides relative to wood pellet manufacturing (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 670 designates wood pellet manufacturing as a priority industry in Louisiana, targeting manufacturers that produce compressed biomass pellets from forestry residues for export or domestic use. The bill requires Louisiana Economic Development to create job incentives, workforce training programs, and prioritize wood pellet cargo at state ports while streamlining permitting for facilities. It directly affects wood pellet manufacturers, rural communities seeking new jobs, and the state's forestry sector by aiming to boost economic growth through international biomass exports. The law establishes clear regulatory pathways to support this industry without compromising environmental safeguards, as outlined in sections §955.1 and §955.2 of the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates job incentives and workforce training programs, constituting fiscal support via tax incentives or state funding for economic development, aligning with budget/tax support indicators.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDesignates wood pellet manufacturing (biomass renewable energy) as priority industry, mandates job incentives and streamlined permits for renewable energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentWorkforce training programs directly support employment development in targeted manufacturing sector, aligning with employment standards focus.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 448: STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Authorizes scholarships provided for firefighters and police officers injured in the line of duty and spouses of firefighters and police officers injured or killed in the line of duty to be used for any postgraduate degree (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 448 expands existing scholarship programs to allow firefighters injured in the line of duty (or their spouses if the firefighter was killed or seriously injured resulting in inability to work) to use their benefits for master's degree programs, not just bachelor's degrees. The bill maintains full tuition and fee waivers (including room and board) and a $250-per-semester book stipend for qualifying individuals who maintain a "C" average. Eligibility requires meeting college entrance requirements and academic standards as full-time students. The policy change, funded by Louisiana's general state fund, applies to both injured firefighters and their spouses directly affected by on-duty injuries or fatalities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship eligibility to include master's degrees for firefighters' families, enhancing higher education access and opportunity within existing funding structure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands educational benefits for firefighters injured on duty, supporting career advancement and worker welfare through master's degree eligibility.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 409: EMPLOYMENT: Provides protections for employees who become living organ donors. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

This bill, SB 409, aims to protect employees who donate organs by preventing employers from discriminating against them or retaliating after the donation. It directly affects workers who become living organ donors and their employers. The legislation establishes specific protections to ensure these employees do not face adverse employment actions related to their donation. By amending the bill text, it clarifies the structure of these protections within the existing labor framework. The measure focuses on creating a clear legal safeguard for organ donors in the workplace without predicting specific outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects employees who donate organs from employer discrimination, supporting patient rights and encouraging organ donation within healthcare context.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects employees who donate organs from employer discrimination and retaliation, strengthening worker rights and employment protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 1137: EMPLOYMENT/DISCRIMINATN: Prohibits intentional discrimination based on compelled speech with respect to using certain pronouns, names, or honorifics

This bill, HB 1137, amends Louisiana's employment discrimination laws to protect employees from being fired or retaliated against for the misuse of pronouns. It directly affects employers and employees by prohibiting termination or other retaliatory actions when an employee is misgendered or has their pronouns used incorrectly. The key provision adds a specific prohibition to the state's existing employment discrimination statute, making it illegal for employers to take adverse employment actions based on pronoun misuse. This change expands the scope of protected employment conduct under current Louisiana law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects workers from discrimination and retaliation based on pronoun usage, strengthening employment rights and workplace protections.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment