Labor & Employment

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 1023: WORKERS COMPENSATION: Provides with respect to the selection of vocation rehabilitation counselors

This bill modifies Louisiana's workers' compensation law to clarify how vocational rehabilitation counselors are selected for injured employees. It requires employers to choose a licensed counselor to help with job placement or training, but also allows employees or employers to request services through the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration if the employer refuses. The law establishes a dispute process where either party can file a claim if they disagree with the counselor's work, leading to a fast hearing within 10 to 30 days without needing prior mediation. This change aims to provide a quicker resolution path for conflicts over vocational services while maintaining employer responsibility for the initial selection.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workers' compensation by clarifying vocational rehabilitation counselor selection, ensuring injured employees receive job placement or training services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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passed both · Louisiana · Senate May 20, 2026

SCR 6: PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Expresses support for the development, construction, and long-term operation of a liquid natural gas facility at the Greater Lafourche Port Commission's Port Fourchon.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's full support for building and operating a liquid natural gas export facility at Port Fourchon. It directly affects the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, local businesses, and workers involved in the project, which is currently seeking federal permits. The resolution highlights the project's potential to create thousands of jobs, generate billions in economic activity, and prioritize Louisiana-based manufacturing and employment. It also notes the project's alignment with state economic goals and a policy of exporting energy to nations with shared democratic values.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expresses legislative support for LNG facility development, promoting energy infrastructure and economic activity in the energy sector.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill supports LNG export facility which typically increases fossil fuel extraction and emissions, potentially weakening environmental protections and increasing pollution.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expresses support for LNG facility development which is projected to create thousands of jobs and generate economic activity, indicating positive impact on employment.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly supports development of LNG facility at port, advancing transportation infrastructure and economic activity related to ports and logistics.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Ports

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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

signed · Louisiana · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 383: FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides relative to the Incumbent Worker Training Program. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SD RV See Note)

SB 383 amends Louisiana’s Incumbent Worker Training Program to establish a new "Flexible Workforce Fund" within the existing program, allocating up to 40% of state funds for sector-based training and pilot projects addressing high-demand jobs. It clarifies eligible training types - including customized programs for businesses (including small businesses with ≤50 employees), preemployment training, and work-based learning - and sets spending limits (e.g., no more than 10% for administration). The bill directly affects Louisiana employers seeking workforce training grants and training providers delivering approved programs. Key mechanisms include mandatory fund allocation rules, employer credit provisions for program funding, and updated eligibility criteria for businesses. The changes aim to streamline funding for workforce development while ensuring revenue neutrality for the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds to workforce training program with spending safeguards (e.g., 10% admin cap), promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllocates state funds for sector-based training and high-demand job programs, expanding workforce skills development and employment opportunities under Louisiana's worker training framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 680: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Provides relative to waivers under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 680 updates Louisiana's workforce development system to align with federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It establishes a unified statewide planning process, replaces fragmented local workforce boards with a coordinated system, and allows the state to seek federal waivers to reduce administrative costs. The bill directs more funding toward direct job training and employment services (rather than overhead) and requires Louisiana Works to prioritize measurable employment outcomes for workers and employers. This affects state agencies, local workforce boards, businesses seeking skilled workers, and job seekers needing training.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects state funds from overhead to direct job training, reduces administrative costs via federal waivers, promoting fiscal efficiency in workforce spending.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRedirects funding to direct job training/employment services, aligns with WIOA to strengthen workforce development and employment access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Student Financial Aid

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 157: SCHOOLS: Provides for paid parental leave for eligible employees. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 157 would require Louisiana public school districts to provide eligible educators with six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay for qualifying events like birth, adoption, foster placement, or pregnancy loss. This applies to full- or part-time school employees with at least one year of service, covering both parents who are eligible. Schools must adopt written policies, provide advance notice to employees about their rights, and prohibit counting this leave as an absence that could lead to disciplinary action. The bill does not override existing better benefits in union contracts or other laws but mandates this new standard for public school employees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides paid parental leave for educators, directly supporting teacher retention and well-being in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 6 weeks paid parental leave (100% base pay) for school employees, expanding worker benefits and protecting parental rights per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 441: SEWERAGE/N O WATER BD: Provides relative to employees of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board

HB 441 repeals a requirement from Act No. 384 (2024) that previously mandated the State Civil Service Commission and New Orleans' City Civil Service Commission to create a plan for transferring employees of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board into the state civil service system. This bill directly affects employees of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board by ending the obligation to develop such a transfer plan. The key mechanism is simply removing the specific provision (Section 2 of Act No. 384) from law. As a procedural repeal, it makes no new policy changes but alters the existing legal framework governing the board's employee classification.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals requirement to transfer Sewerage Board employees into civil service, removing protections like job security and standardized hiring.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 672: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Provides for matters related to brick manufacturing (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 672 designates brick manufacturing as a priority industry in Louisiana and requires Louisiana Economic Development to implement specific support measures. The bill directs the agency to identify suitable clay-rich sites for manufacturing, create workforce training programs, streamline regulatory approvals, and prioritize brick manufacturers for rail and port access. These provisions aim to reduce entry barriers and leverage Louisiana’s natural resources (clay deposits, infrastructure) to grow the brick manufacturing sector. The bill directly affects brick manufacturers seeking to establish or expand facilities in Louisiana, with the goal of creating local jobs and boosting the state’s economic competitiveness in building materials.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentWorkforce training programs directly support employment skills development and job creation in the brick manufacturing sector, aligning with labor & employment advancement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Tags Economic Development

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 421: LABOR: Provides relative to the use of automated decision systems with respect to employment decisions (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 421 regulates the use of automated decision systems (ADS) in employment, requiring employers to notify workers and job applicants when such systems (like AI tools) make decisions affecting jobs. Employers must provide clear written notice at least 30 days before deployment, explaining what data the system uses, how it works, and who created it - especially for hiring decisions. The bill prohibits using ADS for certain decisions without notice, bans retaliation against workers who challenge ADS outcomes, and gives workers a right to appeal decisions. It directly affects employers (including government entities) and workers in Louisiana, with definitions covering all employment-related actions like hiring, promotion, and scheduling. The law focuses on transparency and worker protections without specifying enforcement details.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employer transparency in AI hiring tools, mandates written notices for ADS use, bans retaliation for challenging decisions - directly protects workers' rights in employment decisions.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates transparency for AI employment decisions, protecting worker data privacy and rights through disclosure requirements and anti-retaliation rules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Artificial Intelligence

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