HB 1 is Louisiana's budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, allocating state funds for the ordinary operating expenses of all state government departments and offices. It specifies funding amounts for departments like the Executive Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of State, and others, covering day-to-day operations such as administrative costs, elections, and state programs. This bill does not create new policies or programs; it directs existing budget resources to maintain current government functions. It directly affects state agencies by providing their operational funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
HB 401 designates the elevated section of U.S. Highway 190 over the Bogue Falaya River in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, as the "Corporal Justin D. McLeese Memorial Bridge" to honor a military corporal. The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting this name, using local or private funds to cover costs up to $2,250 per sign. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no substantive policy changes, solely commemorating an individual through a public infrastructure designation.
HB 682 amends Louisiana law to allow veterans with an honorable military discharge (as defined in R.S. 13:5364) to serve as school resource officers alongside traditional peace officers. This directly affects Louisiana public schools seeking resource officers and eligible veterans who meet the military service criteria. The bill changes the legal definition of "school resource officer" to explicitly include qualified veterans, without creating new funding or mandatory requirements. It does not alter existing hiring processes but expands the pool of eligible candidates for these school safety roles. The bill is currently in the early stages of consideration after being prefaced and referred to the Education Committee.
This bill updates Louisiana's absentee voting rules to better accommodate members of the United States military stationed or deployed outside the country. It allows these service members to use federal postcard applications or electronic submissions and extends the validity of their applications until they are no longer deployed abroad. The law also requires registrars to provide written reasons if they reject a military member's application and mandates that service members submit a new application if their ballot is returned as undeliverable due to address changes. These changes aim to simplify the voting process for military personnel while maintaining oversight through specific requirements for application validity and registrar responsibilities.
This Louisiana concurrent resolution asks the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which aims to help combat-wounded service members who have been medically retired. The bill seeks to remove a current rule that reduces military retirement pay by the same amount as disability compensation from the Veterans Affairs, allowing veterans to keep both benefits in full. Although the resolution expresses strong support for this change, it is a formal request rather than a law that directly alters federal policy itself.
This concurrent resolution directs the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to study the feasibility of creating a museum and trail dedicated to the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1940 and 1941. The study must be conducted in consultation with the Louisiana State Museum Board and the National WWII Museum and will examine potential locations, estimated costs, and the inclusion of conference space. It also requires an analysis of how the new facility could affiliate with the National WWII Museum to enhance its resources and credibility. The department is required to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to state legislative committees by March 1, 2027.
This Louisiana concurrent resolution asks the U.S. Congress to pass full-year funding bills for the military without delay. It specifically requests that these funding measures match the spending levels authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act to prevent uncertainty. The bill aims to ensure stable resources for military operations, construction, and support services for service members and their families in Louisiana. It does not change any laws or allocate money itself but serves as a formal request from the state legislature to the federal government.
SB 129 creates a special "Master Combat Infantryman" license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles. It is available only to veterans who hold the Combat Infantryman Badge plus one of three specific expert badges (Expert Infantryman, Expert Field Medical, or Expert Soldier Badge), as defined by Army regulations. The plate features the Army badge design in light blue and gold, with the title text, and follows existing fee structures for specialty plates. The license plate must be returned upon the holder's death, but may transfer to a surviving spouse who hasn't remarried.
SB 105 amends Louisiana's TOPS program to expand eligibility for the TOPS-Tech Award to veterans honorably discharged from U.S. military installations located in Louisiana. To qualify, veterans must earn a 17+ ACT score (or equivalent SAT/ACT WorkKeys silver level) and submit their DD-214 discharge documents. The bill specifically applies to the 2020-2023 academic years and targets veterans who served at Louisiana military bases. It modifies existing eligibility rules without changing funding or creating new benefits, focusing solely on qualifying veterans for technical college financial aid.
SB 317 proposes to amend Louisiana's Military Advisory Council membership rules by increasing its size from 19 to 21 members. The bill specifies that two additional positions will be added: the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the chair of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, each serving as voting members. This change directly affects how the council is structured and who participates in its meetings, which advise the state on military and veterans' matters. The council's current composition already includes the governor, adjutant general, legislative leaders, and agency secretaries. The bill focuses solely on procedural membership details without altering the council's duties or funding.
