🥇 Glen Womack (R)
🥈 Heather Cloud (R)
Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-28
Author: Regina Barrow (D)
Co-sponsors: 👤 Gerald Boudreaux (D) Valarie Hodges (R) 👤 Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D) W. Jay Luneau (D) Patrick McMath (R) Beth Mizell (R) Beth Billings (R)
...and 2 more.
Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-28
Author: 👤 Larry Selders (D)
Co-sponsors: Regina Barrow (D) Royce Duplessis (D) 🛡️ Franklin Foil (R) Kirk Talbot (R) William Wheat (R)
Another MEDICAID expansion
SENATE finance committee amendments [LINK] add language clarifying that the provisions of the bill will only take effect if funds are specifically appropriated by the legislature for that purpose.
SENATE Insurance committee amendments technical
INCREASES insurance premium costs see premium increases toward the end of the fiscal notes [LINK]
Requires commercial insurance and Medicaid to cover voluntary inpatient treatment for perinatal psychiatric diagnoses, including conditions during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum or after a pregnancy loss.
Key Provisions:

Last Action: Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-23
Author: Patrick McMath (R)
Proposes an individual income tax exemption for grants received from the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program on or after January 1, 2025. This program offers $10,000 grants to retrofit roofs of insurable properties with a homestead exemption, ensuring they meet or exceed the fortified roof standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. The bill aims to exclude these grant amounts from the recipient's taxable income for state individual income tax purposes. If enacted, the legislation will take effect upon the governor's signature or upon the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Last Action: Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-23
Author: Mike Reese (R)
Eliminates ad valorem taxes on stock for banks. SEE FISCAL NOTE for possible increase in revenue in "Revenue Explanation" section [LINK]
Proposes changes to the assessment of ad valorem taxes on bank stock in Louisiana. Currently, bank stock is taxed based on 15% of its fair market value, with a deduction of 50% of the assessed value of real estate, improvements, buildings, furniture, and fixtures owned by the bank. The bill seeks to increase this deduction from 50% to 100%, effectively reducing the taxable amount of bank stock. If enacted, this change would take effect on January 1, 2026.
This change aims to prevent double taxation on bank-owned properties and could lead to a reduction in property tax liabilities for banks, potentially influencing their financial strategies and investment decisions. The proposed amendment is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, impacting property taxes for the 2026 tax year.
It's considered by the banks to be double taxation because banks already pay property taxes on their real estate, buildings, furniture, and fixtures. When their shares of stock are assessed for ad valorem tax, the value of these same tangible assets is indirectly included in the bank’s overall valuation—which is used to determine the tax on those shares.
So essentially:
1. First layer of tax: The bank pays direct property tax on its buildings, land, and equipment.
2. Second layer of tax: The shareholders are taxed again on the value of the bank’s stock, which reflects (in part) the value of those already-taxed assets.
By allowing banks to deduct 100% of the value of these tangible assets when calculating the taxable value of their stock, the bill aims to eliminate that second, overlapping layer of taxation on the same property.
Several states impose specific taxes on financial institutions, though the methods and rates vary. Here's a comprehensive list:
· California: Financial corporations are subject to a corporate income tax at a rate of 10.84%, higher than the standard 8.84% for other corporations.
· Georgia: Imposes an occupation tax on depository financial institutions conducting business or owning property in the state. These institutions are also subject to corporate income and net worth taxes but receive a dollar-for-dollar credit against these taxes based on their occupation tax liability.
· Illinois: Defines "financial organizations" to include entities like small loan companies and investment companies, subjecting them to specific tax regulations.
· Indiana: Subjects financial institutions to a financial institutions tax, with mandatory combined reporting for unitary groups.
· Ohio: Imposes a financial institutions tax based on a bank's Ohio equity capital.
· Pennsylvania: Imposes a Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax on every bank and trust company conducting business in the state. The tax is levied annually based on the value of shares as of January 1, with the taxable value determined by the institution's total bank equity capital, adjusted for certain deductions.
· South Carolina: Levies a separate income tax on banks operating within the state, with its own income and deduction provisions.
· Tennessee: Imposes the Hall income tax on interest and dividend income received by residents, which includes dividends from bank stocks.
These examples illustrate that while the taxation of financial institutions is not uniform across the United States, multiple states have implemented specific tax regimes targeting these entities.
Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-14
Author: Regina Barrow (D)
Changes to the deferral of court costs for the state and its agencies in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. Currently, the state and its subdivisions can temporarily defer court costs in judicial proceedings. This bill seeks to limit this deferral privilege specifically to the state and its departments listed in R.S. 36:4(A) when filing in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. Additionally, these entities would be required to deposit an advance filing fee of $200 with the court. The bill also amends provisions related to suits initiated by the attorney general for the protection of state interests, aligning the deferral of court costs with the proposed changes and maintaining the exemption from providing security bonds in legal proceedings.

Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-08
Author: 🥈 Heather Cloud (R)
SENATE floor amendments [LINK] clarify that electronic monitoring costs apply only to adults, requiring courts to waive such fees in juvenile cases. Additionally, they specify that after a court’s third finding of noncompliance with electronic monitoring, an adult is returned to state custody, and a juvenile to a pretrial facility.
SENATE committee amendments [LINK] set rules for certifying and registering electronic monitoring providers and equipment makers. They create a new crime for breaking electronic monitoring conditions, like entering banned areas or violating curfew, with penalties that increase if the person commits a felony or is out on bail for a violent crime. Courts can waive monitoring costs for juveniles if justified. State agencies must create official rules to manage the program.
Amend’s Louisiana's electronic monitoring laws for certain criminal defendants. The bill mandates that electronic monitoring service providers notify relevant authorities—including bail agents, district attorneys, or the attorney general—of any violations of a defendant's monitoring conditions within one day of detection. Providers who intentionally withhold or fail to report such information may face fines up to $1,000 per day, imprisonment for up to six months, and a five-year prohibition from offering electronic monitoring services in the state.
Additionally, the bill requires courts to impose conditions aimed at the rehabilitation of individuals under electronic monitoring, such as maintaining employment or, for juveniles, attending school and adhering to curfews. The costs associated with electronic monitoring would be the responsibility of the monitored individual. The bill also allows for the temporary detention of individuals, not exceeding six hours, to address equipment issues like charging or repairs. Furthermore, upon receiving reports of noncompliance, courts may issue arrest warrants, and after three noncompliance hearings, the individual's participation in the electronic monitoring program may be terminated, resulting in remand to state custody.
Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-05
Author: 👤 Thomas Pressly (R)
Co-sponsors: Adam Bass (R)
SENATE committee amendments [LINK] add exemptions for private projects, protect the authority of local entities like levee districts and ports, define “integrated” project planning, create an appeal process for denied projects, and allow emergency projects to proceed with the governor’s approval before formal plan inclusion.
Creates the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation (CURRENT) Authority. This authority would oversee integrated projects in Louisiana's upland areas, focusing on flood control, risk reduction, navigation, and water resource management.
Key provisions of the bill include:
The legislation also outlines the authority's structure, responsibilities, and its relationship with existing state departments and agencies.
Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-07
Author: 👤 Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D)
SENATE committee amendment [LINK] removes" The aggregate compensation for a dealer who operates one or more business locations within louisiana shall not exceed seven hundred fifty dollars per calendar month."
Proposes allowing dealers and remote sellers to receive compensation for collecting and remitting local sales and use taxes. This compensation would be in the form of a deduction against the taxes due, calculated at the rate specified in local ordinances. The total compensation for a dealer operating one or more business locations within Louisiana would be capped at $750 per calendar month. To qualify, returns must be filed, and taxes remitted, on or before the 20th day of the month following the month of collection. The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, and will apply to taxable periods beginning on and after that date.

Last Action: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-15
Author: Stewart Cathey (R)
Creates a special state fund to redirect revenue from local traffic camera fines to parish sheriffs for juvenile rehabilitation programs.
Key Provisions:
- Establishes the Communities Aligned to Help Educate Youth Fund (CATHEY Fund) in the state treasury.
- Requires local governments to remit all revenue from automated traffic enforcement devices (e.g., red light and speed cameras) to the state each month.
- Beginning FY 2026–2027, the legislature must appropriate the prior year’s funds to parish sheriff’s offices based on population share.
- Funds must be used exclusively for juvenile rehabilitation programs.
- Prohibits local ordinances from overriding this dedication.
- Effective July 1, 2025.
Last Action: Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-23
Author: Stewart Cathey (R)
JULIE EMERSON OPPOSING, SPEAKING AGAINST ON THE FLOOR. "We don't need to be extending a credit that is barely utilized. Only 11 people have used the credit in its existence."
It is slated to sunset. Let it sunset.
Extends the sunset date for Louisiana’s income tax exemption for digital nomads.
Louisiana’s Digital Nomad Income Tax Exemption lets eligible remote workers exempt 50% of their wages (up to $150,000) from state income tax for up to two years.
To qualify, you must:
- Move to Louisiana after 12/31/21
- Work full-time remotely for an out-of-state company
- Have health insurance
- Apply by March 31 using Form R-90006
Limited to 500 participants.
Key Provisions:
- Maintains current law allowing digital nomads to exempt 50% of gross wages (up to $150,000) from state income tax.
- Expands the exemption’s applicability to include tax years 2026 and 2027.
- Extends the sunset date from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2027.
- Effective August 1, 2025.


Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-14
Author: 🥇 Glen Womack (R)
Creates the Reserve Fund in the state treasury to hold funds set aside by the legislature.
Key Provisions:
- Establishes the Reserve Fund as a special fund.
- Allows deposits from legislative transfers, donations, or appropriations.
- Retains unspent and unencumbered balances at the end of each fiscal year.
- Requires legislative appropriation to withdraw any money from the fund.
- Interest earned stays in the fund.
- Effective upon governor’s signature.

Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-23
Author: Stewart Cathey (R)
Changes how ad valorem tax value for movable property of out-of-state companies with no Louisiana office is allocated among parishes.
SENATE committee amendment 1 [LINK] slows the shift of assessed value allocations from East Baton Rouge Parish to other parishes, phasing it in over four years instead of three and delaying full reallocation until 2029.
Key Provisions of original bill:
- Replaces default allocation to East Baton Rouge Parish with a formula based on each parish’s share of active railroad track miles.
- Allows assessors to claim property located in their parish as of January 1.
- Louisiana Tax Commission must publish annual track mileage data.
Phase-In:
- 2026: 33% by track miles, 67% to East Baton Rouge
- 2027: 67% by track miles, 33% to East Baton Rouge
- 2028 and after: 100% by track miles
Applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026.
Effective upon governor’s signature.
Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-23
Author: Adam Bass (R)
Cracks down on illegal online gambling and sweepstakes gaming, and restricts gaming industry ties to hostile or high-risk foreign jurisdictions.
Key Provisions:
- Bans online sweepstakes games using dual-currency systems that simulate gambling.
- Increases penalties for illegal gambling by computer: $10,000–$100,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison.
- Makes violations a deceptive trade practice under consumer law.
- Prohibits licensed gaming entities and affiliates from supporting or promoting illegal online gambling.
- Bars gaming suppliers from doing business in terrorist-supporting or gambling-prohibited countries.
- Requires annual disclosures of foreign activity; misstatements can lead to license denial or revocation.
- Effective August 1, 2025.

Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-12
Author: Gary Carter (D)
Co-sponsors: 👤 Rick Edmonds (R) 👤 Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D) 👤 Blake Miguez (R) Beth Mizell (R)
SENATE floor amendments [LINK] add flexibility and protections related to vocational and technical education courses in high schools. They allow schools to request a waiver from offering such courses if their mission or curriculum does not align, subject to approval by both their local board and BESE. They also prohibit charging students course fees if the school receives Minimum Foundation Program career development funds for the course.
SENATE committee amendments [LINK] clarify that all public high schools must offer available vocational courses, and may partner with other public schools, two-year colleges, or approved nonprofit proprietary schools to provide these courses, add that this law does not override existing statutes, and require schools to inform students about eligibility for the TOPS Tech Early Start Award.
Requires all public high schools, including charter schools, to provide students access to vocational and technical education courses. Schools that do not offer a selected course must partner with another public school or LCTCS campus to provide it.
Key Provisions:
- Mandates access to vocational/technical courses for all high school students.
- Authorizes partnerships with other schools or community/technical colleges.
- Applies requirement to charter schools.
Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-14
Author: Royce Duplessis (D)
Co-sponsors: 👤 Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D)
- Creates the Educational Compensation Fund in the state treasury, funded by a portion of state sales tax revenues (R.S. 47:302 and 321).
- Monies in the fund are used solely to provide annual supplemental payments of $2,000 to certificated and $1,000 to noncertificated K-12 public school employees, plus related retirement contributions.
- Payments must be distributed by local school districts by December 15 each year.
- Prohibits gubernatorial budget reductions of appropriations from this fund.
- Effective July 1, 2025.


Last Action: Reported favorably.
Date: 2025-04-22
Author: Adam Bass (R)
SENATE floor amendments [LINK]:
Implications:
Removes the per-project limits and allows film companies and individuals to profit from selling Louisiana tax credits to others—without having to pay Louisiana taxes or prove lasting benefit to the state.
Summary:
SB232 expands Louisiana’s film tax credit program REPEALS the $20 million limits per-project (companies) and $3 million (individuals) allowing up to 40% in state tax credits for approved productions, with fewer restrictions and broader eligibility. These credits remain fully transferable, meaning companies—often out-of-state—can sell them to third parties who owe Louisiana taxes, effectively turning the credits into a cash-equivalent subsidy. The state loses revenue, while the local economic benefit remains uncertain or minimal.
Key Concerns:

Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-07
Author: Royce Duplessis (D)
JULIE EMERSON OPPOSING AND WILL SPEAK AGAINST ON THE FLOOR. "Needs to die. It is a terrible policy. We need to lower property insurance rates not have the government pay for it. Plus you can only get it if you make less than 25k which will turn intno another EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT because these recipients barely have any tax liability.
Yet another TAX CREDIT, this one for low to moderate-income homeowners for up to $2k of their policy so the rest of the state struggling with their own insurance costs can pay for it. This does nothing to fix insurance issues, just takes from some to give to others.
SENATE floor amendments [LINK] establish a $10 million annual cap on the total amount of tax credits granted. The credits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with any excess requests rolling over to the next calendar year. Additionally, the amendments set an expiration date for the program, prohibiting credits for tax periods starting on or after January 1, 2036.
SENATE committee amendments technical
Implications:
Creates a state income tax credit for "low- to-moderate-income" individuals who pay homeowner's insurance premiums, starting January 1, 2026.
Key Provisions:

Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-20
Author: Phillip Tarver (R)
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Government Growth Limit companion
Proposes a constitutional amendment to modify Louisiana's financial management practices. The bill aims to establish a "Government Growth Limit," which would restrict the amount of State General Fund (Direct) revenues that can be appropriated for recurring expenses in a fiscal year. Any recurring revenues exceeding this limit would be designated exclusively for nonrecurring expenditures.
Key Provisions:
1. Establishment of the Government Growth Limit: Starting with the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year, the Revenue Estimating Conference is tasked with setting this limit annually during the first quarter of the calendar year for the upcoming fiscal year. The legislature is responsible for defining the procedures for calculating and applying this limit.
2. Allocation of Excess Recurring Revenues: Recurring revenues that surpass the Government Growth Limit but remain below the overall expenditure limit can only be appropriated for nonrecurring expenses. Nonrecurring expenses are defined as those that are not ongoing or expected to recur annually in similar amounts.
3. Legislative Authority to Adjust the Limit: The legislature retains the power to modify the expenditure limit for any fiscal year with a two-thirds majority vote in each house. Such changes must be enacted through specific legislation that clearly indicates the intent to alter the limit.
The proposed amendment seeks to promote fiscal responsibility by capping the growth of recurring expenditures and directing surplus recurring revenues toward one-time investments or obligations, thereby aiming to ensure a more sustainable financial future for the state.



Last Action: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-01
Author: Paula Davis (R)
Co-sponsors: Rhonda Butler (R) Vincent Cox (R) Jason DeWitt (R) Adrian Fisher (D) Aimee Freeman (D) Barbara Freiberg (R) Kyle Green (D) Stephanie Hilferty (R) Jason Hughes (D) Mike Johnson (R) Denise Marcelle (D) Danny McCormick (R) Dixon McMakin (R) Pat Moore (D) Candace Newell (D) Charles Owen (R) Sylvia Taylor (D) Francis Thompson (R) Matthew Willard (D) John Wyble (R)
...and 15 more.
HOUSE committee Amendment 1 [LINK] removed six violent crimes from eligibility for the scholarship (Disarming of a peace officer, Aggravated assault with a firearm, Simple kidnapping, False imprisonment; offender armed with dangerous weapon, Aggravated arson, Home invasion) but leave in the following violent crimes:
Aggravated battery
Second degree battery
Aggravated assault
Aggravated criminal damage to property
Second degree robbery
Simple robbery
Purse snatching
Aggravated flight from an officer
ORIGINAL BREAKDOWN
Under HB558 (2025 Regular Session), the M.J. Foster Promise Program will now allow individuals convicted of certain crimes to be eligible for program grants, unless their conviction falls under specific exclusions.
Therefore, the following crimes are now eligible for M.J. Foster Promise Program grants under the proposed law:
Note: All other crimes of violence listed in R.S. 14:2(B) and specifically enumerated in HB558 remain disqualifying and will continue to render an applicant ineligible.
Let me know if you’d like a formatted chart comparing before/after eligibility or a version tailored for legislative testimony.
Last Action: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-12
Author: Ken Brass (D)
HOUSE committee amendments technical except for Amendment 5 [LINK] which describes a data sharing agreement between the Board of Regents, the Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Expands eligible programs for the M.J. Foster Promise Program by including those associated with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) projects. Key changes include:
1. Expansion of Qualified Programs:
o Programs related to LED projects can now be designated as "qualified programs" eligible for M.J. Foster Promise Program funding.
o Priority is given to programs related to LED projects in the qualification process.
2. Streamlined Review Process:
o The Board of Regents, with Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) and LED, must establish a process for creating associate degree programs for LED projects.
o Expedited reviews (45-day max) for LED projects with urgent workforce needs.
3. Advisory Council Modifications:
o The LWC must convene the advisory council annually and as needed for LED-related workforce priorities.
o Review of workforce priorities every three years, but LED-related projects may trigger additional reviews.
4. LED Secretary’s Responsibilities:
o Maintain a list of priority programs supporting LED projects.
o Notify the council and commissioner of higher education when new LED projects are approved.
o Provide annual reports on the effectiveness of LED programs in meeting workforce and economic goals.
5. Repeal of Certain Eligibility Requirements:
o Previous eligibility requirements based on family income or unemployment/underemployment are removed.
This bill expands the M.J. Foster Promise Program removing eligibility requirements.

Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-30
Author: Phillip Tarver (R)
Co-sponsors: Beryl Amedee (R) Dennis Bamburg (R) Stephanie Berault (R) Chad Boyer (R) Rhonda Butler (R) Josh Carlson (R) Dewith Carrier (R) Robert Carter (D) Kim Carver (R) Phillip DeVillier (R) Kellee Dickerson (R) Kathy Edmonston (R) Peter Egan (R) Julie Emerson (R) Gabe Firment (R) Brian Glorioso (R) Troy Hebert (R) Dodie Horton (R) Mike Johnson (R) Jacob Landry (R) Michael Melerine (R) Charles Owen (R) Troy Romero (R) Rodney Schamerhorn (R) John Wyble (R)
...and 20 more.
HOUSE committee amendment technical
Proposes to establish a "Government Growth Limit" to control the appropriation of recurring State General Fund (Direct) revenues.
Key provisions:
1. Establishment of the Growth Limit:
· The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) must set the growth limit each year, no later than the first quarter of the calendar year, for the upcoming fiscal year.
· The Commissioner of Administration is responsible for calculating the growth limit and submitting it to the REC for review and adoption.
2. Calculation of the Growth Limit:
· If the growth factor is positive, the growth limit is calculated by adding the base amount to the product of the base and the growth factor.
· The growth factor consists of:
o The average annual percentage change in Louisiana’s population over the past five years.
o The average of two indicators over the same five-year period:
§ The average annual percentage change in the chained consumer price index (CPI) for the U.S.
§ The average annual percentage change in the chained consumer medical care price index for the U.S.
· If the growth factor is negative, the growth limit remains equal to the base amount.
· The base amount is the total recurring State General Fund (Direct) appropriations from the most recent full fiscal year, not including any amounts appropriated under the specific exceptions outlined in this bill.
3. Appropriation Restrictions:
· If the official revenue forecast shows recurring revenues that exceed the growth limit but remain under the constitutional expenditure limit, the excess can only be used for nonrecurring expenses.
· Nonrecurring expenses are defined as those that are not ongoing or permanent.
In summary, this bill creates a cap on how much the state can grow its recurring spending, based on population and inflation metrics. The goal is to ensure recurring expenditures do not grow faster than the state’s ability to sustain them, promoting fiscal discipline.



Last Action: Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-04-30
Author: Alan Seabaugh (R)
SENATE committee amendments [LINK] expand the bill to cover all juvenile criminal cases and give district attorneys broad discretion to transfer cases to district, parish, or city courts depending on the juvenile’s age and offense. They authorize the attorney general to do the same when acting as DA. The amendments also change court jurisdiction from exclusive to concurrent and clarify procedures for transferring serious felony cases involving juveniles 15 or older to adult court. Technical edits streamline language throughout the bill.
Proposes changes to the jurisdictional structure of Louisiana's courts concerning juvenile offenders. The bill aims to define the authority of various courts based on the juvenile’s age and the nature of the offense.
Key Provisions:
The bill also addresses the applicability of the Code of Criminal Procedure and confidentiality of juvenile records. If enacted, these changes would take effect on August 1, 2025.
Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-20
Author: Julie Emerson (R)
This is part of the effort to consolidate funds, freeing up dedicated revenue to pay down debt.
Repeals the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund and redirects certain state revenues to the Budget Stabilization Fund ("Rainy Day Fund"). Simplifies mineral revenue dedications and revises conditions for fund deposits and usage.
KEY PROVISIONS:
Last Action: Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-07
Author: 👤 Blake Miguez (R)
Exempts from state and local sales and use tax the cost of repairs and parts for motor vehicles rented or leased by a dealer for re-rental or re-lease.
Key Provisions:
Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-13
Author: Nicholas Muscarello (R)
HOUSE floor amendments technical and [LINK] one allows an electronic copy to be provided with a certified copy upon request, rather than automatically.
HOUSE committee amendments technical in nature
Proposes a statewide revision of court reporter fees in Louisiana. The bill seeks to amend various sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes to standardize and update the compensation structure for court reporters.
Key provisions of the bill include:
Furthermore, the bill proposes the repeal of several existing statutes and legislative acts related to court reporter fees, aiming to consolidate and simplify the fee structure across the state.
By implementing these changes, the legislation intends to create a more uniform and transparent system for court reporter compensation throughout Louisiana.
Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-14
Author: Julie Emerson (R)
This was part of the package last year to combine funds for the purpose of freeing up money to pay down debt.
HOUSE floor bureau amendments technical
HOUSE floor amendment set 2433 [LINK] clarify and adjust references related to the Louisiana Constitution sections being changed. Specifically, they correct language to properly indicate that a new section (10.3(D)) is being "added" rather than "enacted," and they remove an unnecessary line for clarity. The amendments also clearly outline the exact constitutional sections amended, added, and repealed, ensuring accuracy and consistency in referencing.
HOUSE committee amendment 2290 technical.
HOUSE committee amendment set 2015 [LINK] adjusts provisions related to the dedication and distribution of mineral revenues. Specifically, they repeal certain existing dedications, redefine how revenues are deposited into and credited to the Mineral Revenue Audit and Settlement Fund, and clarify that funds in this account will count toward the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund, but not toward the Budget Stabilization Fund. The amendments simplify revenue allocations by removing some previously required distributions and clarify constitutional references to streamline the management of mineral revenue funds.
Constitutional amendment to eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund and redirect certain state revenues to the Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund), while raising the cap on its allowable balance.
Key Provisions:
Last Action: Reported favorably. Rules suspended. Read by title and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-08
Author: Alonzo Knox (D)
Co-sponsors: Candace Newell (D) Sylvia Taylor (D) Daryl Adams (D) Beryl Amedee (R) Tony Bacala (R) Delisha Boyd (D) Chad Boyer (R) Jacob Braud (R) Robert Carter (D) Wilford Carter (D) Tehmi Chassion (D) Emily Chenevert (R) Adrian Fisher (D) Dodie Horton (R) John Illg (R) Vanessa Caston Lafleur (D) Rodney Lyons (D) Denise Marcelle (D) Shaun Mena (D) Pat Moore (D) Charles Owen (R) Joy Walters (D) John Wyble (R) Annie Spell (R)
...and 19 more.
HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] remove the proposed tax deduction for senior citizens aged 65 or older, leaving only the deduction related to veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.They also adjust the bill text accordingly to reflect this removal, deleting all references to seniors and updating numbering and citations to match this change.
ORIGINAL BILL:
Proposes state income tax deductions for two groups in Louisiana:
1. Residents aged 65 and older would receive an additional deduction equal to the standard deduction for single filers.
2. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more would receive the same deduction.
Taxpayers must keep records to verify eligibility. The Department of Revenue can set rules for implementation.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, and apply to tax periods starting that year.
This is being addressed in the Article VII Constitutional Amendment.

Last Action: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-03
Author: Ken Brass (D)
Co-sponsors: Mandie Landry (D)
HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] establish the "Youth Cessation and Prevention Fund," a special fund in the state treasury, to receive 20% of tobacco tax revenues annually. The fund will support statewide programs addressing tobacco prevention and cessation targeting youth and young adults. Specifically, 40% is directed to the Louisiana Cancer Research Center, 40% to the Louisiana Department of Health for tobacco cessation initiatives, 10% to LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, and 10% to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales. The amendments prohibit replacing existing general fund appropriations with monies from this fund.
HOUSE committee amendments technical
Changes the excise tax on vapor products and electronic cigarettes from 15 cents per milliliter of nicotine solution to 33% of the invoice price of these products.
The new tax rate applies to all vapor products and electronic cigarettes purchased by retailers and wholesalers on or after July 1, 2025. It does not apply to products already stamped or unused tax stamps held by wholesalers before this date.
All wholesale and retail dealers must submit an inventory of existing stock to the Department of Revenue by August 1, 2025.
Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-21
Author: Daryl Deshotel (R)
HOUSE floor amendments technical
HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] clarify that responsibilities belong specifically to the secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, revise language about the types of money deposited into the fund, broaden the allowed uses of fund monies from specific projects to general purposes, and make technical corrections to bill section numbering.
Establishes the Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund in the Louisiana state treasury to support economic development through site investment and infrastructure improvements.
Funding Sources:
1. Annual Contributions: Starting FY 2025-2026, 10% of recurring state general fund revenue exceeding the Official Forecast, capped at $50 million per year.
2. Other Contributions: Donations, gifts, grants, appropriations, or other revenue.
Initial Deposit: A one-time transfer of $150 million from the State General Fund for FY 2024-2025.
Fund Management:
- Interest earned is credited to the State General Fund.
- Unused funds remain in the special fund at the end of each fiscal year.
Usage: Funds appropriated by the legislature to Louisiana Economic Development specifically for economic development projects involving site investment and infrastructure improvements.
Rulemaking Authority: Louisiana Economic Development may establish rules via standard procedures or emergency rulemaking.
Effective Date: Upon the governor’s signature or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Last Action: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-03
Author: Edmond Jordan (D)
HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] include:
HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] scale back the bill to focus only on changes to bail and pretrial procedures. They remove unrelated sections, delete most of the original bill text, and keep only amendments to three specific criminal procedure Articles 230.1(B), 293, and 294(D) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.[SEE BELOW]
Proposes significant changes to Louisiana’s Code of Criminal Procedure, aiming to strengthen rights for indigent defendants and speed up pretrial timelines.
1. Appointment of Counsel (Article 230.1(B))
Current Law:
Appointment of counsel for indigent defendants is not consistently mandated from the initial appearance onward.
Proposed Change:
Requires immediate appointment of counsel at the first court appearance for indigent defendants. Counsel must remain through case resolution unless private counsel is retained.
2. Preliminary Examinations (Articles 292 & 293)
Current Law:
Preliminary exams are discretionary and not guaranteed, especially when grand jury indictments are involved.
Proposed Change:
Courts must grant a preliminary exam upon request in all felony cases, unless already indicted. Courts must also appoint counsel for indigent defendants and hold exams promptly.
3. Transcript Access (Article 294(D))
Current Law:
Transcripts are provided at the court’s discretion; costs are typically borne by the requesting party.
Proposed Change:
Mandates prompt transcript delivery when requested. Indigent defendants receive transcripts at no cost.
4. Time Limits for Filing Charges (Article 701(B))
Current Law:
· 60 days for most felonies
· 120 days for capital/life imprisonment felonies
Proposed Change:
· 15 days for most felonies
· 30 days for capital/life felonies
Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-28
Author: Daryl Deshotel (R)
HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] rewrites the funding and oversight provisions. It requires the state treasurer to deposit legislative appropriations, grants, donations, or other available funds into the Local Infrastructure FUnd. All interest earned and unspent money will remain in the fund at the end of each fiscal year. The money in the fund must be used to reimburse local governments for costs related to repairing or mitigating damage caused by broadband expansion. The Office of Community Development must develop guidelines for how the funds are used, and those guidelines must be approved by the Water Sector Commission. The office must also submit quarterly reports to the commission detailing how the funds are spent. The bill becomes effective upon the governor’s signature or as otherwise allowed by law.
HOUSE committee amendment [LINK] creates a new Local Infrastructure Fund in the state treasury. It dedicates state sales tax revenues and other funds to offset local ad valorem tax losses caused by inventory tax exemptions. After those offsets, up to $10 million per year may be appropriated for the repair, improvement, or consolidation of community water and sewer systems, with priority given to systems that have not received Water Sector Program grants. Use of the fund requires specific legislative appropriation. The infrastructure fund provisions take effect only if the constitutional amendment in HB366 is approved by voters.
Establishes the Local Infrastructure Fund as a special fund within the Louisiana state treasury. The fund would receive revenues from state sales and use taxes on telecommunications services, cable television services, direct-to-home satellite services, video programming services, and satellite digital audio radio services, along with donations, gifts, grants, appropriations, or other revenue sources.
The bill outlines two primary purposes for spending from the fund:
1. Repair, improvement, and consolidation of community water and sewer systems for parishes or local authorities that have not previously received grants from the Water Sector Program.
2. Repair and construction of roads, streets, alleys, bridges, causeways, dykes, dams, culverts, ditches, levees, and other drainage facilities under the jurisdiction of parishes or local governing authorities.
Expenditures from the fund would require legislative appropriation, and unspent or unobligated funds at the end of the fiscal year would remain in the fund. The state treasurer is authorized to invest any remaining monies in the Local Infrastructure Fund in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned from these investments would be credited back to the Local Infrastructure Fund itself.

Last Action: Received in the Senate; read by title Rules suspended. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-02
Author: Phillip Tarver (R)
Co-sponsors: Beryl Amedee (R) Dewith Carrier (R) Vincent Cox (R) Phillip DeVillier (R) Kellee Dickerson (R) Kathy Edmonston (R) Peter Egan (R) Julie Emerson (R) Les Farnum (R) Bryan Fontenot (R) Dodie Horton (R) Danny McCormick (R) Dixon McMakin (R) Charles Owen (R) Rodney Schamerhorn (R) Debbie Villio (R) Roger Wilder (R)
...and 12 more.
YES!!
Proposes changes to the Louisiana state appropriations process concerning nongovernmental entities (NGOs). The bill aims to prohibit including appropriations for NGOs within the General Appropriation Bill, capital outlay bill, or any appropriation bill that contains funding for a budget unit or political subdivision of the state. Instead, such appropriations would need to be made through separate bills dedicated solely to NGOs.
Currently, NGOs seeking state funding must submit specific information to legislative committees by November 1 each year. Late submissions may be considered if approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget or the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay before the final introduction date for new legislation. House Bill No. 309 maintains these requirements but stipulates that appropriations for NGOs cannot be included in bills funding state budget units or political subdivisions.
If enacted, this bill would take effect on July 1, 2025.


Last Action: Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-05-27
Author: Regina Barrow (D)
Creates a pilot program called “Farm-Ed” to promote agricultural STEM education in Louisiana schools.
Key Provisions:
- Directs BESE and the Department of Education to establish the Farm-Ed pilot program.
- Provides for use of controlled environment grow chambers and related curriculum in K–12 classrooms.
- Requires development of rules to select participating schools and allocate available funding.
- Program to be implemented as funding becomes available.
- Effective August 1, 2025.
Last Action: Received in the Senate; read by title Rules suspended. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-04
Author: Tehmi Chassion (D)
HOUSE committee amendments [LINK]:
Proposes amendments to Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1665 and 40:1665.2 concerning financial security for the surviving spouses and children of firemen and law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.
Key Provisions:
1. Health Insurance Coverage for Surviving Spouses:
The bill mandates that employers provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the surviving spouse of a fireman or law enforcement officer who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. This coverage is to continue for the lifetime of the surviving spouse, extending the current provision which offers coverage for two years following the officer's death.
2. Health Insurance Coverage for Surviving Children:
Employers are required to provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the deceased officer's or fireman's children, stepchildren, or adopted children who meet any of the following criteria:
o Under the age of 18.
o Under the age of 23 and enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or a full-time student at an accredited college or university.
o Physically or mentally disabled.
The coverage for each child continues until they no longer meet the specified qualifications.
3. Retroactive Application:
The bill stipulates that these provisions apply retroactively. Surviving spouses and children of all law enforcement officers and firemen who have previously died in the line of duty are eligible for the extended health insurance benefits.
The employer would be obligated to re-enroll eligible surviving family members into a health insurance plan, even if coverage had previously ended under the old two-year limit. The bill mandates coverage moving forward, but it does not explicitly address whether employers must reimburse or retroactively cover medical expenses incurred during the lapse.
Implementing retroactive coverage could require significant administrative work/cost.
Last Action: Received in the Senate; read by title Rules suspended. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-04
Author: Tehmi Chassion (D)
HOUSE committee amendments [LINK]:
Seeks to provide financial support for firemen and law enforcement officers in Louisiana who incur extraordinary medical and dental expenses due to injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Key provisions of HB 203:
Implications:
If enacted, HB 203 would provide a structured process for injured firemen and law enforcement officers to seek reimbursement for substantial medical and dental expenses not covered by existing insurance or workers' compensation, addressing gaps in coverage for duty-related injuries.
Last Action: Received in the Senate; read by title Rules suspended. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Date: 2025-06-04
Author: Raymond Crews (R)
Co-sponsors: Beryl Amedee (R) Mike Bayham (R) Beth Billings (R) Kellee Dickerson (R) Michael Echols (R) Kathy Edmonston (R) Dodie Horton (R) Rodney Schamerhorn (R) Francis Thompson (R) Mark Wright (R)
...and 5 more.
HOUSE approps committee amendments technical
HOUSE floor amendments technical
HOUSE H&G committee amendments [LINK] clarify conditions under which excess state revenues can be returned as dividends to taxpayers (excess revenues are returned as dividends unless the legislature, by a two-thirds vote, opts to redirect the funds to capital outlay projects), adjust dates for reporting, legislative actions, and dividend payments, and allow the legislature, by a two-thirds vote, to redirect funds for capital outlay projects instead of paying dividends. The amendments also clarify procedural language and timing related to mid-year budget adjustments and the dividend payment schedule.
Establishes the Louisiana Dividend Program within the Department of the Treasury to return a portion of certain mineral revenues to eligible Louisiana residents when no state individual income tax is levied.
Key Provisions:
- The program is triggered the first July 1 after the repeal of the state individual income tax.
- Funded by 25% of mineral revenues exceeding $650 million annually, deposited into a newly created Louisiana Dividend Fund.
- Residents aged 18+ who were domiciled in Louisiana for the entire qualifying year and are U.S. citizens or lawful residents may apply.
- Ineligible individuals include those convicted of felonies or incarcerated during the qualifying year for serious offenses or repeated misdemeanors.
- Dividends are calculated annually if the fund exceeds $400 million at the end of a fiscal year.
- Applications must be submitted between Jan 1 and Mar 31 of the payment year; active-duty military deployed during that time may apply later.
- Twenty percent of each dividend is protected from seizure; remaining amounts are subject to garnishment only after May 1.
- A Restorative Justice Subfund will receive amounts equivalent to what would have gone to ineligible individuals, to fund incarceration costs.
- A fraud investigation unit is created, and penalties for fraudulent claims include fines, repayment, and permanent disqualification from the program.
- The program includes confidentiality protections, an appeals process with fee waivers for indigent applicants, and authority for subpoena enforcement.
SENATE floor amendment set 1703 [LINK] clarify supervision requirements for young children, allowing exceptions during special circumstances, restroom visits by children five and older without staff, and immediate cleaning after toileting accidents. They also require state agencies, especially the Department of Children and Family Services, to quickly notify the child ombudsman of child deaths under their care or previously reported for abuse or neglect, and make various technical wording adjustments.
SENATE floor amendments technical
SENATE committee amendments [LINK] refine language in Louisiana’s child abuse registry law by replacing “placement” with “recordation,” clarifying that provisions apply to names entered on or after August 1, 2018 or 2025, and adjusting agency responsibilities for investigations based on the victim-perpetrator relationship and remove redundant paragraphs.
Aims to enhance child protection in Louisiana educational settings. Key points:
Overall, the bill strengthens child welfare and safety measures in educational environments.