Capitol Conversations: Louisiana Edition
Join the discussion on Education at our state capitol.
This page highlights state education bills currently under review. While these proposals are still in progress, now is a great time to share your thoughts.
Or keep scrolling to learn more about our topics below.
Featured Education Bill(s)
Senate Bill 105 (SB105) – Updating Louisiana’s Approach to Student Testing
Author: Senator Mark Abraham
Summary: SB105 proposes replacing Louisiana’s current statewide test, the LEAP, with a shorter, nationally normed test. This change could save valuable classroom time, provide more consistent and useful data for schools, and allow fair comparisons among all school types—public, private, charter, and voucher. A task force would be created to select the appropriate test by January 2026. If passed, the new system would begin in the 2026–2027 school year. Read more in our article on the proposed change.
Education Bills for the 2025 Legislative Session
Education Bills in the House
🔹 House Bills (HB): House-originated education bills referred to the House Education Committee. HB51 – Charter Schools – Rep. Young: Covers rules regarding the handling of assets for certain charter schools. HB52 – Financial Literacy – Rep. Willard: Requires high schools to offer financial literacy as part of the curriculum. HB54 – Purple Star Campuses – Rep. Horton: Designates postsecondary institutions as “Purple Star Campuses.” HB70 – TOPS-Tech Eligibility – Rep. Brass: Revises academic criteria for receiving a TOPS-Tech award. HB71 – Dual Enrollment Task Force – Rep. Brass: Revises membership structure of the task force. HB77 – TOPS Excellence Level – Rep. Turner: Adds a new TOPS award level for students scoring 31+ on the ACT. HB109 – Geaux Teach Scholarships – Rep. Thompson: Modifies scholarship provisions for teacher prep programs. HB110 – HBCU Health Research – Rep. Walters: Establishes a uterine fibroids research center at Southern University. HB142 – HBCU Advisory Council – Rep. Mena: Updates the role of the HBCU Advisory Council. HB161 – TOPS-Tech & Early Start – Rep. Hughes: Modifies eligibility rules for both programs. HB185 – MFP Student Count – Rep. Freiberg: Changes how students are counted in the MFP formula. HB201 – READ Program Expansion – Rep. St. Blanc: Broadens access to the early literacy program. HB202 – Mental Health Privacy Waiver – Rep. Boyd: Allows sharing of mental health data under certain conditions. HB213 – School Tech Trade Authority – Rep. St. Blanc: Lets schools sell or trade tech equipment. HB225 – Weapon Screenings in Schools – Rep. Brown: Authorizes staff to conduct screenings at school entry. HB237 – Student Restraint and Seclusion – Rep. Mack: Updates policy for students with exceptionalities. HB243 – LA GATOR Assessment Rules – Rep. Mandie Landry: Aligns assessments with LA GATOR Scholarship Program. HB246 – LSMSA Salary Structure – Rep. Amedee: Sets salary and funding structure for this special school. HB275 – Out-of-State TOPS Repayment Plan – Rep. Berault: Lets graduates repay unused TOPS used elsewhere. HB279 – Anti-Hazing Course Requirement – Rep. Boyd: Requires hazing prevention training for students. HB321 – Numeracy Certification for Teachers – Rep. Wyble: Adds numeracy to training and certification. HB327 – TOPS GPA Grading Scale – Rep. Chassion: Requires a 10-point grading scale for GPA. HB344 – Student Discipline Record Transfer – Rep. Berault: Requires schools to transfer discipline records. HB352 – Early Childhood Background Checks – Rep. Larvadain: Strengthens employment screening for early educators. HB372 – Computer Science Requirement – Rep. Hughes: Makes this course a graduation requirement. HB373 – High School Credential ROI Study – Rep. Hughes: Reviews effectiveness of high school certifications. HB378 – Lower ACT for Home School TOPS – Rep. Wilder: Adjusts score required for homeschooled TOPS students. HB384 – Student Drug Possession Discipline – Rep. Bryant: Changes response to possession on school property. HB391 – Teacher Evaluation System – Rep. Stagni: Changes student growth role in evaluations. HB395 – M.J. Foster Program Expansion – Rep. Brass: Adds LED programs to eligibility list. HB452 – Charter Board Member Rules – Rep. Carpenter: Clarifies requirements for charter board members. HB466 – TRSL Savings for Pay Raises – Rep. Carlson: Requires teacher raises from TRSL savings. HB478 – Pregnancy Info in School Clinics – Rep. Horton: Requires posters/info in health centers. HB486 – Mental Health Assessments in Schools – Rep. Fisher: Requires mental health screenings in schools. HB558 – M.J. Foster Eligibility Change – Rep. Davis: Adjusts entrance qualifications for scholarships. HB566 – Deferred Maintenance Contracts – Rep. Turner: Streamlines higher ed facility repairs. HB589 – BESE/LDOE Reporting Rules – Rep. Charles Owen: Reduces reporting burden and revises council rules. HB614 – ACT for Graduation, End-of-Course Test Elimination – Rep. Chassion: Replaces EOC exams with ACT requirement. 🔹 House Concurrent Resolutions (HCR): House-originated joint resolutions with Senate concurrence, referred to House Education. HCR13 – LSU Game Schedule Request – Rep. Illg: Requests evening LSU games in September. HCR24 – LHSAA Study Committee – Rep. Mike Johnson: Launches a study on LHSAA governance. HCR31 – Easter Weekend Event Ban – Rep. Deshotel: Requests no LHSAA games on Easter weekend. HCR37 – Hazing Prevention Task Force – Rep. Hughes: Forms a task force to review hazing policies. HCR47 – Founding Documents Display – Rep. Bayham: Encourages schools to post U.S. founding documents. 🔹 House Resolutions (HR): Resolutions originating in the House for education matters, reviewed by House Education. HR3 – School Food Nutrition Study – Rep. Echols: Examines banning ultra-processed foods. HR4 – Buy American Food Request – Rep. Echols: Asks Congress to support U.S.-sourced school food. HR7 – Lab School Funding Study Update – Rep. Young: Requests fiscal office report on lab school models. HR8 – Standardized Testing Review – Rep. Melerine: Requests a state review of test use. HR15 – NIL Task Force for Athletes – Rep. Young: Creates task force to study NIL issues. HR98 – Impact of Phone Ban Study – Rep. Charles Owen: Reviews student phone policy outcomes. HR167 – Antisemitism Policy Request – Rep. Bayham: Asks higher ed to create antisemitism guidelines. 🔹 Senate Bills (SB) – Referred to House Education: Senate-originated education bills referred to the House Education Committee. SB25 – St. George School System Formation – Sen. Edmonds: Creates independent district via constitutional amendment. SB81 – Academic Transparency & Parent Access – Sen. Edmonds: Requires public access to digital instructional content. SB117 – Ban Ultra-Processed Foods in Schools – Sen. Miguez: Prohibits certain foods in public school cafeterias. SB160 – Ride-Sharing for School Transport – Sen. Cathey: Allows licensed ride-share providers to transport students. SB234 – St. George School Board Creation – Sen. Edmonds: Establishes local governance for new St. George system.
Education Bills in the Senate
🔹 Senate Bills (SB): Bills introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Senate Education Committee for review. SB25 – School Systems – St. George – Sen. Edmonds: Creates the St. George Community School System (constitutional amendment). SB81 – Curriculum Transparency – Sen. Edmonds: Expands parental access to digital instructional materials. SB105 – Student Assessment – Accountability – Sen. Abraham: Replaces LEAP with a nationally normed test for school accountability. SB117 – Nutrition – School Food Policy – Sen. Miguez: Prohibits serving ultra-processed foods in public schools. SB121 – Student Wellness – Mental Health – Sen. Selders: Requires mental health screenings in schools. SB126 – Facilities – School Mapping – Sen. Kleinpeter: Requires comprehensive facility mapping for all public schools. SB160 – Transportation – Student Rideshare – Sen. Cathey: Authorizes ride-sharing services for student transportation. SB178 – School Employee Rights – Sen. Jenkins: Establishes the School Employee Bill of Rights. SB180 – STEM Education – Agriculture – Sen. Barrow: Creates a “Farm-Ed” STEM initiative in K–12 education. SB198 – Student Access – Activities – Sen. Stine: Allows nonpublic school students to participate in public school extracurriculars. SB200 – Higher Ed – International Students – Sen. Stine: Places limits on compensation/scholarships for international student-athletes. SB202 – University Governance – Sen. Harris: Transfers the University of New Orleans to the LSU system. SB207 – Vocational/Technical Education Access – Sen. Gary Carter: Ensures access to career courses in public high schools. SB210 – Museums – State Oversight – Sen. Cloud: Updates operations of state museums under education control. SB215 – Higher Ed – Mental Health Days – Sen. Selders: Authorizes mental health days for college faculty, staff, and students. SB234 – School Governance – St. George – Sen. Edmonds: Establishes the St. George Community School Board. 🔹 Senate Concurrent and Regular Resolutions: Senate-originated resolutions on education matters assigned to the Senate Education Committee. SCR2 – School Finance – MFP – Sen. Edmonds: Approves the 2025–2026 MFP formula submitted by BESE. SCR37 – STEM Learning Tech – Sen. Edmonds: Encourages BESE to approve a 3D STEM learning platform license. SCR38 – Workforce Alignment Task Force – Sen. Edmonds: Creates a task force on aligning career programs with public colleges. SR92 – Charter School Policy Review – Sen. Bouie: Requests a report from LDOE on the Charter School Demonstration Programs Law. 🔹 House Instruments (HB, HCR): House-originated education bills and resolutions referred to the Senate Education Committee for further consideration. HB51 – Charter Schools – Rep. Young: Relates to the assets of certain charter schools. HB52 – Curriculum – Financial Literacy – Rep. Willard: Requires instruction in financial literacy in high schools. HB54 – Higher Education – Military Support – Rep. Horton: Designates “Purple Star Campuses” at postsecondary institutions. HB71 – Boards/Commissions – Dual Enrollment – Rep. Brass: Revises membership of the Dual Enrollment Task Force. HB109 – Student Aid – Scholarships – Rep. Thompson: Relates to scholarships under the Geaux Teach Program. HB142 – Boards/Commissions – HBCUs – Rep. Mena: Updates the Advisory Council on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. HB161 – Student Aid – TOPS-Tech – Rep. Hughes: Revises eligibility for TOPS-Tech and Early Start programs. HB213 – School Boards – Technology – Rep. St. Blanc: Allows public schools to sell or trade certain technology equipment. HB246 – School Employee Salaries – Rep. Amedee: Provides salary and funding policy for LSMSA employees. HB321 – Teachers – Certification – Rep. Wyble: Adds numeracy requirements to teacher certification and professional development. HB327 – Student Aid – Grading Scale – Rep. Chassion: Requires use of a 10-point grading scale for TOPS eligibility. HB352 – Early Childhood – Employment – Rep. Larvadain: Provides for background checks for early childhood staff. HB372 – Curriculum – Computer Science – Rep. Hughes: Requires computer science for high school graduation. HB373 – Workforce Education – ROI – Rep. Hughes: Mandates ROI analysis for industry credentials earned in high school. HB395 – Student Aid – Workforce Scholarships – Rep. Brass: Expands M.J. Foster Promise eligibility to LED-related programs. HB466 – School Employee Salaries – Rep. Carlson: Requires school systems to use TRSL savings to raise pay. HB558 – Student Aid – M.J. Foster Program – Rep. Davis: Alters initial eligibility for M.J. Foster Promise awards. HB566 – Public Contracts – Higher Ed – Rep. Turner: Creates an alternative contracting process for campus maintenance. HB589 – Education Reporting/Commissions – Rep. Charles Owen: Revises reporting and committee rules for BESE and LDOE. HCR24 – Athletics – LHSAA Study – Rep. Mike Johnson: Establishes legislative study of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
Meet Our State Lawmakers
Representative Roy Daryl Adams
(District 62)
Representative Adams serves the Zachary area and surrounding communities in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He brings a strong business and community background to his work and is a key figure in conversations on education funding and policy.
(District 15)
Senator Barrow represents parts of East Baton Rouge Parish and serves on the Senate Education Committee. She has long supported community-focused policies and brings deep experience in public health and equity issues.