Legislators gaveled in for a short week following the Easter break and quickly got down to business, as the final bills of the 2024 Regular Session were filed ahead of the April 2 deadline. 1A-supported legislation to provide for universal recognition of occupational licenses, increase access to computer science education, and boost funding capacity for the M.J. Foster Promise Program advanced last week. Additionally, 1A-supported legislation was introduced in the Senate to revamp Louisiana Economic Development based on a study of best practices from other states. Legislators have until June 3 to handle business before adjournment.
Read on for a recap of week three and a look ahead at week four.
WEEK FOUR RECAP
Occupational Licensing
One 1A priority bill, HB 716 by Rep. Owen, cleared the House last week. Entitled the “Welcome Home Act,” HB 716 would provide for universal recognition of occupational licenses for individuals moving into our state from elsewhere in the country. HB 716 provides for a recognition process that would grant an occupational license or certification to an individual moving to Louisiana if certain criteria are met, including that the individual is in good standing with the state they’re coming from.
The Institute for Justice reports that nearly one in five American workers are affected by occupational licensing and 20 other states have enacted their own version of universal license recognition, including neighboring Mississippi. 1A supports HB 716 to reduce barriers to employment and make it easier for professionals to relocate to Louisiana or for those who have left to come back home.
HB 716 passed the House by a vote of 97-8 on 4/2 and now heads to the Senate.
Computer Science Education
Another of 1A’s priority bills cleared the House last week, HB 264 by Rep. Hughes, entitled the “Computer Science Education Advancement Act of 2024.” HB 264 would make computer science a high school graduation requirement, as well as a qualification requirement for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), to be fully implemented by the graduating class of 2031. Computer science is changing every industry, and computing jobs are among the highest-wage and highest-demand careers nationally. Louisiana currently lags behind our southern neighbors with only 35% of our high schools offering computer science courses, compared to 78% in Mississippi, 95% in Alabama, and 99% in Arkansas.
HB 264 will better align Louisiana’s high school curricula with our peers and set students up for success in high-wage, high-demand computing occupations. The bill passed the House by a vote of 102-1 on 4/4 and now heads to Senate Education.
Check out more state-specific computer science education statistics at Code.org.
M.J. Foster Promise Program
Senate Education Chairman Sen. Rick Edmonds has introduced SB 272, legislation to increase the annual funding cap for the M.J. Foster Promise Program, which provides financial aid for Louisianans to earn credentials that align with high-demand jobs in industries like healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing. SB 272 would increase the annual funding cap for the program from $10.5 million to $40 million, providing increased capacity to serve Louisianans seeking training to enter the workforce.
SB 272 was reported favorably by Senate Education on 4/3 and now heads to Senate Finance.
Carbon Capture and Storage
Last week, 1A opposed several measures up for consideration in the House Natural Resources committee that sought to limit or prohibit carbon capture projects in Louisiana. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has been in use for decades and has the potential to attract billions of dollars in investment to our state. 1A supported Louisiana’s application for primacy over Class VI injection wells, which was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year, positioning Louisiana years ahead of most states in attracting CCS projects and empowering our state to continue leading the world on innovative energy solutions.
1A opposed the following bills in House Natural Resources last week:
- HB 280 by Rep. Coates – prohibits the permitting of certain structures on Lake Maurepas and Lake Ponchartrain
- HB 289 by Rep. Mack – prohibits Class VI injection wells in certain lakes with outstanding scenic and recreational significance to the state
- HB 389 by Rep. Mack – places a moratorium on carbon dioxide sequestration below Lake Maurepas and the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
- HB 516 by Rep. Mack – provides relative to carbon dioxide sequestration
All but one of these measures failed to pass the committee – HB 516 was approved favorably as amended and now advances to the House floor. HB 516 places burdensome requirements on carbon dioxide sequestration projects that would hinder growth and discourage investment in Louisiana. The bill has not yet been scheduled for consideration in the full House.
LOOKING AHEAD
LED Restructure Bill Filed
Senate Commerce Chair Sen. Beth Mizell has introduced legislation, SB 494, to implement a reorganization of Louisiana Economic Development (LED) based on a study of best practices from other states. 1A is supporting SB 494 to strengthen LED as a business-first, best-in-class economic development agency. The bill makes key changes that modernize LED’s organizational structure and operations and remove burdensome regulations constraining the department’s ability to function proactively and keep pace with the business sector.
Key provisions of SB 494 include:
- Creating the Louisiana Economic Development Partnership (LEDP), a board led by 11 highly-qualified private-sector members representing a cross-section of Louisiana’s key industries:
- 9 gubernatorial appointments
- 1 appointment by the Speaker of the House
- 1 appointment by the President of the Senate
- LED Secretary, as a non-voting member
- Requiring LED to develop a long-range economic development plan and a comprehensive strategic plan with the advice and consultation of the LEDP
- Allowing LED to establish a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation to support economic development
- Redesigning membership of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) board to add more economic development and business oversight
- Requiring a plan to seek federal, private, and other grant funds to support economic growth
SB 494 is pending a hearing in Senate Commerce, Chaired by bill author Sen. Mizell.
Workforce Readiness
Another of 1A’s priority bills this session, SB 293 by Senator Edmonds, seeks to address Louisiana’s critical talent shortage by strategically aligning state workforce development programs and funding under a single point of contact, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC). LWC Secretary Susana Schowen is a proven leader on business workforce solutions, and SB 293 will ensure Louisiana’s workforce strategies are best positioned to foster economic success for our citizens and industries. SB 293 was reported favorably as amended by Senate Labor and Industrial Relations on 3/27 and is scheduled to be considered in the full Senate today, 4/8.
Literacy and Numeracy
Two 1A-supported measures seeking to boost reading and math competency among K-12 students, HB 244 by Rep. Hughes and HB 267 by Rep. Carver, are being heard in House Appropriations this morning, 4/8, following their initial approval by House Education in March. These bills build on the success of the Steve Carter Literacy Tutoring Program and place a renewed focus on numeracy skills among Louisiana’s students.
HB 244 renames the Steve Carter Literacy Tutoring Program to the “Steve Carter Education Program,” and expands services provided to include math tutoring. The bill also extends the availability of the program, originally only open to students in grades K-5, to students through grade 12, and increases the per-student funding available from $1,000 to $1,500.
HB 267 requires the Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) to develop or select and provide screeners in order to measure the foundational numeracy of K-3 public school students. Public schools would administer DOE’s screeners three times during the school year and provide interventions and support to students identified as having numeracy skills below grade level.
House Appropriations will evaluate the bills’ costs and impacts on the state budget.
Education Savings Accounts
House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Julie Emerson’s legislation to create the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, HB 745, is scheduled to be considered by the full House today, 4/8, following its unanimous approval in House Education. LA GATOR is a universal education scholarship account (ESA) program for K-12 students that functions through state-supervised savings accounts that allow parents to direct state per-pupil funding to a variety of educational services, including tutoring, private school tuition, online programs, and more. Parents participating in the program must agree to provide instruction in English language arts, math, social studies, and science, at minimum. The bill also specifies that higher amounts of funding be directed toward low-income families.
1A is tracking key legislation across three priority areas outlined in our 2024 Legislative Priorities:
- Economic competitiveness
- Talent development
- Infrastructure investment
Be on the lookout for 1A legislative updates on these issues, and more, every Monday morning.