Week 4 of the 2026 Regular Session brought significant action on several issues One Acadiana is tracking closely — a pivotal hearing on centralized sales tax collection, a major committee vote on carbon capture legislation, and continued progress on workforce development. The Legislature adjourned Wednesday for the Easter holiday and will return Tuesday, April 7.
Read on for a recap of week four.
Centralized Sales Tax: Support Surfaces Before Deferral
The House Ways & Means Committee opened Monday with a hearing on HB 620, Rep. Josh Carlson’s constitutional amendment to authorize the Legislature to establish a centralized collection system for state and local sales and use taxes. Before the bill was voluntarily deferred by its author, the committee discussion made one thing clear: lawmakers broadly agree that reform is needed. The question is how to get it done.
Multiple committee members acknowledged the problem. Louisiana’s parish-by-parish sales tax collection system creates an unnecessary burden for Louisiana businesses that no other state imposes. Rep. Carlson has indicated he will bring a study resolution on the issue. One Acadiana will continue to engage with our legislators and statewide partners as this conversation evolves.
Carbon Capture: A Win — But the Fight Continues
The House Natural Resources Committee voted 12-7 Tuesday to kill HB 7 by Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson — one of the most sweeping anti-CCS bills filed this session. HB 7 would have prohibited expropriation for carbon dioxide pipelines, removed the Department of Conservation and Energy’s authority to order unitization for CCS storage, and eliminated certificates of public convenience and necessity tied to CO₂ transport and sequestration.
The vote is a win for Louisiana’s energy economy. Louisiana leads the nation in carbon capture projects in development — projects that represent billions in private investment, tens of thousands of jobs, and tens of millions in annual local tax revenue. One Acadiana supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy, including a stable, investment-ready environment for CCS, and we were pleased to see lawmakers reject legislation that would have sent jobs and investment to neighboring states.
That said, additional anti-CCS bills remain in the legislative pipeline (no pun intended), and One Acadiana will continue to monitor and engage as they advance. For a deeper look at the economic case for carbon capture in Louisiana, we recommend the Louisiana Free Enterprise Institute’s resource, Clearing the Air on Carbon Capture.
Talent Development: Investing in Every Pathway to Work
Louisiana is creating jobs faster than we are training people to fill them. Closing that gap is one of the defining challenges of this session — and several One Acadiana-supported workforce bills took steps forward this week.
HB 482 by Rep. Turner passed the House Education Committee with amendments. LCTCS President Richard Nelson, testifying in support, noted a striking imbalance: roughly 70% of jobs in Louisiana require an associate’s degree or below, yet the state spends approximately $6 million annually on TOPS-Tech compared to $300 million on regular TOPS. The bill makes TOPS-Tech a more functional program by easing requirements that have kept many students from qualifying — allowing part-time enrollment, extending eligibility to age 25, and raising the award to $4,500, enough to cover tuition and fees at most LCTCS institutions. HB 325 by Rep. Brass, a related bill expanding TOPS-Tech eligibility, also advanced from committee this week.
HB 168 by Rep. Freiberg cleared the House Criminal Justice Committee. The bill establishes a transitional reentry program for female parolees, designed to help eligible women safely reintegrate into the community. As we noted in our Week 2 update, building Louisiana’s workforce means investing in every pathway to work — including removing barriers to employment for those returning from incarceration. HB 168 is part of LABI’s legislative package on workforce reentry.
One Acadiana is tracking key legislation across three priority areas: Economic Competitiveness, Talent Development, and Infrastructure Investment. Be on the lookout for 1A legislative updates on these issues, and more, throughout the session.