Week 6 of the 2026 Regular Session brought significant action on multiple fronts — the House unanimously passed the state’s operating budget, the Senate Labor Committee advanced a landmark workers’ compensation reform bill, and a behavioral health bill with direct local significance also moved forward. Session is now at its midpoint, with six weeks remaining before adjournment.
Read on for a recap of week six.
House Passes State Budget Package
The Louisiana House passed its version of the state operating budget Thursday in a 104-0 vote, sending the full package of budget bills to the Senate for consideration. The operating budget would total approximately $46.5 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 — a decrease from the current year as one-time state and federal dollars phase out, though agencies would largely receive standstill funding to continue existing services.
For One Acadiana’s priority areas, the budget includes meaningful investments. On the economic development front, $75 million is allocated for the High Impact Jobs Program — grants for companies creating jobs above average parish wages — and an additional $50 million for LED initiatives to attract business investment to Louisiana. The M.J. Foster Promise Program, which provides financial aid for students earning credentials at community and technical colleges, would also see increased funding.
The budget now heads to the Senate, where it will face further review and adjustments. A final version is not expected until near the end of session in June.
Workers’ Comp and Behavioral Health Bills by Lafayette Legislators Advance
SB 408 by Sen. Brach Myers cleared the Senate Labor Committee with broad support after months of stakeholder engagement. Sen. Myers framed the bill around four goals that both sides of the workers’ comp debate agreed on: getting injured workers healed and back to work faster; creating a fairer, more predictable medical fee schedule; addressing outliers and bad actors in the system; and modernizing workers’ compensation administration to current standards. As Sen. Myers noted in committee, the last significant reform to Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system came through legislation championed by then-Senator Mike Foster in 1991.
The bill establishes the All Workers’ Compensation Medical Claims Database, requires electronic billing beginning July 1, 2027, and directs Louisiana Works to develop a Louisiana-specific medical fee schedule through formal rulemaking. Louisiana Works testified that it is ready and able to carry out the bill’s mandates, including the data gathering and rulemaking process needed to develop a fair, balanced fee schedule based on Louisiana-specific data. LABI testified in support as well, while noting that proposed increases to physician reimbursement — overdue after years of stagnation — will require careful consideration given Louisiana’s already-high workers’ compensation costs. The new fee schedule will not take effect until approved by both House and Senate Labor Committees, preserving legislative oversight over the outcome. SB 408 now heads to the Senate floor.
HB 909 by Rep. Annie Spell also advanced this week, clearing the House Insurance Committee. The bill requires commercial health insurance issuers to cover mobile crisis response and behavioral health crisis care services without prior authorization. Rep. Spell carried the bill with a specific local purpose in mind: the sustainability of Lafayette’s proposed Crisis Response Center, a planned 24/7 walk-in community-based crisis facility. Lafayette Consolidated Government has been working with Rep. Spell on the legislation.
As Rep. Spell noted in testimony, more than 25,000 Louisiana children and adults presented to emergency rooms for behavioral health reasons in one year — and that figure covers only Medicaid patients. Many of those visits could be avoided with accessible, community-based crisis care. HB 909 addresses that gap by requiring commercial insurers to cover behavioral health crisis services, expanding the potential funding base for facilities like the proposed Lafayette Crisis Response Center and reducing unnecessary pressure on emergency rooms and law enforcement. HB 909 now heads to the House floor.
Red & White Day Brings Acadiana to the Capitol
This week also brought one of Acadiana’s most visible annual traditions at the Capitol. Tuesday, April 14 was Acadiana Red & White Day — bringing together regional leaders, business community members, university officials, and the Acadiana Legislative Delegation for a day of connection and advocacy. At the heart of Red & White Day is UL Lafayette, which generates $4.4 billion in annual statewide economic impact, supports more than 47,500 jobs across Louisiana, and returns $7.30 in statewide economic impact for every dollar the state invests. One Acadiana is proud to champion investment in UL Lafayette and our regional higher education partners as part of our Talent Development priority.
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.