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LouisianaHB 5492026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF RV See Note)

Sponsored By: Stephanie H. Berault (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Labor and Industrial Relations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Employers face caps on training awards

Training award spending is capped at $2,000 per qualified employee or apprentice. Eligible costs include classroom instructors and materials, on-the-job training with wage reimbursement, and other costs Louisiana Works approves. Awards cannot cover equipment, licensing fees, curriculum development, employee travel, online training subscriptions, or tuition reimbursement offsets. Training begun before an award is excluded unless Louisiana Works approves it. Employers must return unused award money to Louisiana Works for deposit into the program fund.

Louisiana workers get training help with limits

The law creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program, run by Louisiana Works. Employers compete for awards for approved training that builds workers’ skills, leadership, productivity, and retention. Employers must have a Louisiana location and follow state employment and tax laws. Covered workers must be permanent, full-time employees when training starts, work mainly in Louisiana, and be authorized to work in the United States. Employers must pay applicable taxes for those workers. Approved plans must use qualified providers, go beyond basic training, and lead to a transferable credential recognized by the industry. Training generally lasts no more than six months and must finish within one year after award approval, unless extended. Employers can change training dates within the one-year deadline, switch to qualified providers without changing content, or substitute eligible workers without approval. Local workforce boards help employers assess skill gaps, find providers and other funding, and apply; boards can also apply for shared training. Louisiana Works coordinates a standard training agreement and must publish application and training criteria by July 1, 2028. Annual reports to legislative committees begin March 1, 2029, and are due each March 1. Reports track applications, awards by industry and region, award recipients, training completion, hiring, and jobs and apprenticeships created. A dedicated state fund receives gifts, grants, donations, and other program money after required state debt allocations. Its money pays only for awards and administration; investment earnings and unused year-end balances stay in the fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stephanie H. Berault

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 249 • No: 0

House vote • 5/29/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/26/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 4/28/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 91, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 91 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 19 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 811.

    6/8/2026House

  2. Effective date: 06/08/2026.

    6/8/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/1/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/1/2026House

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/31/2026House

  6. Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

    5/29/2026House

  7. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.

    5/27/2026House

  8. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/26/2026Senate

  9. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/26/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/20/2026Senate

  11. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/19/2026Senate

  12. Reported favorably.

    5/18/2026Senate

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

    4/29/2026Senate

  14. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    4/28/2026House

  15. Called from the calendar.

    4/28/2026House

  16. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 91, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/28/2026House

  17. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    4/28/2026Senate

  18. Read by title, amended, ordered reengrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/23/2026House

  19. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/28/2026.

    4/23/2026House

  20. Reported with amendments (19-0).

    4/22/2026House

  21. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

    4/13/2026House

  22. Reported with amendments (10-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

    4/9/2026House

  23. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

    3/9/2026House

  24. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

    2/27/2026House

  25. Prefiled.

    2/26/2026House

Bill Text

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