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LouisianaSB 4842026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Transfers certain duties from the Board of Regents to the management boards of public colleges and universities and Louisiana Works. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: Mark Abraham (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Public colleges target fewer state-funded jobs

Starting in fiscal year 2026–2027, public college boards must review vacancies and implement a position-reduction process. The goal is a 5% annual reduction for three years in authorized jobs funded partly or fully by the state general fund. Reductions must be equally proportionate across salary ranges, using vacancy histories for full-time and part-time positions. After the executive budget is submitted, boards must report savings, eliminated vacant jobs, and personnel information to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. This is a reduction goal, not a requirement to lay off any particular worker.

Students get shared college applications

Beginning August 1, 2026, each public college system must provide a common application that all its colleges accept. Students can complete it once and send it to as many colleges in that system as they choose. It must be available for 2026–2027 admissions. Regionally accredited members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities can also use a public system’s application. Criminal-history questions are barred except where state law allows them; the law does not set application fees.

Louisiana Works manages college cybersecurity funding

Beginning August 1, 2026, cybersecurity education fund money goes to Louisiana Works instead of the Board of Regents. Louisiana Works distributes it to public colleges and oversees the Cybersecurity Education Management Council. Before distribution, a college management board must certify a private entity’s guaranteed match of at least 25% of the distribution. Boards must provide information for Louisiana Works’ annual distribution report to the designated legislative committees.

Veterans Affairs oversees Purple Star colleges

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana’s Department of Veterans Affairs takes over the Purple Star Campus process from the Board of Regents. It develops and reviews applications, handles renewals, and checks whether colleges meet the designation’s legal requirements. The department can add levels of distinction for veteran-friendly campuses. Colleges notified that a renewal application falls short have 45 days after receiving notice to correct or amend it.

Colleges gain project flexibility with limits

Beginning August 1, 2026, the ceiling for qualifying college projects outside the state capital budget rises from $1 million to $2 million. It adjusts annually with the urban Consumer Price Index and covers minor repairs, renovations, construction, and land or facility purchases. These projects need management board approval; boards must report monthly on projects costing $250,000 to $2 million. Projects outside the capital budget generally cannot use debt, except legally authorized loans lasting no more than one year. A separate route allows projects up to $10 million funded solely by college-generated revenue, grants, donations, or local or federal funds. Governing or management board approval replaces Regents approval for that route, but Facility Planning and Control and Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approvals remain required. Management boards must report those projects to the Regents monthly.

Public colleges face tighter financial oversight

Beginning August 1, 2026, the Board of Regents must establish a uniform financial policy, including cash-balance rules. College management boards must adopt it by December 31, 2026. Colleges must report within 15 days after each quarter; boards must send combined reports within 30 days. Reports cover cash, debt, tuition and fee revenue, unpaid amounts owed to colleges, financial risks, and campus action plans. Late reports trigger a noncompliance designation and written notices to state officials and legislative committees. An early-warning system uses these reports, required internal audits, and other data to flag financial trouble. Warning signs include structural deficits over 3% of operating budgets, cash below two months of expenses, negative cash flow, growing or unsustainable debt, revenue-harming enrollment declines, and rising unpaid amounts owed to colleges. Boards must develop and implement corrective plans for distressed colleges and submit them within 90 days; failure to act triggers inspector general review.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark Abraham

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 150 • No: 1

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 5/19/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 1 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 772.

    6/1/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/29/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/29/2026Senate

  5. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  7. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

  8. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/25/2026House

  9. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/20/2026House

  11. Reported with amendments (14-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/19/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

    5/13/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    5/12/2026House

  14. Called from the Calendar.

    5/11/2026Senate

  15. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 1 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/11/2026Senate

  16. Rules suspended. Called from the Calendar.

    5/5/2026Senate

  17. Senate floor amendments read and adopted.

    5/5/2026Senate

  18. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    5/5/2026Senate

  19. Called from the Calendar.

    4/28/2026Senate

  20. Senate floor amendments read and adopted.

    4/28/2026Senate

  21. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    4/28/2026Senate

  22. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    4/21/2026Senate

  23. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/20/2026Senate

  24. Reported with amendments.

    4/15/2026Senate

  25. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

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