Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, it caps compensation of those employees at 125% of the Governor's salary, prevents salary
• This is huge salary increases.
• This is huge salary increases.
• This is huge salary increases.
• This is huge salary increases.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Salary increase, 6% for non-judicial staff, adopted at 300,000.
• Targeted salary adjustments was adopted at $50 million.
• And number six, salary increases was adopted at $200,000. $203,000.
• Item two salary competitiveness and staff retention. We have $1.5 million. Thank you.
• Under item number 2, salary increase and retention efforts.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're ranked 26th in the nation and we lag 9,000. dollars, veteran pay, so our top salary, salary schedule
• And so there's salary instability in that.
• We should retain this to remain competitive.
• Finland is very competitive.
• It's as competitive as. medical school and law school.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page six, Item 6, judicial salaries... Item 6, judicial salaries.
• You also reference beginning salaries versus salaries based on longevity, such as your predecessors.
• Do you use the comparative salary?
• Everything's keyed off of the salary for a district judge, the base salary for a district judge, and
• In order to retain our highly skilled and experienced staff, we need to be able to offer salaries competitive

Bills: SB 1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the state of Florida, a non non competitive salary is reported.
• But what's a non non competitive salary is reported.
• It's a very competitive markets.
• We have targeted funding for faculty, recruitment, competitive salary incentives, tuition, reimbursement
• It's very competitive.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moore, the recommendation from the study committee, what was it, the salary?
• salaries for the governor and 30% for all other statewides.
• That's not just like your salary. That's a raise.
• My wife tells me it's unbecoming to speak of the salary we make here.
• Competitive salaries attract quality.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 513 by Representative Young, which would regulate name, image, and likeness activity for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes, especially high school athletes. Young said the bill reflects recommendations from a task force and sets guardrails such as parental consent and prohibited NIL categories. The committee adopted a technical amendment and then reported the bill favorably as amended. Members then heard several Senate bills from Senator Mizell and Senator Cloud. Senate Bill 233 would create a statewide data exchange compact to allow state agencies to share information more efficiently; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 300 would make various changes to the Procurement Code, including auction techniques, sole sourcing for consulting services in limited cases, and procurement process clarifications; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 303 would allow executive branch agencies to buy or share technology solutions with other states and use the federal GSA schedule, and it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 411, removing a 20-year lease limitation for certain Orleans Parish state property, was also reported favorably. The committee spent substantial time on House Bill 660 and House Bill 719, both dealing with district attorney funding and staffing. HB 660 would raise the state warrant amount for assistant district attorney salaries from $50,000 to $60,000, with supporters arguing it is needed to recruit and retain prosecutors; an opposition witness argued the state should fund both prosecutors and public defenders more equitably. The committee adopted an amendment making the bill effective only upon appropriation and reported it favorably as amended. HB 719 would increase the number of assistant district attorney warrants statewide, with most of the new warrants directed to Baton Rouge, St. Tammany, and Caddo; it too was amended to be subject to appropriation and reported favorably as amended. House Bill 596, which would have created an inactive well-feet assessment credit for oil and gas operators, was voluntarily deferred after concerns that it could reduce funding for the oil field site restoration fund. Later, the committee reported favorably as amended House Bill 802, which redirects existing revenue to watershed and flood restoration work in the Amite River Basin, and House Bill 940, which creates a task force and rules framework for law enforcement responses to unlawful drone activity. It also reported favorably House Bill 76 on coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications, House Bill 950 on consumer protection materials for seniors, and began discussion of House Bill 1028, which would require higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their department is called state economic competitiveness.
• We can't mandate it because it would make us less competitive, but we do emphasize it.
• We can't mandate it because it would make us less competitive, but we do emphasize it.
• If 45Q goes away, Louisiana still has to be competitive on a global market.
• We still need to be competitive on a global market. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on March 11, 2026, opened with roll call and adoption of prior minutes, interim amendments, and the committee rules for the new session. Members then took up several bills, with technical amendments adopted on multiple measures before final committee action. The committee also deferred House Bill 267 because the author was absent. House Bill 853 by Representative McMakin, dealing with misleading solicitations by non-government entities, drew the most discussion. The committee adopted technical amendments and a concept amendment tying enforcement to the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, with members and Secretary of State Nancy Landry discussing the meaning of “may” versus “shall,” the scope of “foreign” entities, and whether the bill covered mail, email, and other digital solicitations. The Secretary of State’s office supported the bill as a consumer-protection measure against deceptive government-like mailings, and the committee reported the bill favorably with amendments. House Bill 618, also by Representative McMakin, would adjust Louisiana Economic Development fees and related cost provisions. Secretary of LED gave a detailed presentation on the department’s recent restructuring, investment totals, job creation, small-business support, and the Source Louisiana platform, while members questioned fee impacts, hardship waivers, competitive effects, and how LED tracks incentives and job data. After adopting technical amendments and an amendment removing biannual inflationary adjustments, the committee reported the bill favorably with amendments. House Bill 207 by Representative Henry, revising the Louisiana Auctioneer’s Licensing Board’s membership, domicile, and related provisions, was amended to keep consumer members and clarify venue in East Baton Rouge Parish before being reported favorably. House Bill 300 by Representative Riser, raising the appraisal threshold for certain state bank residential loans from $250,000 to $400,000, was reported favorably after discussion of federal alignment and appraisal safeguards. House Bill 464 by Representative Riser, requiring more centralized reporting of damaged utilities through 811 and related notifications, received support from utility and 811 representatives and was also reported favorably. The committee adjourned after adopting a motion to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Only 16% of our employees are paid salaries at the midpoint of their salary group.
• What is the salary of the commissioners? Salary is $230,000 currently.
• But those ranges. allow for different salaries.
• where salaries are below the same classification titles, and other.
• It's not just competition in the workforce from the private side, but also... being able to be competitive

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• going to salaries.
• going to salaries.
• going to salaries.
• going to salaries.
• </c> practice and clay uh target competition. practice and clay uh target competition.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• This is largely to compete with those local competitive salaries, to bring them up to an hourly salary
• Teacher salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
• Teacher's salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
• And you also mentioned that there is an increase in salary for teachers.
• There is a dedicated line item within the FFP for teacher salaries.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Senator Mayfield explained that current law only allows pre-tax contributions, and the bill would let the Department of Financial Services and local governments offer post-tax Roth options. The bill had one support appearance card, no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended “Floridians First” budget, totaling $117.4 billion and $53.2 billion in general revenue. The presentation highlighted reserves, debt paydown, tax relief, and proposed reductions and efficiencies, along with major spending areas in education, health care, public safety, corrections, transportation, and economic development. Key proposals included higher K-12 funding, teacher salary increases, funding for Everglades and water quality projects, emergency preparedness, corrections staffing and facility funding, cybersecurity, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserves, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and spending, the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and federal reimbursement, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, animal abuse hotline funding, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and teacher pay. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV medication program, with senators and a public witness expressing concern about access to life-saving medications and possible misuse or redirection of funds. The committee did not take further action on the budget presentation, and the meeting ended after additional comments supporting the budget and the corrections funding, with SB 7010 already approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Stevens: The next three items that I'll talk about address salary competitiveness and staff retention
• Greg Stevens: The next three items that I'll talk about address salary competitiveness and staff retention
• Greg Stevens: The next three items that I'll talk about address salary competitiveness and staff retention
• This item proposes to increase civilian staff salaries to remain competitive with other agencies, thereby
• This item proposes to increase civilian staff salaries to remain competitive with other agencies, thereby

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, you know, none of us are competitive.
• So we did do a competitive procurement.
• And so my point is this doesn't make for a competitive market.
• And so my point is this doesn't make for a competitive market. another.
• And so my point is this doesn't make for a competitive market.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• competition competition and<00:13:52.640><c> no</c><00:13:52.960><c> other</c> and no other and no other
• </c> CEO's salary. CEO's salary.
• But guess who's not paying that salary? It's the rate payers in Colorado.
• It's the not paying that that salary?
• The same people will still be employed and likely at the same salary.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill was, of course, the salary commission for county officials.
• These are just the base salaries for that position. All right.
• base, or not that salary base, but their current salary, which in theory will be more than the salary
• schedules, the salary schedule bill.
• Salary and medical benefits and pension.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first adopted a substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which replaced Senator Black’s version with Representative Farnan’s bill. Members discussed that the controversial community-agreement language had been removed and that related community paramedic language had been moved to another bill. The committee then voted 16-0 to do pass the substituted bill. The committee next considered House Bill 3496, dealing with county officials’ salary schedules and county classification issues. Representative Reedy explained the substitute added election authorities language, incorporated another bill on sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys, and changed the title and substance to address county valuation rules for certain fourth-class counties. Members discussed the impact on county classifications and the inclusion of abated and tax-exempt property in valuation calculations. The substitute was adopted, and the committee voted 15-1 to do pass the bill. In public hearing, Representative Sharp presented House Bill 3028 as a Lewis County fix to allow more at-large members on a county board instead of requiring one from each township; a retired Lewis County commissioner testified in support, and no opposition appeared. Representative Thompson presented House Bill 2431 to let Lexington ask voters for a public safety sales tax after a major gas explosion; supporters said it would fund police, fire, and ambulance needs without reducing current budgets, while an opponent argued against new taxes and special laws. Representative Violet presented House Bill 2732 to raise the voter-approved cap on water service line repair fees from $12 to $24 annually; St. Peters officials said costs have risen and the program helps residents avoid large repair bills, while an opponent said existing programs are solvent and opposed the increase. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> According to our KLC 2024 wage and salary survey, the estimated cost of salary and benefits alone
• But I think we need to continue on the local level to look at competitive salary and benefits.
• Competitive salary and benefits. You know, we need to be able to offer them more.
• </c> competitive salary and benefits. competitive salary and benefits.
• </c> salaries and signing bonuses. salaries and signing bonuses.

Bills: HB339

Committee: Joint Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, this legislature set out to transform our state's tax structure to make us more competitive
• more competitive with other parish-wide elected officials across the great state of Louisiana.
• When base salaries were set for the assessors and clerks years ago, we were treated equally.
• Equalizing the assessor salaries has no budgetary impact on state funding.
• Three percent personal income tax makes us very competitive, extremely competitive.

Bills: HB214 , HB217 , HB253 , HB411 , HB440 , HB514 , HB515 , HB543 , HB614 , HB620 , HB658 , HB812 , HB898 , HB961

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, income tax, tax repeal, individuals, estates, trusts, tax reduction, state revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• California has one of the highest average teacher salaries. It's roughly around $95,000.
• Our average teacher salary currently is about $55,000.
• But we do need to improve our teacher salaries.
• We are asking again every year that we increase the funding for the salaries.
• And as the appropriators, we are happy to increase the funding for the salaries.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• That is how we're going to help them improve salaries.
• On average salaries, I'm not going to give you anecdotal.
• It's still a very low salary in Boston.
• On average salaries, I'm not going to give you anecdotal.
• It's still a very low salary in Boston.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The CEO salary has been out of salary savings, right?
• We have salary requests.
• We have salary adjustments—other salary adjustment requests, yes, in our request.
• We have salary requests.
• We have salary adjustments—other salary adjustment requests, yes, in our request.

Transcript Highlights:

• group A12 under Salary Schedule A.
• It is our intent to create a fair, competitive, and transparent process that is competitive.
• South Carolina has moved back to a competitive bid. Idaho has moved back to a competitive bid.
• It's not necessarily competition-driven, maybe like a normal competitive market.
• We're not afraid of competition.

Bills: HB149 , HB252 , HB643 , HB1442 , HB1500 , HB1672 , HB1851 , HB1893 , HB2028 , HB2768 , HB2818 , HB149 , HB252

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access