April 2025 Monthly Update
April 30, 2025
We’re now three weeks into the legislative session! Here are some critical updates that you won’t want to miss:
- Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee was set to hear HB187 by Fontenot and HB235 by Echols, both of which would increase the excise tax for consumable hemp products (one of the dedicated funds going into the ECE Fund), but both authors deferred those bills.
- Last week, the House Education Committee passed HB589 by Owens, which initially eliminated the ECCE Commission but was amended to keep it, reduce its meeting frequency, and eliminate the task force.
- This week, the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee passed SB233 by Edmonds, a bill to increase the tax credit for businesses that support funding for early childhood education seats.
- This week, the House Ways and Means Committee will hear HB473 by Emerson, a constitutional amendment that rewrites Article VII of the Constitution, eliminating 8(g) and the Education Excellence Fund. Eliminating these funds would result in approximately 2,000 4-year-olds losing access to quality early childhood education seats. Before any constitutional amendments can become law, they must be passed by both houses of the legislature and then voted on by the people.
- This week, the House Appropriations Committee will hear HB639 by Riser, increasing the sports betting tax (another dedicated fund going into the ECE Fund). A similar bill, HB650 by Jordan, also increases the tax but has not been scheduled for committee yet.
Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and families in Louisiana!