BATON ROUGE, La. — The Senate Finance Committee advanced a revised $47 billion state budget plan that accounts for a lower revenue forecast and sends the proposal to the full Senate.
The committee approved changes to House Bill 1 after the Revenue Estimating Conference projected the state would collect $104 million less than expected next year. The plan also comes as officials cited a $113 million shortfall for the current year ending June 30, 2026.
The amended budget prioritizes debt reduction, road work, education funding and economic development spending without raising taxes, according to Senate officials.
“We are working to adjust and calm state agencies’ budget growth, being careful to rein in future costs, so that we can stay within a standstill budget,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg. “There is some really good legislation out there that we are simply having to delay for now, due to financial constraints.”
Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said the lower forecast required lawmakers to slow new spending.
“When the Revenue Estimating Conference tells us we are $113 million short in revenue for the current year ending June 30, 2026 and we have $104 million less in expected revenue next year, we have to press pause on expanding programs or starting up new programs for now,” Henry said. “That’s the responsible thing that our constituents sent us here to do.”
The committee approved nearly $500 million for highway priority programs, road repairs, box culverts and Department of Transportation and Development district maintenance and repairs.
The revised spending plan also includes $420 million for early childhood education, full funding for the K-12 Minimum Foundation Program, $33 million for Medicaid home- and community-based services rate increases for people with disabilities, and $90 million for Louisiana Economic Development programs aimed at attracting private investment. It also includes a $144 million surplus payment to the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System to reduce state retirement debt.
The committee also advanced House Bill 2, the state’s capital outlay bill, which funds construction projects.
“I believe the amendments we added to the Capital Outlay bill in Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee help districts all around this state, and give senators a chance to address important community needs in their area,” said Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairman Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge.
The full Senate will next consider House Bill 1, House Bill 2 and other funding measures approved by the committee. The House and Senate must agree on final versions before the 2026 regular legislative session adjourns by 6 p.m. Monday, June 1.