BATON ROUGE, La. — Leaders for a Better Louisiana, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing transformative policy in the state, praised the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Session as one of the most productive in recent years. The group cited significant reforms across multiple agencies and initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, education, economic development, and workforce readiness.
In a statement released Wednesday, the organization highlighted sweeping changes that lawmakers passed during the session, many of which are expected to improve Louisiana’s competitiveness and set the stage for future economic growth.
Key accomplishments noted by Better Louisiana include:
- A major overhaul of the Department of Transportation and Development, designed to streamline operations and speed up road construction and maintenance projects.
- A $700 million boost to the Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Fund to support critical infrastructure improvements.
- The reorganization of Louisiana Economic Development and the creation of the new High Impact Jobs Program.
- A $150 million investment in the LED Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, representing the state’s largest-ever commitment to site development for economic growth.
- An additional $122 million allocated to various economic development efforts, including the Rapid Response Fund for job creation, a special marketing fund, and a fund to support major events.
- Reorganization efforts within the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Department of Children and Family Services to create a more streamlined “one-door” system for job seekers to access training and support services.
- A simplified procurement process for deferred maintenance projects at colleges, along with $43 million allocated to the Higher Education Campus Revitalization Fund.
- Establishment of a new higher-tier TOPS scholarship to retain top-performing students at Louisiana institutions.
- Modest progress on legal reform to reduce auto insurance costs, although some key measures did not pass.
The Legislature also approved two constitutional amendments originally tied to a failed ballot proposal earlier this year. One amendment will use approximately $2 billion from liquidated education trust funds to pay down teacher retirement debt, redirecting savings toward a permanent $2,250 annual teacher pay raise. The second amendment provides a framework for local governments to phase out or reduce the business inventory tax, long considered a barrier to business attraction. Both measures will be put before voters in 2026.
Better Louisiana also helped lead the effort behind several bills and resolutions to expand education and career opportunities:
- House Bill 533 consolidates two existing tax credits for apprentices and interns and ties them to work-based learning requirements in schools, aiming to expand on-the-job training opportunities.
- Senate Bill 233 increases a tax credit for employers that help cover employee childcare costs, addressing one of the major workforce barriers.
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 38 creates a task force to explore education-to-career counseling models in Louisiana colleges, with a goal of retaining graduates in the state.
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 29 establishes a task force to evaluate and potentially enhance Louisiana’s Incumbent Worker Training Program.
“These policy changes reflect a significant step forward in addressing longstanding issues and positioning Louisiana for a stronger future,” the organization stated. “While no session is without its disappointments, this year’s outcomes build effectively on last year’s reforms and offer real promise for economic and workforce development.”
More information can be found at www.BetterLa.org.
About Leaders for a Better Louisiana
Leaders for a Better Louisiana is a newly formed nonprofit created through the merger of C100 and CABL. The organization advocates for data-driven policies, economic development, and leadership empowerment throughout the state.