State Budget

Louisiana is projected to have tens of millions of extra dollars to spend after the state ended its last budget year with a $590 million surplus, according to the latest calculation.

Louisiana lawmakers passed a final budget and several other items earlier this week, bringing the regular session — the third legislative session this year — to a close. See what passed.

Lawmakers gave final approval to a judicial budget with one-time stipends for judges and brought this year’s session to a close just minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline.

Lawmakers are one step closer to wrapping up this year’s session after the House passed the bulk of a state budget with some mixed results for education efforts.

Lawmakers in the Senate are expected to consider the state budget proposal on Friday, making it unlikely the session will end ahead of schedule.

Lawmakers have yet to give final approval to legislation that would pave the way for education savings accounts in the state, a bill calling for a constitutional convention and the coming year’s budget. Lawmakers hope to wrap up the session in the next week.

Early childhood education advocates are asking state Senators to backfill a $24 million cut to early childhood education that was made under the House budget.

Louisiana’s Revenue Estimating Conference increased the state general fund forecast for this year by $197 million. But lawmakers can only spend less than half of that without voting to bust the state’s spending cap.

Lawmakers gave final approval to a new state Supreme Court map with two majority-Black districts last week after failing to pass a new map earlier this year.

Lawmakers in the House unanimously advanced a budget on Thursday, restoring some funding for teacher stipends bringing them closer to — but still below — the original $2,000.