The Louisiana legislative session is entering its final days, but major workforce and business legislation is still moving through the Capitol. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President and CEO Will Green said lawmakers made significant progress this session on education and workforce development.
Green pointed to House Bill 549, also known as the BayouWorks bill, as one of the biggest accomplishments of the session. The legislation creates a framework designed to help businesses train and retrain workers for high-demand jobs across Louisiana.
Green said Louisiana businesses continue to struggle with recruiting skilled workers. He added that the state risks losing economic opportunities if companies cannot fill jobs tied to major investments already announced across the state.
LABI modeled the proposal after Michigan’s Going Pro Talent Fund. Green said Michigan has trained roughly 230,000 workers and supported thousands of businesses through targeted workforce grants since launching the program in 2014. Louisiana lawmakers approved the mechanism for a similar program, and the bill now heads to the governor’s desk.
Another major issue still under negotiation is Senate Bill 408, which would modernize Louisiana’s workers’ compensation medical fee schedule. Green said the state has one of the highest workers’ compensation costs in the country, despite being one of the safest states for workers.
The bill remains in conference committee as lawmakers work through differences between House and Senate versions. Green described conference committees as high-pressure negotiations where legislators attempt to resolve disputes before final passage.
Lawmakers are also facing pressure to finish the session early. While rumors continue about ending before the scheduled June 1 adjournment date, Green said legislators still have significant work remaining before heading home for the summer.