Several workforce and business reforms moved forward during Louisiana’s 2026 legislative session. Business leaders say the changes will help prepare workers, support employers, and strengthen the state’s economy.
Will Green, president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), said the organization focused on three priorities this year. Those priorities included workforce development, legal reform, and energy investment. He said lawmakers made progress in each area.
Workforce Development Sees Major Wins
Green pointed to House Bill 549 as one of the session’s biggest successes. Representative Stephanie Burrell authored the bill, which creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program. The program will help employers train workers for high-demand jobs. It also supports Louisiana’s effort to meet workforce needs tied to more than $100 billion in announced economic investments.
The program follows a model used in Michigan. Green said it will focus on upskilling and reskilling workers based on real employer needs. State leaders will spend the next year identifying funding sources and partnerships to support the initiative.
Lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 305 by Senator Rick Edmonds. The measure aligns education programs with workforce demands. Green said many employers struggle to find workers who are ready on day one. The bill aims to better connect classroom training with career opportunities.
Workers’ Compensation Changes Await Governor’s Signature
Lawmakers also passed two workers’ compensation bills.
House Bill 456 gives employers more options to investigate claims and seek reviews when disputes arise. Senate Bill 408 updates Louisiana’s workers’ compensation medical fee schedule, which has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s.
Green said both measures promote fairness and may help reduce litigation costs. The bills now await action from Governor Jeff Landry.
Several tort reform proposals failed to reach final passage this year. Even so, Green said LABI plans to continue pushing for legal reforms in future legislative sessions.