The 2025 legislative session is almost done, and things are moving! Here are some highlights:

 

The Ready Louisiana Coalition’s annual Early Ed Day at the Capitol was a success. Memorial Hall was filled with numerous partners and organizations committed to increased investment in early childhood education for Louisiana’s children. Here are a few pictures and the press conference recording from the day.

 

As for updates on bills we’re tracking:

• HB 1 is pending Senate Finance. 

  • HB 1 by McFarland is the state budget bill that determines the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. It maintains the current state investment for the Child Care Assistance Program at $78 million. Public testimony was received, but no votes were conducted.

• HB 187 failed to pass out of the House Ways and Means Committee. 

  • HB 187 by Fontenot increases the excise tax rate on consumable hemp products (another dedicated revenue stream going into the ECE Fund).

• HB 473 is pending Senate Finance.

  • HB 473 by Emerson is a constitutional amendment rewriting Article VII of the Constitution. It would eliminate 8(g) and the Education Excellence Fund (EEF), resulting in approximately 2,000 4-year-olds losing access to quality early childhood education seats.

• HB589 is pending Senate final passage.

  • HB589 by Owen initially eliminated the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, but was amended to keep it and change a few of its duties, including reducing the number of times the commission meets and eliminating the task force. The ECCE Commission sets the vision for early childhood education in Louisiana, including short- and long-term funding.

• HB 639 was passed by the House and is now headed to the Senate.

  • HB 639 by Riser increases the sports betting tax (a dedicated revenue stream going into the ECE Fund). An amendment on the floor changed the percentage of taxes levied from 32.5% to 21.5%.

• SB 233 is pending House final passage.

  • SB 233 by Edmonds amends the School Readiness Tax Credits by increasing the tax credit for businesses supporting funding for early childhood education seats. The bill has been amended to include a calendar-year cap of $5 million for the business-supported child care tax credit.

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Thank you for advocating on behalf of young children and families in Louisiana!

 

News You Can Snack On

 

1. GRIGSBY: Invest In Our Children Today For A Better Tomorrow

Lane Grigsby writes about the importance of empowering parents to choose their own child care path for their children. Families deserve the freedom to choose the schools that best meet their children’s needs. However, by the time a child reaches kindergarten, many of the most critical years of brain development have already passed. Click here to read the full article.

 

2. Just how important is funding early education for EVERYBODY in Louisiana?

WWL First News with Tommy Tucker talks with Dr. Libbie Sonnier, CEO of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, about the importance of funding child care, pre-K programs, and early education in general. Click here to listen to the radio interview.

 

3. Louisiana Leaders Call on State Legislature to Protect and Expand Funding for Early Childhood Education

Members of the Ready Louisiana Coalition joined together on May 20th for the 2025 Early Ed Day at the Capitol to highlight the ongoing need for additional investments in early childhood education to strengthen the future of Louisiana children and working families and boost the state’s economy. The coalition comprised of more than 180 organizations, including chambers of commerce, civic organizations, businesses, and advocacy organizations representing more than 1 million people in Louisiana’s workforce, is urging the Louisiana legislature to invest at least $87.8 million into the Child Care Assistance Program in the FY 2025-26 state budget. Click here to read the full article.

 

4. Advocates urge Louisiana lawmakers to restore $9M cut from early education

Early education advocates called on Louisiana lawmakers on Tuesday, May 20th, to restore nearly $9 million for child care and pre-kindergarten that was cut from the state budget last year, arguing that the funding is crucial to Louisiana’s educational and economic future. Click here to read the full article.

 

5. From cradle to career: Building Louisiana’s workforce begins with early learning

Bill Hammack writes about how when families can access reliable, high-quality early education for their children, parents can go to work or school, and businesses thrive with a stable workforce. Most importantly, children enter kindergarten ready to succeed and better prepared to become the skilled workers and leaders of the future that our economy depends on. Click here to read the full article.