CURRICULA/COLLEGE DEGREE: Prohibits the use of public funds for certain postsecondary degree programs (OR DECREASE GF EX See Note)

HLS 26RS-451 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 229
BY REPRESENTATIVE WYBLE
CURRICULA/COLLEGE DEGREE: Prohibits the use of public funds for certain
postsecondary degree programs
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:3140, relative to certain postsecondary education programs; to provide
3 relative to postsecondary education funding; to prohibit allocation of state funds to
4 certain programs of study; to provide for requirements of the Board of Regents and
5 the public postsecondary education management boards; to provide for rules; to
6 provide for reporting; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:3140 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §3140. Prohibition on the use of public funds for certain postsecondary degree
10 programs
11 A.(1) No public postsecondary education management board shall allocate
12 state funds to low-earning outcome programs of study. An allocation includes but
13 is not limited to the following:
14 (a) Individual student financial aid.
15 (b) Base operational or instructional funding.
16 (c) Separately or specially appropriated aid or grants.
17 (d) Capital or facilities funding.
18 (2) No political subdivision shall allocate or expend local public funds on
19 low-earning outcome programs of study.
20 B. The Board of Regents shall do the following:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-451 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 229
1 (1) Annually review federal determinations of what constitutes a low-earning
2 outcome program and update rules in accordance with Subsection E of this Section
3 accordingly.
4 (2) Submit an annual report to the legislature that includes the following:
5 (a) A list of programs prohibited from receiving state aid.
6 (b) Enforcement of such prohibitions.
7 (c) The estimated fiscal impact resulting from the prohibitions.
8 C. This Section shall not prohibit funds from being allocated for the purpose
9 of implementing general studies programs in order to allow a student to pursue a
10 general studies major if the student pursues a concentration in a program of study
11 that is not a low-earning outcome program of study.
12 D. For purposes of this Section, "low-earning outcome program of study"
13 means an educational program designated as a low-earning outcome program
14 pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 1087d(c).
15 E. The Board of Regents shall promulgate rules in accordance with the
16 Administrative Procedure Act as necessary for the implementation of this Section.
17 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall be initially implemented prior to the
18 summer semester of the 2027-2028 school year.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 229 Original 2026 Regular Session Wyble
Abstract: Prohibits public funds from being allocated to certain programs of study at public
postsecondary education institutions.
Proposed law prohibits public postsecondary education management boards from allocating
state funds to low-earning outcome programs, as determined by the federal government.
Proposed law requires the Bd. of Regents to do the following:
(1) Promulgate rules in accordance with present law (Administrative Procedure Act) as
necessary for the implementation of proposed law.
(2) Annually review federal determinations of what constitutes a low-earning outcome
program and update rules accordingly.
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HLS 26RS-451 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 229
(3) Submit an annual report to the legislature with updates relative to proposed law.
Proposed law does not prohibit the allocation of funds for the purpose of implementing
general studies programs if the student pursues a concentration in a program of study that
is not a low-earning outcome program of study.
Proposed law prohibits any political subdivision of the state from allocating or expending
local public funds on low-earning outcome programs.
(Adds R.S. 17:3140)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.