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HLS 26RS-1206 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 482
BY REPRESENTATIVE TURNER
TOPS: Revises the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS-Tech award
and provides for the award amount at public colleges and universities
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5027(A)(1) and 5042(1) through (3) and to enact R.S.
3 17:5002(D)(1)(c) and 5024(D), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for
4 Students; to revise award amounts at certain institutions; to revise criteria for initial
5 and continuing eligibility for certain students; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:5027(A)(1) and 5042(1) through (3) are hereby amended and
8 reenacted and R.S. 17:5002(D)(1)(c) and 5024(D) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §5002. Awards and amounts
10 * * *
11 D.(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, a student who is
12 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter and who is enrolled:
13 * * *
14 (c) In an eligible program at a public college or university, notwithstanding
15 any provision of this Subsection to the contrary, shall be awarded by the state either
16 an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the award amount for
17 that program at that college or university during the 2025-2026 academic year or
18 four thousand five hundred dollars, whichever is greater. The provisions of this
19 Subparagraph are applicable to students enrolling as first-time freshmen during or
20 after the 2026-2027 academic year.
21 * * *
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HB NO. 482
1 §5024. Academic requirements
2 * * *
3 D.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, a
4 student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award pursuant to this Chapter
5 shall qualify for the award if he meets at least two of the following requirements as
6 determined by the administering agency:
7 (a) Attainment of a minimum grade point average on the core curriculum as
8 provided in Subsection A of this Section.
9 (b) Attainment of a minimum ACT score as provided in Subsection B of this
10 Section.
11 (c) Successful completion of either at least nine credit hours of early college
12 credit, which may be attained through academic or technical dual enrollment courses,
13 or equivalent validated skills and learning measures as approved by the Statewide
14 Articulation and Transfer Council.
15 (2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection are applicable to
16 students enrolling in an eligible college or university as first-time freshmen during
17 or after the 2026-2027 academic year.
18 * * *
19 §5027. Postsecondary institution enrollment
20 A.(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, to be eligible for an
21 award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall enroll in an eligible college or
22 university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer
23 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
24 student graduated from high school.
25 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph,
26 a student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award pursuant to this Chapter
27 may defer his award acceptance and shall retain his award eligibility if he enrolls as
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HB NO. 482
1 a first-time freshman in an eligible program at a public college or university prior to
2 reaching the age of twenty-five.
3 * * *
4 §5042. Maintaining eligibility; TOPS-Tech
5 To maintain continued state payment of any amount pursuant to a TOPS-
6 Tech Award once enrolled in an institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
7 (1) Make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency
8 toward completion of the requirements of the program in which enrolled, earning not
9 less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing or
10 the required number of hours needed to complete the program's requirements while
11 enrolled either part-time or full-time. If at any time a student fails to maintain the
12 cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program or as of the
13 end of any term during the school year fails to make steady academic progress as
14 defined by the administering agency, the student shall become ineligible for further
15 payments. Payments may be reinstated upon attainment of the grade point average
16 required for continuation of the original award and the standards for steady academic
17 progress as defined by the administering agency, provided that the student has
18 maintained other continuation requirements and the period of ineligibility did not
19 persist for more than one year from the date of loss of eligibility. If this one-year
20 period is interrupted due to a student's active duty service in the United States Armed
21 Forces, the one-year period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the
22 student's active duty service, not to exceed four years, unless the student reenlists in
23 the United States Armed Forces and maintains continuous active duty, in which case
24 the period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty
25 service; or unless the student is granted an exception for cause by the administering
26 agency.
27 (2) Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time or part-time student unless
28 granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.
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1 (3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 2.00 calculated
2 on a 4.00 scale.
3 * * *
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 482 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Turner
Abstract: Revises the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS-Tech
award and provides for the award amount to equal $4,500 or the award amount for
a specific program at a specific institution during the 2025-2026 academic year,
whichever is greater.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), a merit
scholarship program for students who meet certain academic criteria in high school and other
requirements. Provides that the Bd. of Regents is the administering agency of the program.
Proposed law revises certain award amounts and eligibility criteria as explained below.
Award amount
Present law bases award amounts on the amount of tuition charged by the institution during
the 2016-2017 academic year. Proposed law retains present law except provides that the
award amount for a TOPS-Tech eligible student who enrolls in an eligible program at a
public college or university shall be either the award amount for that program at that
institution for the 2025-2026 academic year or $4,500, whichever is greater. Proposed law
provides that proposed law is applicable to those enrolling as first-time freshmen during or
after the 2026-2027 academic year.
TOPS-Tech, initial eligibility
Present law provides that academic initial eligibility criteria for a TOPS-Tech award include
both of the following:
(1) GPA of at least 2.50 on a specified high school core curriculum.
(2) ACT score of at least 17 or silver on WorkKeys.
Proposed law adds a third academic criterion, at least nine credit hours of early college credit
attained through dual enrollment courses or equivalent validated skills and learning measures
as approved by the Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council. Provides that a student
qualifies for a TOPS-Tech award if he meets at least two of the three requirements provided
in present law and proposed law. Applicable to students enrolling in college as first-time
freshmen beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year.
Present law provides that a student must enroll in college as a first-time freshman not later
than the semester immediately following the first anniversary of his high school graduation.
Proposed law provides that a student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award may
defer his award acceptance while retaining eligibility if he enrolls as a first-time freshman
in an eligible program at any public college or university prior to turning 25 years old.
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HB NO. 482
TOPS-Tech, continuing eligibility
Present law provides that to maintain eligibility for TOPS-Tech, a student must:
(1) Make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, earning not
less than the minimum hours required for full-time standing, and maintain
continuous enrollment as a full-time student. Proposed law allows part-time
enrollment.
(2) Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale. Proposed law
lowers the minimum GPA from 2.50 to 2.00.
(Amends R.S. 17:5027(A)(1) and 5042(1)-(3); Adds R.S. 17:5002(D)(1)(c) and 5024(D))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Provide that the award amount is either $4,500 or the 2025-2026 academic year
award amount, whichever is greater, and apply this revised award amount to
students enrolled in an eligible program at any public college or university (not
just an LCTCS institution).
2. Allow TOPS-Tech-eligible students to defer their award and maintain eligibility
if they enroll in any public college or university (not just an LCTCS institution)
prior to turning 25.
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