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HLS 26RS-609 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 935
BY REPRESENTATIVE TURNER
TOPS: Provides for TOPS awards to students enrolled in graduate medical sciences at
certain institutions
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5002(E)(3)(a), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for
3 Students; to provide relative to Opportunity, Performance, Honors, and Excellence
4 Awards; to provide for eligibility requirements; to provide for effectiveness; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:5002(E)(3)(a) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
8 follows:
9 §5002. Awards and amounts
10 * * *
11 E.
12 * * *
13 (3)(a) Any student receiving an Opportunity, Performance, Honors, or
14 Excellence Award who successfully completes an academic undergraduate degree
15 in less than the eight semesters or its equivalent of award benefits provided by this
16 Subsection shall be eligible to continue to receive all applicable award benefits, in
17 accordance with the limitations as specified in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph,
18 for any remaining semester or semesters or the equivalent thereof of eligibility not
19 used to obtain the undergraduate degree if the student pursues a postgraduate
20 academic degree at an eligible institution and the student continues to meet all
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-609 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 935
1 academic and other requirements provided by this Section and by rule of the
2 administering agency for continued receipt of the award as an undergraduate except
3 as such requirements, including requirements provided by this Section for
4 undergraduate students, may be modified by the administering agency as necessary
5 to apply such requirements to postgraduate study. For purposes of this
6 Subparagraph, "eligible institution" shall include any nonpublic postsecondary
7 education institution that meets all of the following criteria:
8 (i) The institution is not a member of the Louisiana Association of
9 Independent Colleges and Universities.
10 (ii) The institution offers a graduate program in medical sciences.
11 (iii) The institution has been physically collocated with a public
12 postsecondary education institution in Louisiana since 2020.
13 (iv) The institution bills tuition and fees through the public postsecondary
14 education institution with which it is physically collocated.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
17 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
18 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
19 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
20 effective on the day following such approval.
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 935 Original 2026 Regular Session Turner
Abstract: Authorizes certain students to use a TOPS award after completion of an
undergraduate degree at a certain institution.
Present law establishes the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students and includes different
award levels, including Opportunity, Performance, Honors, and Excellence.
Present law authorizes a student who receives such a TOPS award and completes an
undergraduate degree in less than eight semesters to apply all applicable award benefits to
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-609 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 935
a post-graduate degree program of study. Such award may be administered until it is
exhausted.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law authorizes such a student to apply his award to a program at an institution that
meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The institution is not a member of the La. Assoc. of Independent Colleges and
Universities.
(2) The institution offers a graduate program in medical sciences.
(3) The institution has been physically collocated with a public postsecondary education
institution in the state since 2020.
(4) The institution bills tuition and fees through the public postsecondary education
institution with which it is physically collocated.
Effective upon signature by the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:5002(E)(3)(a))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.