KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Louisiana

HCR81 • 2026

SCHOOLS/ENROLLMENT: Requests that the state Department of Education conduct a study of options for public school systems facing declining enrollment

SCHOOLS/ENROLLMENT: Requests that the state Department of Education conduct a study of options for public school systems facing declining enrollment

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Barbara Reich Freiberg
Last action
2026-05-28
Official status
Sent to the Secretary of State
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify any particular actions or changes in operations that will be included in the report, only that it must include recommendations for related legislation and how public schools can modify their operations.

Study on Declining Enrollment in Public Schools

This resolution requests that the state Department of Education study ways public school systems can handle declining enrollment and submit a report by March 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Requests the state Department of Education to conduct a study on options for public schools facing declining enrollment.
  • Requires the Department of Education to submit a written report with findings and recommendations related to legislation to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education by March 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public school systems facing declining enrollment
  • The Department of Education

Terms To Know

enrollment
the number of students registered in a school or educational program
resolution
a formal statement adopted by an organization, such as the legislature, expressing its opinion on an issue

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not provide funding for the study.
  • It is unclear what specific actions will be recommended in the report.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds 'and charter schools' to the bill text where it talks about public school systems facing declining enrollment.

  • Adds 'and charter schools' after 'public school systems' in multiple places throughout the bill.
  • The exact impact of including charter schools is not detailed further in the amendment text.
Filed

Plain English: 2026 Regular Session Sequence: 1060 HRS AND HCRS FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION HCR 81 BY FREIBERG AMENDMENT # 5209 BY TAYLOR MOTION TO ADOPT Date: 5/11/2026 Time: 2:34:11 PM ROLL CALL The roll was called with the following result: YEAS Adams Bacala Bagley Boyd Brass Bryant Carpenter Carter, R.

  • 2026 Regular Session Sequence: 1060 HRS AND HCRS FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION HCR 81 BY FREIBERG AMENDMENT # 5209 BY TAYLOR MOTION TO ADOPT Date: 5/11/2026 Time: 2:34:11 PM ROLL CALL The roll was called with the following result: YEAS Adams Bacala Bagley Boyd Brass Bryant Carpenter Carter, R.
  • Carter, W.
  • Chassion Fisher Freeman Green Henry, C.
  • Henry, D.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-28 H

    Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

  2. 2026-05-27 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  3. 2026-05-26 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  4. 2026-05-26 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  5. 2026-05-26 S

    Read by title and concurred in by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays. Ordered returned to the House.

  6. 2026-05-26 S

    Rules suspended.

  7. 2026-05-21 S

    Reported favorably.

  8. 2026-05-12 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.

  9. 2026-05-11 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  10. 2026-05-11 H

    Read by title, roll called on final consideration, yeas 79, nays 20. The resolution was adopted and ordered to the Senate.

  11. 2026-05-07 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.

  12. 2026-05-07 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  13. 2026-05-06 H

    Reported favorably (10-0).

  14. 2026-04-27 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

  15. 2026-04-23 H

    Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

Official Summary Text

SCHOOLS/ENROLLMENT: Requests that the state Department of Education conduct a study of options for public school systems facing declining enrollment

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREIBERG
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To urge and request the state Department of Education to study options for public school
systems facing declining enrollment and submit a written report of findings and
conclusions, including any recommendations for related legislation, to the House
Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than
March 1, 2027.
WHEREAS, it has been reported that there are public school systems throughout the
state facing declining enrollment; and
WHEREAS, declining enrollment in public schools has been attributed to various
factors, including declining birth rates, the movement of families out of state, and enrollment
in nonpublic schools and home study programs; and
WHEREAS, declining enrollment can lead to budget cuts, school closures, and the
loss of jobs and programs; and
WHEREAS, it is important that Louisiana plan ahead in terms of addressing how
declining enrollment may affect the state's education landscape in the coming years.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the state Department of Education to study options for public school
systems facing declining enrollment and submit a written report of findings and conclusions,
including any recommendations for related legislation, to the House Committee on
Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than March 1, 2027.
Page 1 of 2
HCR NO. 81 ENROLLED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include, at a minimum, how public
school systems can modify their operations in response to declining enrollment in order to
provide the best possible educational outcomes for their students and any state-level action
that should be taken to support school systems facing these challenges.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2