Get Involved
HB 325 Heads to Gov: Expanding Pathways to Meaningful Careers
Awaiting the governor’s signature is HB 325 by Rep. Ken Brass (D-Vacherie), delivering a major step forward in modernizing TOPS-Tech and strengthening Louisiana’s career readiness pipeline. The bill expands recognition of early college credit and skills-based learning, ensuring more students can earn support for postsecondary pathways that align directly with high-demand, high-wage jobs.
Beginning with students graduating in the 2026–2027 academic year, students may qualify for TOPS-Tech not only through the existing GPA and ACT or WorkKeys benchmarks, but also through the attainment of at least nine credit hours of dual enrollment coursework or other approved, validated skills and learning measures.
Under the revised framework, students will qualify for TOPS-Tech by meeting at least two of now three approved criteria—GPA, standardized assessment or early college credit/skills attainment—expanding flexibility while maintaining academic rigor.
HB 325 also authorizes TOPS-Tech awards for qualifying part-time students beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, extending opportunity to a broader range of learners. Funding for part-time awards is limited to remaining appropriations within the full-time TOPS program, ensuring fiscal responsibility.
By aligning scholarship eligibility more closely with real-world skills, dual enrollment achievement, and workforce readiness, HB 325 strengthens Louisiana’s talent pipeline and better connects students to high-demand, high-wage career pathways.