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House Labor Committee—Thursday, April 9
Much of the Capitol was empty Thursday, however, it was a busy day in the House Labor Committee, where 12 bills were on the docket. We took positions on nine key measures, where LABI employee relations policy experts Jim Patterson and Patrick Robinson made the case for business, industry and a vibrant workforce. Here’s a recap of several of those bills and their outcomes.
We’ll start with the most notable: HB 549 by Rep. Stephanie Berault (R-Slidell) which establishes the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program (BayouWorks)—a competitive, employer-driven training initiative that LABI conceptualized, shaped and championed to directly address Louisiana’s most urgent workforce challenges. Designed to help Louisiana businesses meet their workforce needs, BayouWorks will deliver the rapid training needed to sustain growth, compete for new investment and fully capitalize on the historic wave of economic development opportunities moving into our state.
Louisiana is winning major projects and attracting new industries, but LABI has heard consistently from existing job creators across every region: growth is being constrained by a shortage of workers with the right skills. In response, LABI developed BayouWorks to operate in conjunction with the Louisiana Works legislative initiatives making their way through this legislative session. BayouWorks is a practical, proven solution—one that prioritizes short-term, industry-aligned training that leads to recognized credentials and prepares workers for high-demand careers.
Modeled after Michigan’s highly successful Going Pro Talent Fund, BayouWorks reflects extensive research, stakeholder collaboration and policy development led by LABI to bring a best-in-class workforce model to Louisiana. The program would provide competitive funding for targeted training, rapid talent development, internships and apprenticeships—ensuring employers can quickly upskill new and existing workers while closing critical talent gaps.
“This is to get people trained quickly,” Rep. Berault said. “This is an opportunity for the business community to come together to get people trained for the jobs that are coming and the jobs that we specifically need filled.”
Employers across Louisiana consistently rank recruiting and retaining skilled workers as one of their top barriers to expansion. Without bold, targeted workforce solutions, Louisiana risks leaving good-paying jobs unfilled and losing economic momentum. BayouWorks addresses this challenge head-on by placing employers at the center of program design, ensuring training investments align with real-world workforce needs and deliver measurable results.
HB 549 represents a strategic, high-impact investment in Louisiana’s workforce and long-term economic competitiveness—an effort LABI has worked diligently to help bring from concept to reality. By empowering employers with targeted, industry-focused training resources, BayouWorks would close skills gaps faster, help workers access higher-paying career pathways and position Louisiana to attract new investment, support business growth and secure lasting economic prosperity. It was reported with technical amendments.
> Learn more about the proposed BayouWorks program, including the application process and requirements for employers, HERE. <<<
SB 383 by Sen. Bass (R-Bossier City) provides for customized training through the Incumbent Worker Training Program to meet employer and workforce needs. The bill was reported with technical amendments.
SB 162 by Sen. Alan Seabaugh (R-Many) amends the current appeals process for workers’ compensation medical treatment decisions. Under current law, WC disputes concerning proposed medical care are initially submitted to the Office of Workers’ Compensation medical director to be resolved per evidence-based medical treatment guidelines. The medical director’s decision may be appealed to a WC judge, who can overturn it only if “clear and convincing” evidence shows the decision was wrong. Under this measure, judicial decisions concerning medical treatment would be based on the same evidence submitted to, and considered by, the medical director. WC judges would be able to submit new evidence to the medical director to consider and potentially modify the initial decision. SB 162 was reported with technical amendments.
SB 382 by Sen. Sebaugh repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. This group has not met for several years and wastes agency resources that could be better allocated elsewhere. LABI supports this bill as it is a way to reduce waste and inefficiencies in state government. This bill was quickly reported favorably.
HB 353 by Rep. Tammy Phelps (D-Shreveport) was the first of two minimum wage hikes heard by the Committee. Debate and discussion on this measure lasted more than an hour before the Committee rejected it by a 5-7 vote. Rep. Phelps’s bill would have set the state’s minimum wage at $12 in 2027, increase it to $15 in 2029 and then tie future hikes to the consumer price index, also enforced through LA Works.
This proposal, and others filed this session, follow a familiar path of replacing market forces with government mandates. When labor costs rise without corresponding revenue, businesses are forced to make difficult decisions—scaling back hiring, reducing hours or benefits, increasing prices or moving investment elsewhere. Large companies may be able to absorb the impact, but small and local employers operating on thin margins face far tougher choices. In the end, the costs don’t disappear—they are passed on through higher prices and fewer opportunities. Louisiana should remain focused on job growth, investment and expanding opportunity—the proven path to higher wages.
HB 209 by Rep. Delisha Boyd (D-New Orleans)—another wage mandate—which the Committee voted down, 5-7. Rep. Boyd’s version would have established a state minimum wage starting at $10 in 2027, rising to $12 in 2029 and $14 in 2031, with enforcement through Louisiana Works. The legislation also creates a new cause of action, which LABI consistently opposes.
The Committee also declined to advance LABI-opposed HB 1119 by Rep. Phelps. The author moved to voluntarily defer the measure after it failed, 5-6. The legislation would have limited employer rights and remedies concerning vocational rehabilitation and second medical opinion (SMO) exams of injured workers. Current law allows employers to suspend benefits when the employee receives proper notice but fails to attend an SMO exam or cooperate with vocational rehab. Rep. Phelps’s measure would have required employers to request a hearing and obtain a judicial order before suspending benefits.
As LABI’s Patrick Robinson testified, “what this bill does is cause unnecessary delays, and it’s going to raise costs for a system that is already among the most expensive in the country.”