LABI-backed priorities expand opportunity, strengthen career pathways and support employers across industries

BATON ROUGE, La. – Following the Legislature’s adjournment sine die on Monday, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) celebrates a series of bipartisan policy victories that bolster Louisiana’s economic competitiveness, accelerate job creation and strengthen the foundation for sustained growth across the state.

Through policy expertise and strategic engagement with lawmakers and stakeholders, LABI advanced many significant reforms, including an additional 50 priority bills that fall within its LA Driven Strategic Plan—delivering collaborative solutions to Louisiana’s workforce challenges, fortifying the state’s position as an energy leader and securing significant workers’ compensation reform.

“As Louisiana welcomes unprecedented investment, our members have stressed the need for a better prepared, job-ready workforce necessary to meet the demand on day one,” said Will Green, LABI President and CEO. “Lawmakers recognized that demand and worked collaboratively to expand school-to-work opportunities that create clearer pathways to employment, stronger earning potential, and long-term workforce retention. These efforts send a powerful message to Louisiana’s current and future workforce: they do not have to leave the state to build meaningful, successful careers—they can find opportunity and thrive right here in Louisiana.”​

EDUCATION & TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Chief among those priorities was cultivating a dynamic, skilled talent pipeline prepared to support the workforce needs of today and the demands of the future.

From improving access to work-based learning opportunities and career training to introducing students to career opportunities earlier and more often, LABI championed numerous pieces of legislation that will strengthen academic and career pathways. While many policy issues this session sparked differing viewpoints and debate, workforce development remained a clear area of bipartisan alignment, with industry partners, lawmakers and the administration working hand-in-hand to strengthen Louisiana’s talent pipeline and expand opportunity for future workers.

ENERGY

Through thoughtful engagement, LABI also reinforced Louisiana’s position as an global energy leader. Championing an all-of-the-above energy approach, the organization helped defeat a slate of measures that would have discouraged investment across the state through disjointed regulations that create uncertainty and instability. Maintaining one voice when it comes to Louisiana energy policy was paramount to the advocacy team’s work to expand the state’s legacy of energy dominance. LABI also secured passage of legislation that shields the energy industry and related sectors from costly, abusive climate-change lawsuits that threaten key employers and the communities they support.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

While workers’ compensation reform was ultimately scaled back, Louisiana did achieve meaningful progress in 2026. Throughout the session, LABI spearheaded the charge to modernize a system that has too often drifted away from its core purpose: delivering quality care to injured workers while helping them return to work safely and expeditiously. The Legislature was poised to significantly reform the delivery of medical care and disability benefits for injured workers, and to rein in excessive litigation costs. However, proposals to reduce outlier indemnity costs were removed.

Nonetheless, the passage of Rep. Emily Chenevert’s HB 456 and Sen. Brach Myers’s SB 408 create the chance for real progress for Louisiana’s worker’s comp system. The result is a stronger, more transparent and sustainable framework that ultimately delivers care more efficiently, reduces unnecessary litigation delays and costs, and enhances Louisiana’s competitiveness for employees and job creators alike.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: LEGAL REFORM

Important work remains in the effort to stabilize the insurance market through a fair and transparent legal system. After measurable progress in 2025, LABI pressed to build on reforms that would level the playing field and support investment and job creation. Unfortunately, some lawmakers were unwilling to even debate many of the bills aimed at improving Louisiana’s legal climate in favor of a wait-and-see approach that only benefits the status quo. Meaningful change requires sustained, coordinated effort—and LABI will remain at the forefront of that endeavor.

“Not every legislative session delivers every reform the business community needs, but meaningful progress is made through persistence, partnership and a sustained commitment to moving Louisiana forward,” said Green. “We are grateful to the lawmakers who prioritized pro-growth policies this session and understood what is at stake:  strengthening Louisiana’s competitiveness, supporting job creators and building on the momentum our state is gaining—not standing in its way.  We recognize that much work remains, but the progress achieved thus far has inspired our members and reinforced our commitment to building on that momentum.”

This fall, LABI will release an in-depth analysis of the legislative session in its annual Legislative Scorecard—a transparent, report spotlighting where lawmakers stood on the policies shaping Louisiana’s economic future and business climate.

To view a list of priority legislation from the 2026 session, click here.

###