Get Involved
Senate Devotes Full Day to House Bills, Featuring Several LABI Priorities
Later today, the Senate will address the extensive slate of House bills that have taken over its calendar. Coming in later this morning and working the entire day, it is unclear just how many measures the upper chamber will be able to handle, however, it is clear that several LABI measures will be debated and voted on during that span. While the Senate surprisingly handled several of our bills Monday evening, two priority bills are still waiting to be heard.
HB 549 by Rep. Stephanie Berault (R-Slidell) is the product of extensive collaboration and strategic workforce planning led by LABI, reflecting a deliberate effort to address one of the state’s most pressing economic challenges: the growing gap between available jobs and available talent. The legislation would create the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program (BayouWorks), a competitive, employer-driven training initiative designed to help businesses quickly develop the skilled workforce needed to support growth, attract investment and meet evolving industry demands.
BayouWorks would support short-term, industry-focused training programs, internships and apprenticeships that lead to recognized credentials and direct pathways into high-demand careers.
Employers across industries consistently cite workforce shortages as one of the biggest barriers to expansion, and HB 549 represents a proactive, business-backed solution focused on rapidly closing skills gaps, strengthening Louisiana’s talent pipeline and positioning the state for sustained long-term economic growth.
HB 804 by Rep. Brett Geymann (R-Lake Charles) would respond to the growing wave of “climate liability” lawsuits being filed across the country against energy producers and other industries, cases that seek massive damages tied to storms, flooding, coastal erosion and other alleged climate-related impacts.
LABI has remained deeply engaged on the issue throughout the session, consistently raising concerns about the economic and legal uncertainty these lawsuits could create for Louisiana’s energy-driven economy and broader business climate. As Louisiana competes globally for billions of dollars in new investment and job creation, employers and project developers continue to emphasize the importance of a stable, predictable legal environment when making long-term investment decisions. HB 804 seeks to establish clear guardrails against efforts to regulate emissions and energy production through litigation rather than through the legislative process, reinforcing the principle that major public policy decisions should be made by elected lawmakers—not through inconsistent court rulings or expansive liability theories advanced through the courts.
With similar lawsuits already filed in more than two dozen jurisdictions nationwide and major cases now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, the legislation is intended to provide greater certainty for employers, strengthen Louisiana’s competitiveness and help protect the state’s ability to attract and retain long-term economic investment.