HB 325

ENROLLED
 2026 Regular Session
  ACT No. 794
 HOUSE BILL NO. 325
 BY REPRESENTATIVES BRASS, ADAMS, BERAULT, BILLINGS, BROUSSARD,
  CARLSON, WILFORD CARTER, CARVER, CHASSION, EDMONSTON,
  FISHER, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, GLORIOSO, GREEN, DANA HENRY, ILLG,
  JACKSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR,
  TERRY LANDRY, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ, MENA, MOORE,
  MURRAY, PHELPS, ST. BLANC, TAYLOR, WALTERS, WYBLE, AND
  YOUNG AND SENATORS BARROW, BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CATHEY,
  DUPLESSIS, FOIL, HARRIS, HENSGENS, JACKSON-ANDREWS, LUNEAU,
  MIZELL, PRICE, AND REESE
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5001 and 5042 and to enact R.S. 17:5024(D) and 5065(E),
3relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to revise academic initial
4eligibility criteria for a TOPS-Tech award; to provide for qualification based on the
5attainment of certain early college credits; to provide for initial and continuing
6eligibility for certain students; to provide for funding of certain awards; to provide
7for applicability; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9Section 1. R.S. 17:5001 and 5042 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
10 17:5024(D) and 5065(E) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11§5001. Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
12As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, the state
13shall provide financial assistance to any eligible student who enrolls on a full-time
14basis, unless otherwise provided by law, in an eligible college or university to pursue
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 HB NO. 325  ENROLLED
1an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training as defined by the
2administering agency including a vocational or technical education certificate or
3diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree.
4*       *  *
5§5024. Academic requirements
6*       *  *
7D.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a student who is
8otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award pursuant to this Chapter shall qualify for
9the award if he meets at least two of the following requirements as determined by the
10administering agency:
11(a) Attainment of a minimum grade point average on the core curriculum as
12provided in Subsection A of this Section.
13(b) Attainment of a minimum ACT score as provided in Subsection B of this
14Section.
15(c) Successful completion of either at least nine credit hours of early college
16credit, which may be attained through academic or technical dual enrollment courses,
17or equivalent validated skills and learning measures as approved by the Statewide
18Articulation and Transfer Council.
19(2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection are applicable to
20students graduating from high school during or after the 2026-2027 academic year.
21*       *  *
22§5042. Maintaining eligibility; TOPS-Tech
23A. Through the 2025-2026 academic year, to To maintain continued state
24payment of any amount pursuant to a TOPS-Tech Award once enrolled in an
25institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
26(1) Make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency
27toward completion of the requirements of the program in which enrolled, earning not
28less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing or
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1the required number of hours needed to complete the program's requirements. If at
2any time a student fails to maintain the cumulative grade point average required for
3continuation in the program or as of the end of any term during the school year fails
4to make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, the
5student shall become ineligible for further payments. Payments may be reinstated
6upon attainment of the grade point average required for continuation of the original
7award and the standards for steady academic progress as defined by the
8administering agency, provided that the student has maintained other continuation
9requirements and the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than one year
10from the date of loss of eligibility. If this one-year period is interrupted due to a
11student's active duty service in the United States Armed Forces, the one-year period
12shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty service, not
13to exceed four years, unless the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces
14and maintains continuous active duty, in which case the period shall be extended for
15a length of time equal to the student's active duty service; or unless the student is
16granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.
17(2) Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time student unless granted an
18exception for cause by the administering agency.
19(3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a
204.00 scale.
21(4) Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations
22and, if the student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated
23from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under
24honorable conditions.
25B. Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, to maintain continued state
26payment of any amount pursuant to a TOPS-Tech Award once enrolled in an
27institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
28(1) Make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency
29toward completion of the requirements of the program in which enrolled, while
30enrolled either part-time or full-time. If at any time a student fails to maintain the
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1cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program or as of the
2end of any term during the school year fails to make steady academic progress as
3defined by the administering agency, the student shall become ineligible for further
4payments. Payments may be reinstated upon attainment of the grade point average
5required for continuation of the original award and the standards for steady academic
6progress as defined by the administering agency, provided that the student has
7maintained other continuation requirements and the period of ineligibility did not
8persist for more than one year from the date of loss of eligibility. If this one-year
9period is interrupted due to a student's active duty service in the United States Armed
10Forces, the one-year period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the
11student's active duty service, not to exceed four years, unless the student reenlists in
12the United States Armed Forces and maintains continuous active duty, in which case
13the period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty
14service; or unless the student is granted an exception for cause by the administering
15agency.
16(2) Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time or part-time student unless
17granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.
18(3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a
194.00 scale.
20(4) Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations
21and, if the student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated
22from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under
23honorable conditions.
24*       *  *
25§5065. Funding
26*       *  *
27E. Payment of TOPS-Tech awards for part-time students provided pursuant
28to the provisions of this Chapter shall be made only from monies remaining in the
29funds appropriated for the purpose of paying TOPS awards.
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HB NO. 325  ENROLLED
1Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
2 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
3 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
4 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
5 effective on the day following such approval.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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