HCR 119

HLS 26RS-3967  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 119
 BY REPRESENTATIVE MURRAY
 HIGHER EDUCATION: Establishes the Louisiana College without Debt Commission
1A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 To establish and provide for the Louisiana College without Debt Commission to conduct a
3comprehensive study and make recommendations for the development and
4implementation of a statewide affordability framework for public postsecondary
5education.
6WHEREAS, Louisiana continues to face persistent challenges in workforce
7 development, population retention, and economic competitiveness, all of which are directly
8 linked to access to affordable postsecondary education; and
9WHEREAS, rising tuition costs, combined with insufficient need-based financial aid,
10 limit enrollment and completion, particularly among students from low- and
11 moderate-income households; and
12WHEREAS, the state's long-term economic growth depends on increasing
13 educational attainment, aligning workforce training with high-demand industries, and
14 ensuring that residents can access and complete postsecondary education without an
15 unsustainable financial burden; and
16WHEREAS, national and state research demonstrates that tuition-free or
17 debt-reduced higher education models can improve enrollment, completion rates, workforce
18 participation, and lifetime earnings when paired with adequate student supports; and
19WHEREAS, the expansion of need-based aid programs, including the Louisiana GO
20 Grant Program, and the provision of completion supports such as housing, transportation,
21 childcare, and food access are critical to student success; and
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1WHEREAS, a comprehensive, data-driven, and fiscally responsible plan is necessary
2 to evaluate the feasibility, cost, structure, and implementation timeline for a "college without
3 debt" framework in Louisiana; and
4WHEREAS, it is appropriate to have a structured study process in order to
5 responsibly advance the objective of helping students to attend college without debt by
6 developing actionable policy recommendations, funding strategies, and legislative pathways.
7THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8 establish and provide for the Louisiana College without Debt Commission to conduct a
9 comprehensive study and make recommendations for the development and implementation
10 of a statewide affordability framework for public postsecondary education.
11BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall consist of the following
12 members:
13(1) The member of the House of Representatives representing District 97, who shall
14 serve as chairman of the commission.
15(2) The chairman of the House Committee of Education or the chairman's designee,
16 who shall serve as vice chairman of the commission.
17(3) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or the chairman's designee.
18(4) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
19 House.
20(5) Two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
21(6) The chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations or the
22 chairman's designee.
23(7) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations or the
24 chairman's designee.
25(8) The commissioner of higher education or the commissioner's designee.
26(9) The president of the Louisiana State University System or the president's
27 designee.
28(10) The president of the University of Louisiana System or the president's designee.
29(11) The president of the Southern University System or the president's designee.
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1(12) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or
2 the president's designee.
3(13) The secretary of Louisiana Works or the secretary's designee.
4(14) One representative of the Department of Children and Family Services
5 appointed by the secretary of the department.
6(15) One representative of the Department of Transportation and Development
7 appointed by the secretary of the department.
8(16) One representative of the Department of Revenue appointed by the secretary
9 of the department.
10(17) One representative of the Louisiana Housing Corporation appointed by the
11 executive director of the corporation.
12(18)   One representative of the division of administration appointed by the
13 commissioner of administration.
14(19) Two student government association presidents from the Louisiana State
15 University System appointed by the president of the system.
16(20) Two student government association presidents from the Southern University
17 System appointed by the president of the system.
18(21)   Two student government association presidents from the University of
19 Louisiana System appointed by the president of the system.
20(22) Two student government association presidents from the Louisiana Community
21 and Technical College System appointed by the president of the system.
22(23) Two representatives of the Urban League of Louisiana appointed by the
23 president and chief executive officer of the organization.
24(24) One representative of Invest in Louisiana appointed by the executive director
25 of the organization.
26(25) One representative of the Louisiana Chapter of the AFL-CIO appointed by the
27 president of the chapter.
28BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a written report of
29 findings and conclusions by January 29, 2027, that includes an implementation plan and
30 anticipated costs, policy recommendations, funding options, and recommendations, if any,
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  HCR NO. 119
1 for related legislation to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on
2 Education.
3BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include, at a minimum, an
4 analysis of the following:
5(1) The feasibility and impact of achieving tuition-free access across each type of
6 public postsecondary education institution, including a comparative analysis of tiered
7 program structures versus pilot-to-scale models that considers administrative complexity,
8 equity outcomes, cost efficiency, and scalability.
9(2) An analysis of the expansion and optimization of the GO Grant program and
10 other need-based aid programs and strategies to reduce or eliminate student debt burdens.
11(3)   The cost and impact of student support services related to housing,
12 transportation, child care, food security, and other basic needs.
13(4) Comprehensive cost projections under multiple program design scenarios and
14 the identification of sustainable funding mechanisms, including legislative appropriations,
15 public-private partnerships, and federal funding opportunities, as well as performance-based
16 or phased implementation models.
17(5) The alignment of affordability strategies with high-demand, high-wage industry
18 sectors and projected impacts on workforce participation, talent retention, population
19 stabilization, and statewide economic growth.
20(6) An implementation strategy, including recommended eligibility criteria and
21 prioritization frameworks, phased implementation timelines, and any recommendations for
22 related legislation.
23BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents shall provide staff support
24 to the commission, that each appointing and designating authority shall submit the name of
25 his appointee or designee to the commissioner of higher education not later than August 28,
26 2026, and that the commission shall convene for its first meeting not later than
27 September 25, 2026, at the call of the chairman.
28BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may seek input from the
29 legislative fiscal office in conducting its study.
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HLS 26RS-3967  ORIGINAL
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1BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the commission shall constitute
2 a quorum for the transaction of business, and all official actions of the commission shall
3 require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
4BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve
5 without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
6 individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
7BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall terminate on the date of
8 its report submission.
  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 119 Original  2026 Regular Session  Murray
Establishes the La. College without Debt Commission to conduct a comprehensive study and
make recommendations for the development and implementation of a statewide affordability
framework for public postsecondary education. Provides for submission of a written report
not later than Jan. 27, 2027, to the House and Senate committees on education that includes
an implementation plan and anticipated costs, policy recommendations, funding options, and
recommendations, if any, for related legislation.
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