[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6063110,"mediaKeyId","3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7","parentId",3272631,"title","Appropriations panel adopts Judiciary budget amendment adding $540,000 for CASA and FINS","audioSeconds",846,"startMs",110000,"endMs",956000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7&start=110&end=956","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7/thumbnail_110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063110/Louisiana/Appropriations-panel-adopts-Judiciary-budget-amendment-adding-540000-for-CASA-and-FINS","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063110-fe31206678df3ebf2f1c08c86dcf3ff6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166548&Signature=BDp7VlpHOoa~-ETD7EXOveQcUL1eoYOREaq6aRp-QZKG5qcJ6AZh-HpeAqRVDRR-zvLbxLc5K2VMaQA5gO9froGCesJUSmpiF1laQ5kDuEFfBe9r3FP8vltVRRVvPqpvBHKnGzo4l8atMuzky4IJFIwBs7SyvWefDaV4vpzh2lAXaqW8rDLB04HQfbyquor3JoKvLuuYhFB9fSKLVPbzX~wyTnMc2oKRDSnkvTRjW65WlfEC~MaPcYEA8vcSxq5Cf7bgs5OWhsOW2dMAg59E0YN3nEcQzWzL-205XNBrFoffFzHTU4inJK4SpOZ2zrL5uAZEucHci0b960fjxcBp9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Appropriations on a voice vote adopted an amendment to House Bill 647 that adds $540,000 in state general fund for judiciary expenses, including $390,000 for Louisiana CASA and $150,000 for FINS.

The amendment (set 2,576) was read into the record and adopted without recorded roll call after Representative Freiburg moved to adopt it; Chairman McFarland then reported House Bill 647 as amended and made it a special order for the floor.

The amendment reduces the previously requested state general fund increase. Committee staff said the judiciary’s original request for fiscal 2026 totaled $220,424,711, of which $199,188,937 was state general fund; the transcript records the requested state general fund increase as $11,800,000 but says that request was removed prior to the committee amendment. The amendment set brought the state general fund appropriation to $187,855,555 for fiscal 2026.

Chief Justice John Weimer, who attended the hearing, thanked members and called for proper funding of the courts and their programs. “Brevity is the soul of wit,” Weimer told the committee before noting he was “with Justice Griffin and Amanda Moody, with Casa.” Brian Wolf, chief financial officer for the Supreme Court, was also present and available to answer questions.

Representative Zirang proposed an amendment that would have conditioned any future judicial salary increases on the completion and submission of a final report from the National Center for State Courts; he said the National Center’s review — based on a judges’ survey — is expected in early fall and would inform legislative decisions about judges’ pay. Chief Justice Weimer told members the judges’ survey had a high response rate and that the National Center is currently analyzing collected data. Vice Chairman Hughes and other members asked for time to draft precise language; Zirang withdrew the motion subject to further work with staff and the vice chairman so the proposal could be offered on the House floor instead of in committee.

The committee also authorized staff to make technical corrections to adopted amendments. With no recorded objections, House Bill 647 was reported favorably as amended and placed on the committee’s special-order calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Committee on Appropriations on a voice vote adopted an amendment to House Bill 647 that adds $540,000 in state general fund for judiciary expenses, including $390,000 for Louisiana CASA and $150,000 for FINS.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20967,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6063096,"Committee amends funds bill to lower revenue stabilization minimum and increase draw percentage for FY25–26",146,2704000,2850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7&start=2704&end=2850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7/thumbnail_2704000.jpg","/articles/6063096/Louisiana/Committee-amends-funds-bill-to-lower-revenue-stabilization-minimum-and-increase-draw-percentage-for-FY2526","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063096-101efa2100ab85b4a50cea04a27fc8bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166548&Signature=iGoAhYb5SzHgbnLNTgM4tAPQU1snw2cpFPwT1VMDCkEYU7Jj-gtc2J7G5oItWo2rhGfY8Q3o~iYxOABaAaibBPEK4IzpdcUcSGH7yI7d7MEUGqAS~oyXTTLkMlEWNjJ2ZILs17ux1zRQgxMhZGOTW1YNxP~-gGZw3Zmn~~p9TOGKUt2W~2mnoj3ha-tWSQi7Ca2aLdn0Qbhv7QHCsCFOtpkJuL9ZPhZtOg2jKjdTFUBKArQ1LLLNeX6AkxGhzbD~tQiljhrb8LeaUM0yEi~cFzPP0tPRGGMBCppmTaUgmng72Z3kj57ojtCBEFStUoxQiLmBjzpzFbwCzMnwiDD3Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 4 61, the funds bill, was amended by the House Appropriations Committee to change statutory parameters for the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund for fiscal 2025–26 and to transfer monies among several state funds.

Committee staff said the amendment package lowers the fund’s minimum balance from $5,000,000,000 to $2,200,000,000 and raises the allowable percentage of the fund that may be appropriated from 10% to 33% for fiscal year 2025–26. The staff presentation described the constitutional framework for the fund and noted the legislature may change minimum balances and allowable percentages by law.

The amendment set (13 24) also included transfers between funds: $15,000,000 from fees and self-generated Department of Insurance revenues to the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program Fund; $8,000,000 in state general fund to the Oil Field Site Restoration Fund; $10,000,000 from the Mineral and Energy Operations Fund to the Oil Field Site Restoration Fund; $1,000,000 in state general fund to the REED fund; and $25,300,000 from state general fund to the over-collections fund, among other transfers described in the amendment packet. Vice Chairman Hughes moved to adopt the amendments; members adopted them by voice vote and reported House Bill 4 61 favorably as amended.

The committee authorized staff to make technical corrections and placed the bill on the special-order calendar for May.","The committee approved amendment set 13 24 to House Bill 4 61, lowering the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund minimum balance from $5 billion to $2.2 billion and increasing the allowable appropriation percentage from 10% to 33% for fiscal 2025–26; the amendments also moved multiple transfers among state funds.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6063101,"Committee redirects $148.8 million surplus payment to State Police retirement, cites $25.5 million FY26 savings",521,2133000,2654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7&start=2133&end=2654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7/thumbnail_2133000.jpg","/articles/6063101/Louisiana/Committee-redirects-1488-million-surplus-payment-to-State-Police-retirement-cites-255-million-FY26-savings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063101-9a0de6fa2b5d50f4976afa187fb8eb75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166548&Signature=Id7hqxCIi8eEEjD7jLfXoXPiIW0IC3GVbgpp6-DK2EuqNEbLqKblVeEAYlaIbsQiBhMMt28WGjaoFYjBL3YSsS4hpiKdQvkZdB1e4~dIKii6V8sbajqLoFjv22TJe~u12otfzlErt-T8nFmPMYP2dPHRumj1oUKda5E9nvixlQt27hJe2iSK7Y6bt0e6DXvmhblg9NutVWClomd5SSEzCBPlp8AthgYJ8LqSMc19Yjf4WN7nerWwSP~WqR4-LKD~YLD7sFlZR-Ka7E2p8g-YftncTkNCHy~Rm6s983qwPXgxMllKh20DArZ0kk6K--oMM~14UcoP2HFL~SDJ9TGo7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Appropriations on amendments to the supplemental appropriations bill (House Bill 4 60) approved moving the entire constitutionally required payment of 25% of recognized surplus — $148,800,000 — to the Louisiana State Police retirement system instead of splitting the payment among the state’s four retirement systems.

Committee staff said using the full payment for the State Police retirement system produces an actuarial re-amortization that generates an estimated $25,500,000 in fiscal 2026 savings; those savings were calculated into the HB1 amendment package. The amendment set also identified roughly $375 million in state general fund savings for the current year from a combination of means-of-finance swaps, Medicaid adjustments, TOPS underruns, and other agency reductions.

Members adopted the amendment set by voice vote after committee staff walked through the amounts and reappropriations. The transcript lists reappropriations of savings to a range of needs, including $68.3 million to Department of Public Safety supplemental under-collections, $61.0 million for state aid to local governments, $46.6 million for public safety expenses, $34.6 million for higher education, $25.9 million for DOTD road repairs, $24.0 million for Department of Corrections, and other items. Committee staff also described $21.5 million for the Office of Juvenile Justice and $18.2 million for DCFS among listed reappropriations.

Margaret Corley Michel of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System and J. O. Quinn of the Louisiana State Troopers Association were present in support (the transcript notes Quinn as present and in support but not wishing to speak). Vice Chairman Hughes moved adoption; the committee reported House Bill 4 60 favorably as amended and placed it on the special-order calendar for May.","Amendments to the supplemental appropriations bill direct the full constitutionally required surplus payment of $148.8 million to the Louisiana State Police retirement system rather than splitting it among four retirement systems, producing an estimated $25.5 million savings in fiscal 2026 that was reflected in the HB1 amendments.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6063106,"Appropriations committee funds $2,000 teacher and $1,000 support-staff stipends in revised general budget",575,1041000,1616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7&start=1041&end=1616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3272631-316c63aae4a78d4e6b3a4f006f24c4c7/thumbnail_1041000.jpg","/articles/6063106/Louisiana/Appropriations-committee-funds-2000-teacher-and-1000-support-staff-stipends-in-revised-general-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063106-c300b53ba36e4086ad91f03891c2da6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166548&Signature=CXFpjCFzPTTDp1B7jVgK1UOpUG-QP4oE4LEW1BM1SKgSNr3M36y~3ViQ13tiS1Vexac~uMpn-DpvsPWUcSK~O7-9rlmSRT8k76L3ESb-5PIZr4W5GSwrBzBbIYDD1zoEAQpyHHsAcDFErNZwquX4HwOh9n7~WF7t4PaTt8AVPJG9L6s6Rqb9c6MwcYwftxVC3W5LH2WUrMHHaXdb7e-JLsav5a5eeN-2MO4TkwnHzrjGjjUSccJRSX7VFopn5SaKD8SCXkRDGOpwa5yf2E8KLk3zMhMFwdH1LFbGtUXAz5qVCdQz0FwCEwb-JsOQAklXC~q0z54zsdTK9EILR9j2dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Appropriations adopted an amendment package to the general appropriations bill, House Bill 1, that funds teacher and support-staff stipends for fiscal 2026 while trimming other items to keep the budget balanced.

The amendment set (2584) provides a $2,000 stipend for certified teachers and a $1,000 stipend for support personnel, including charter-school teachers, and funds differential pay at $17.5 million as retained in the budget. Committee staff said funding the teacher stipend costs nearly $200 million.

To offset the stipends, members and staff detailed multiple adjustments: a $91.3 million reduction in acquisitions (canceling new equipment and purchases while preserving financed acquisitions), a $26.3 million reduction in the Louisiana Department of Health budget described as using available excesses and supplemental adjustments, removal of $30 million for high-dose tutoring, and a $20 million reduction in personnel services tied to anticipated savings from unfilled positions and an executive order affecting hiring and remote work. Committee materials say the amendment package uses $344.8 million less state general fund than the fiscal 2025 operating budget.

Vice Chairman Hughes framed the amendment package as the product of weeks of schedule-by-schedule review and public testimony, saying the budget “represents significant investments in our children,” state police, elderly residents, and teachers. Representative Marsdale thanked the chairman and staff for funding priorities including domestic violence shelters and early childhood programs. Representative Bagley asked about tourism allocations; the chairman said tourism appropriations were wrapped into a broader amendment within the set.

The committee adopted the amendments by voice vote; House Bill 1 was reported favorably as amended and assigned special order number 1 for May. Staff were authorized to make technical corrections to adopted amendments.","Committee amendments to House Bill 1 fund $2,000 stipends for certified teachers and $1,000 for support staff, offset by cuts to acquisitions and other adjustments; members emphasized the budget is a standstill baseline and that the package reduces recurring state general fund use compared to the current year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations panel adopts Judiciary budget amendment adding $540,000 for CASA and FINS

Committee amends funds bill to lower revenue stabilization minimum and increase draw percentage for FY25–26

Committee redirects $148.8 million surplus payment to State Police retirement, cites $25.5 million FY26 savings

Appropriations committee funds $2,000 teacher and $1,000 support-staff stipends in revised general budget