Regular Session News #12: UAL payment and teacher salary bills head toward Senate final passage
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Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee reported House Bills 473 and 466 favorably with amendments. Here’s a recap of the two bills:
House Bill 473 (Rep. Emerson), a proposed constitutional amendment, would apply the balance in three educational trust funds to make a one-time payment to erase a portion of the retirement debt owed to TRSL, also known as the unfunded accrued liability (UAL). The one-time payment would pay off TRSL’s two oldest debt schedules, thereby, reducing the employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers. As amended, HB 473 now includes a requirement that employers use the savings from the reduction of their employer contributions to provide the permanent salary increase for certificated and noncertificated school personnel authorized in House Bill 466. The Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula will include funds for equivalent permanent salary increases for those public K-12 employers that do not participate in TRSL. The date of the statewide election in which HB 473 would appear on the ballot was changed to April 18, 2026.
House Bill 466 (Rep. Carlson), a companion bill to HB 473, would require the savings realized from the reduced employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers to be used for permanent salary increases for teachers and school personnel beginning in the FY 2026-27 school year. Amendments raised the amount of the salary increase to $2,250 for certificated personnel and $1,125 for noncertificated personnel. An additional amendment prohibits schools and districts from cutting existing salaries or supplements when the permanent salary increase provided through HB 473 and HB 466 takes effect. HB 466 includes provisions for state funding if the realized savings for any school district from HB 473 are insufficient to cover the raises, and it establishes specific purposes for which school systems must use any realized savings that exceed what is needed to fund the pay increases.
Both HB 473 and HB 466 are scheduled for consideration by the full Senate on Sunday, June 8.
TRSL will keep you informed about the status of retirement-related bills being monitored throughout the legislative session. You can view all meeting schedules and agendas on the Louisiana State Legislature website. Visit the “Legislation” page of this website, to see any legislation impacting the retirement system.
Stay tuned for future updates.
House Bill 473 (Rep. Emerson), a proposed constitutional amendment, would apply the balance in three educational trust funds to make a one-time payment to erase a portion of the retirement debt owed to TRSL, also known as the unfunded accrued liability (UAL). The one-time payment would pay off TRSL’s two oldest debt schedules, thereby, reducing the employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers. As amended, HB 473 now includes a requirement that employers use the savings from the reduction of their employer contributions to provide the permanent salary increase for certificated and noncertificated school personnel authorized in House Bill 466. The Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula will include funds for equivalent permanent salary increases for those public K-12 employers that do not participate in TRSL. The date of the statewide election in which HB 473 would appear on the ballot was changed to April 18, 2026.
House Bill 466 (Rep. Carlson), a companion bill to HB 473, would require the savings realized from the reduced employer contribution rate for TRSL-participating employers to be used for permanent salary increases for teachers and school personnel beginning in the FY 2026-27 school year. Amendments raised the amount of the salary increase to $2,250 for certificated personnel and $1,125 for noncertificated personnel. An additional amendment prohibits schools and districts from cutting existing salaries or supplements when the permanent salary increase provided through HB 473 and HB 466 takes effect. HB 466 includes provisions for state funding if the realized savings for any school district from HB 473 are insufficient to cover the raises, and it establishes specific purposes for which school systems must use any realized savings that exceed what is needed to fund the pay increases.
Both HB 473 and HB 466 are scheduled for consideration by the full Senate on Sunday, June 8.
TRSL will keep you informed about the status of retirement-related bills being monitored throughout the legislative session. You can view all meeting schedules and agendas on the Louisiana State Legislature website. Visit the “Legislation” page of this website, to see any legislation impacting the retirement system.
Stay tuned for future updates.
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