POLICY & ADVOCACY

As the voice of Louisiana’s economic development professionals, LEAD is actively advocating for policies that position our state for long-term prosperity. Our 2025 priorities focus on supporting measures that provide LED with the flexibility and agility needed to compete, securing funding for site readiness, expanding the workforce pipeline, and enhancing tax and business competitiveness.

We’re proud to support legislation that reflects these goals. Here’s an overview of some of the key bills we’re supporting this session:

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• SB 161 (Mizell) – Streamlining LED
  Why LEAD Supports It: Consolidates several LED offices into a unified Office of Economic Development, establishes the Louisiana Innovation Fund, modernizing the state’s economic development framework.

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• HB 433 (Deshotel) – Site Investment & Infrastructure Fund
  Why LEAD Supports It: Establishes a permanent fund administered by LED to support site development and infrastructure projects, with $150M in initial funding and up to $50M annually from recurring revenue directly addressing a critical barrier to economic growth.

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• HB 507 (Emerson) – High Impact Jobs Program
  Why LEAD Supports It: Provides grants of up to $200,000 per job for companies that create high-wage, high-skill positions. Encourages job growth that offers health benefits, workforce development, and meaningful wages for Louisiana workers.

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• HB 395 (Brass) – Alignment of M.J. Foster Promise Programs with High Demand Occupations
  Why LEAD Supports It: Expands eligible programs for an M.J. Foster Promise Award and aligns program to in-demand jobs as a result of Louisiana Economic Development (LED) business recruitment and expansion projects. Further requires the council to give priority to programs that are related to LED projects in such process.

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• HB 161 (Hughes) – Alignment of TOPS and TOPS Tech Early Start with High Demand Occupations
  Why LEAD Supports It: Requires alignment of programs to which TOPS Tech and TOPS Tech Early Start awards apply with Louisiana’s target industries by requiring any course taken with the award to be identified by the M.J. Foster Promise Program Advisory Council.

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• HB 533 (Carver) – Work-Based Learning Tax Credit
  Why LEAD Supports It: Offers up to a $2,500 per hire for businesses that employ apprentices, interns, or underserved youth. Expands access to meaningful work-based learning, strengthens our talent pipeline, and supports employer-driven training initiatives.

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• SB 233 (Edmonds) – Workforce Child Care Tax Credit
  Why LEAD Supports It: Further incentivizes employers to invest in supporting high quality child care statewide while supporting growth in the number of Louisiana families able to enroll their children in early child care. Provides for increases to the tax credits that support employers’ investments in child care slots and child care facilities and increases the level of tax credits available for investments in higher-rated child care facilities.

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• SB 79 (Bass) – Modernizing Industrial Growth
  Why LEAD Supports It: Recognizes data centers as part of industrial zones, expands access to essential services through cooperative agreements, and requires public access infrastructure, supporting smart, future-ready industrial development.

• HB 507 (Emerson) – High Impact Jobs Program

Why LEAD Supports It: Provides reimbursable grants for companies that create high-wage jobs in the State of Louisiana. Encourages job growth that offers health benefits, meaningful wages for Louisiana workers, and helps retain and attract top talent which strengthens our labor pool.

These bills are tools for growing jobs, attracting investment, and building a stronger Louisiana. We’ll continue to advocate on your behalf and provide updates as these proposals move forward.

If you would like additional details on any of the bills LEAD is supporting, please feel free to reach out to Mandi Mitchell, Chair of LEAD’s Policy & Advocacy Committee.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to Louisiana’s economic future. We look forward to keeping you updated as the session progresses.

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