The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana establishes the Workforce Development Equity and Opportunity Program with $10 million annual appropriation
Last action · March 9, 2026: Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.Sponsor: Edmond Jordan
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What This Bill Proposed
Louisiana establishes the Louisiana Workforce Equity and Opportunity Program, administered by Louisiana Works, to provide training grants to educational providers and direct financial stipends to low-income and underrepresented residents pursuing high-wage employment in s. The measure appropriates $10 million annually, dedicates at least 30% of total program grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and exempts participant support grants from state income tax.
Low-income and underrepresented workers receive up to $5,000 for training costs and $1,000 monthly living stipends while completing industry-certified programs, backed by guaranteed job interviews and requirements upon completion.
- House Bill 470 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature by Representative Edmond Jordan. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Underrepresented and minority workers
Eligible individuals receive direct financial stipends, training cost coverage, certification exam fee support, and guaranteed interview pathways to high-wage jobs.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges
Receive priority in grant selection, with a statutory mandate that a minimum of 30% of total program grants be awarded to HBCU-affiliated training programs.
High-growth sector employers
Participate in Industry Advisory Councils and establish partnerships providing guaranteed interviews, prevailing wage employment, and mentorship to program graduates.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive participant support grants under this program?
Are participant support grants subject to state income taxes?
What industries qualify as high-growth sectors under the bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 26, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 26, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Funding Sourced From Incumbent Worker Training Program
The program draws its $10 million annual appropriation directly from existing workforce funding streams like the Incumbent Worker Training Program.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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