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HB 285LOUISIANASession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Louisiana Authorizes High Schools to Partner with Banks and Credit Unions to Operate Student-Run Branches

Original title: SCHOOLS/BOARDS: Authorizes a school board to engage in a cooperative endeavor with a credit union or bank to operate a branch at a high school

Last action · May 15, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.Sponsors: Tony Bacala and 27 others

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What This Bill Does

Louisiana school boards are now permitted to enter into cooperative agreements with banks and credit unions to establish and operate branch locations inside high schools starting August 1, 2026. These branch operations must be integrated directly into the state's required financial literacy curriculum for students.

Why it matters

Local public high schools gain the legal authority to host on-site financial institution branches, altering how students access banking services and complete mandatory financial education coursework.

Background

House Bill 285 was enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and signed into law as Act 147. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

students

Students gain access to on-site bank or credit union branches integrated directly into their mandatory financial literacy coursework.

Directly affected

local public school boards

School boards receive the discretionary authority to partner with financial institutions to establish high school branch locations.

Directly affected

credit unions and banks

Financial institutions are newly permitted to establish cooperative operating branches within high school facilities.

Key Facts

School boards are authorized to enter into cooperative endeavors with credit unions or banks to operate a branch at a high school.
The operation of the bank or credit union branch must be integrated into the financial literacy course required by R.S. 17:270.
The program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to obtain skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to manage personal finances.
The Act becomes effective on August 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is allowed to operate a branch inside a high school under this law?

Local public school boards are authorized to engage in a with a credit union or bank to operate a branch at a high school.

How does the school branch connect to classroom instruction?

The must provide for the integration of the branch's operation into the financial literacy course required by R.S. 17:270.

When does this law go into effect?

The effective date of the act is August 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

20 actions

May 15, 2026HouseEnrolled
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 147.
May 15, 2026House
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
May 14, 2026SenateEnrolled
Signed by the President of the Senate.
May 14, 2026House
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
May 13, 2026House
Received from the Senate without amendments.
May 13, 2026HouseEnrolled
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

Show 14 earlier actions

May 12, 2026SenateFloor
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
May 5, 2026SenateFloor
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
May 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
Apr 29, 2026SenateCommittee
Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
Mar 30, 2026SenateCommittee
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Mar 25, 2026HouseFloor
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
Mar 25, 2026Senate
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
Mar 23, 2026HouseFloor
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
Mar 23, 2026House
Scheduled for floor debate on 03/25/2026.
Mar 18, 2026House
Reported with amendments (14-0).
Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
Feb 27, 2026House
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
Feb 23, 2026House
Prefiled.
Feb 23, 2026HouseCommittee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.

Version history

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