Louisiana lawmakers in the House reduced teacher stipends from $2,000 to $1,700 for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year. And while the budget has yet to be heard in Senate Finance, House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the Revenue Estimating Conference figures could allow for those cuts to be restored.
The REC found an additional $88 million that can be added to the next budget year which begins July 1st.
A bill to hold a Constitutional Convention, in August as opposed to May, still must pass in the Senate. While Senate President Cameron Henry says a new start date is more realistic, he says there are still several unknowns about the process that will be used in June and July before the convention.
Henry says proposed changes made at the convention will still have to go before voters in either the November or December elections.
Congresswoman Julia Letlow says Louisiana crawfish farmers will be covered under the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program and the USDA Farm Service Agency will offer relief from losses they experienced brought on by the drought.
Chair of the Louisiana Crawfish Processors Board, David Savoy says there’s only one way to fix the issue.
Savoy said the funding will make a major difference and help farmers with reseeding.