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Senate Finance Advances Budget That Cuts LA GATOR Expansion and Redirects Reserves to Roads

The committee’s changes balance the plan to a lower revenue forecast and force swift Senate‑House negotiations before the June 1 adjournment.

Overview

  • The Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously Thursday to advance amended budget bills that were rewritten to match lower Revenue Estimating Conference projections.
  • Lawmakers removed the $43.5 million expansion of the LA GATOR voucher program and rolled back enhanced increases to the K‑12 funding formula, reductions that total roughly $75 million.
  • The committee proposed tapping the Revenue Stabilization Fund for one‑time projects, including nearly $400 million directed to highway priority projects, road repairs and other infrastructure work.
  • The package trims specific pay proposals by cutting $18 million in judge pay continuations while preserving a $17 million corrections‑officer raise, and includes a supplemental bill with $103 million in amendments and a $67.5 million net general‑fund reduction.
  • Gov. Jeff Landry’s public veto threat over any state employee raises if teachers do not receive a permanent pay boost raises the political stakes as the full Senate takes the bills to floor votes and House‑Senate conference before the session ends June 1.