BATON ROUGE, La. – The Senate Finance Committee advanced the state’s budget bills today restoring $30M in high-dose tutoring for K-12 students and maintaining $199M appropriated for teacher stipends.

All of the budget bills collectively include funding for state agencies. Action by the committee utilizes an additional $60M in state general funds recognized after the Revenue Estimating Committee met last week.

“After hearing public testimony last week, the committee unanimously adopted a set of amendments that address many of the needs our communities and families depend upon,” said Finance Chair Glen Womack.  “This is a responsible budget that brings some wins home for our state and I look forward to moving it favorably in the Senate.”

“Negotiations among legislators resulted in a state budget that is well postured as we head into the last weeks of the session,” said Senate President Cameron Henry.  “Education priorities such as high dosage tutoring, teacher stipends and the funds necessary to transfer the University of New Orleans back to the LSU System were all able to be included reflecting the Senate’s contributions to the budgetary process this year.”

President Henry says he’s committed to work with House in the days to come to prepare amendments to the budget that reflect the priorities of the Senate, the House and the administration.

The budget next heads to the Senate floor for consideration before being returned to the House of Representatives for concurrence.  The 2025 Regular Legislative Session must adjourn no later than Thursday, June 12 at 6 pm.