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SB 219

FUNDS/FUNDING: Dedicates certain tax revenue to provide for supplemental payments to certain public elementary and secondary school employees and establishes the Educational Compensation Fund. (7/1/25) (OR -$199,500,000 GF RV See Note)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Royce Duplessis and 1 co-sponsor

Louisiana bill dedicates $199.5M in tax revenue annually to supplemental teacher pay through new Educational Compensation Fund, reducing General Fund resources.

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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Bill Summary · SB 219

Legislative bill overview

SB 219 dedicates specific tax revenue to create an Educational Compensation Fund that would provide supplemental payments to Louisiana public school teachers and other elementary and secondary school employees. The bill reduces General Fund revenues by approximately $199.5 million annually to fund these supplemental compensation payments.

Why is this important

Teacher compensation is a critical factor in school system quality, staff retention, and student outcomes. Louisiana consistently ranks near the bottom nationally for teacher salaries, making recruitment and retention difficult. This bill directly addresses workforce compensation but commits significant state revenue that could otherwise support other budget priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue dedication specificity: The bill references "certain tax revenue" without detailing which taxes or sources fund the program, making it difficult to assess the actual fiscal impact and sustainability
  • Budget trade-offs: A $199.5 million annual General Fund reduction is substantial and will require cuts elsewhere or tax increases unless offset by economic growth or new revenue sources
  • Equity concerns: The bill doesn't specify how supplemental payments would be distributed (uniform amounts, percentage-based, or targeted to specific roles/experience levels), raising questions about fairness across different districts and employee categories
  • Sustainability and inflation: No mechanism mentioned for adjusting payments with inflation or for long-term funding adequacy as costs rise

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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