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HB 1021

TOPS: Provides relative to repayment of certain TOPS award amounts under certain circumstances (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Peter Egan

HB 1021 requires TOPS recipients who don’t complete a bachelor’s by year five to repay the first-year funds, but creates an exemption for approved workforce-training paths.

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
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Bill Summary · HB 1021

Summary of HB 1021 (2026, Louisiana): TOPS Repayment and Exemptions

Purpose and Intent

HB 1021 proposes to require repayment of certain TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) award funds under specific circumstances for students who graduate high school in or after the 2025-2026 school year. The bill also creates an exemption pathway for a subset of students who transition to workforce-oriented programs under supervision of the Community and Technical Colleges system. The overarching goal is to recover TOPS funds when students do not complete a degree or meet ongoing eligibility, while promoting flexible pathways into workforce programs.

Key Provisions

  • Repayment Obligation (A):

    • Students who initially qualify for an Opportunity, Performance, Honors, or Excellence TOPS award must repay the TOPS funds paid on their behalf for the first academic year if:
    • their TOPS award is canceled for failure to maintain eligibility,
    • they resign from their postsecondary institution,
    • or they fail to complete a baccalaureate degree by the end of the spring semester of the fifth academic year.
    • The repayment cannot exceed eight semesters unless an extension is granted under existing law.

  • Exemption Pathway (B):

    • A student is exempt from the repayment requirement if they:
    • enroll in an institution governed by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges within 12 months after last enrollment at the bachelor’s degree-granting institution,
    • enroll in a workforce training program of at least 6 credit hours per semester (or equivalent clock hours) as determined by the Board of Supervisors,
    • complete the eligible program within 36 months.
    • Eligible programs are those leading to industry-based certifications, technical diplomas, certificates of applied science, or associate degrees aligned with workforce demand (as determined by the administering agency).

  • Rules and Administration (C):

    • The Board of Regents must promulgate rules implementing:
    • exemptions and circumstances under which a student may be exempt from repayment even if they don’t meet the exemption criteria,
    • situations where a partial repayment (not the full amount) may be required,
    • all available means of collecting owed amounts and interest.

  • Reporting (D):

    • The administering agency must annually report to the House and Senate Education Committees by December 1, covering:
    • the number of TOPS recipients who do not complete a bachelor’s degree by the end of the fifth year,
    • how many of these students enroll in a community/technical college under the exemption pathway,
    • credentials earned by these students,
    • repayment outcomes and any available workforce outcomes.
    • The agency may consolidate this with the standard TOPS reporting required under current law.

  • Applicability (E):

    • The provisions apply to students who graduate from high school during or after the 2025-2026 school year.

Who is Affected

  • TOPS award recipients starting with high school graduates in 2025-2026 or later.
  • Students who resign or fail to complete a baccalaureate degree within the specified timeline.
  • Students who transition to eligible workforce-training programs within the Community and Technical Colleges system.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective for students graduating high school in or after the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Aimed annual reporting deadlines: December 1 each year.
  • Administrative implementation through Board of Regents rulemaking.

Notable Details

  • The bill preserves existing TOPS structure and oversight under the Board of Regents but adds repayment requirements and an exempt pathway via a workforce-training track.
  • The exemption criteria emphasize timely transition to workforce-aligned programs within 36 months and a minimum enrollment/credit-hour requirement.

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

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