[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6111250,"mediaKeyId","2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e","parentId",2753052,"title","CPRA says Mid‑Barataria diversion funding remains dedicated while legal challenges continue","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",8087935,"endMs",8202425,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e&start=8087&end=8202","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e/thumbnail_8087935.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111250/Louisiana/CPRA-says-MidBarataria-diversion-funding-remains-dedicated-while-legal-challenges-continue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111250-2be44b8304d4cbe98a23a4665f769956/orig.mp4?Expires=1770564285&Signature=IQwzdEglHekH4ttDazNdjEHfgkddHxwog1Lf9uWsE~1vg~BWZPm7ITvA1m7-93XdeJLGnS8ie6oLHXdcVcwd6JNvu6zwri0abFqACrcQKWeQgJlEt5hvdVQIsue3idTn-u3TvZMTJ~7llc3W1h9PMAcDxux4pE8nTj7SBbNg8IBzaGMizuLgHqtmiOdNrAIhuiA0FJKsteejmPVJuTwWaBciEboaZH8vPzK3pQJE3BxkhFh4DwFPXP2sTBrqRWT-gFWgWvjdqTeNCyG2DVRYpMn~lVAselA690jvoxjKLMHyy0f3HgjDKEbzAzQgeM1EHIX8ChUM6N~COTHgqmPPQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","CPRA officials updated the committee on the agency's FY26 request and on the status of the Mid‑Barataria diversion, a major coastal restoration project that has drawn litigation and community attention.

Executive Director Glenn Lade and CPRA staff told lawmakers that, to date, roughly $400–$500 million has been spent on the diversion and that approximately $572 million in federal trustee funding is carried forward and earmarked for construction. They said the majority of funds for the project have come from federal trustee sources — principally National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grants and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) funding — rather than direct state general fund appropriations.

On litigation and contracting questions, CPRA said that if a project is modified or halted, unspent federal trustee dollars revert to the corresponding trustee pots (NFWF, NRDA or other settlement funds) for reallocation to other projects consistent with the settlement terms; CPRA staff said they were evaluating the contract language and the options available under the existing construction contract. CPRA and legal advisers are meeting with the contractor and federal trustees to determine whether the contract can be paused, modified or terminated for convenience without exposing the state to avoidable liability; CPRA said it had retained specialized counsel to advise on the contract and permit issues.

Lawmakers asked whether state funds had been used for construction; CPRA said the bulk of expenditures have come from NFWF and NRDA, with relatively modest state dollars used for related activities and administrative functions. CPRA also said the agency is moving forward with other projects in the agency's draft annual plan — including land‑bridge and sediment‑pumping projects in Barataria and other basins — to avoid a full stop in coastal work while the diversion litigation proceeds.

Why this matters: Mid‑Barataria is one of the largest coastal restoration efforts in state history. The project aims to move Mississippi River sediment into barrier islands and marshes to rebuild habitat, but its scale and potential salinity impacts have prompted stakeholder concerns and litigation. The source and control of funds (state vs. federal trustee funding) and contract remedies will affect CPRA's options if the project needs significant redesign or pause.

Ending: CPRA said it will supply the committee with further legal and financial detail as it works with federal trustees and contractors; lawmakers asked CPRA for updated timelines and a clear account of funding sources and contingencies.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations 03/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","CPRA told lawmakers that federal trustee funding — principally NFWF and NRDA dollars — funds much of the Mid‑Barataria diversion work, and that roughly $572 million is currently dedicated to construction, while legal challenges and community concerns are under review.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20967,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111255,"Governor moves GOSEP under Louisiana National Guard; officials say emergency response capabilities unchanged",281,3250560,3532535,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e&start=3250&end=3532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e/thumbnail_3250560.jpg","/articles/6111255/Louisiana/Governor-moves-GOSEP-under-Louisiana-National-Guard-officials-say-emergency-response-capabilities-unchanged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111255-41eeb9d413f196037b314f55807aa02e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770564285&Signature=QUcWMUpVR-DAJaxDk6gv3BmBc8PwfDKSx9832rvnLyn7OlZuOq1hshW8MoKvuIkYLYkq1aV~CS7O0rN5nMDNY~sMfAZMMERmvfI1rkkBECHyCcA7knhlXJOzegeh5NEArQGf5w91ELdi3MVdLKMz76m8WkK8pCseL3~8W7axaKrULxmFZL6g8I7mSyx5pec3eqy5c5fyy-nDglHpBhGHb4Lm1vfXoaM9PEVI~nM8YaJmVmN7nq6r2QgUKvqDTTbJ4Ejr8Yosp9vrEHbLuqmMo-wZXopllcpII~9bjSkQbc40JwWbL3tYbAHww2p0rPwdllK3cNgWRN9U0MJR0rYIRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a joint budget hearing, Major General Tom Freilyeu, the Adjutant General of Louisiana, told lawmakers the governor announced a restructuring that places the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSEP) under the Louisiana National Guard and named Brig. Gen. Jason Mahfouz as GOSEP's interim director. Freilyeu said the change is intended to identify cost savings and eliminate redundant support functions while preserving GOSEP's core emergency management responsibilities.

Freilyeu said the transition will follow a deliberate 90‑day planning period to map support functions such as human resources, legal, contracting and budgeting, and to propose efficiencies while \"never at the risk of GOSEP's core capabilities of caring for our citizens on their worst day.\" He said the Guard will operate with both budgets through the coming fiscal year and aims to merge operations the following year.

Lawmakers repeatedly pressed for clarity about whether the change would affect field response or the standard process by which local governments request state assistance. Major General Freilyeu and Brig. Gen. Michael Greer emphasized there will be \"no change in core capability\" and that established local‑to‑state emergency request procedures remain unchanged. Freilyeu cited lessons from recent events, including Hurricane Ida and the Jan. 1 security response in New Orleans, to reassure members that chain‑of‑command authority and on‑the‑ground commander discretion for urgent actions will remain intact.

Freilyeu said efficiencies targeted by the merger focus on duplicative administrative support: \"We don't need two HR shops, two legal shops, two procurement shops,\" he told the committee. He added that some TO (authorized) positions that support administrative functions may be reduced as redundancies are eliminated; however, he did not give a final headcount, saying an evaluation will conclude within the 90‑day planning window.

Several lawmakers asked whether the reorganization risked a return to pre‑Katrina conditions in which on‑the‑ground commanders lacked authority to act. Freilyeu responded that the state has learned lessons and that the modern approach allows commanders on scene to act without waiting for protracted approvals.

Why this matters: GOSEP manages large flows of federal disaster funding and coordinates state response to hurricanes, floods and other emergencies. The reorganization could affect how administrative support is provided to response staff and could change internal budgets and reporting relationships even if frontline response procedures stay the same.

Ending: Officials committed to return with more concrete numbers about cost savings, vacancy counts and any position consolidations after the 90‑day planning period. Lawmakers said they will follow the reorganization closely during appropriation decisions.","Governor's office announced a cost‑savings reorganization placing the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness under the Louisiana Military Department (the National Guard). Military and GOSEP leaders told the committee they expect to preserve core response capabilities while seeking administrative efficiencies.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111260,"State presents FY26 \"standstill\" executive budget as multi‑year revenue shortfalls loom",140,22815,162875,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e&start=22&end=162","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e/thumbnail_22815.jpg","/articles/6111260/Louisiana/State-presents-FY26-standstill-executive-budget-as-multiyear-revenue-shortfalls-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111260-7fae78b9d5d157afa62c52ec2dff45e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770564285&Signature=Apx~4z37UuB890XD~2JRGlQDOqseuHTkw1sbcc2sDkW3OYAqNNyzqPPaDC4XEGboA3tNCcxhM2oVYLcotHHX01uuCfSvMur~g1IaPJGYvyaUmEQYDCvTWpMmK-6RFgB9STcv4UGyFVtgVHzE4Oy6NOBmpi0c2VPIlHez2b63ol5hn89K2YnkxvfT3wI0YqMfBdXOIYR0scyUqeyD3InRUSRTFiphogLfCciGdRncoCJu1dR99BIR3BgjokkDmx1JoMalAWOb9Kx12xHrTG4qTuitfVk3A1h4~TQhrLU2wwoNhHrjApo8sgJcSlbGzKS8EO1qxVFLEAsDlh-SCm9PMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House fiscal staff and officials from the Division of Administration presented the governor's FY26 executive budget as a \"standstill\" proposal that is balanced for the coming year but depends on revenue forecasts that project significant deficits in later years. Legislative members pressed administration officials about the size and sources of the projected gaps and how one‑time and recurring funds were treated in the proposal.

Shari Robinson of the House Fiscal Division told the panel the executive budget is based on the Revenue Estimating Conference's forecast and that the FY26 package as presented is balanced. Robinson and other budget staff differentiated \"surplus\" (nonrecurring) from \"excess\" (recurring) receipts, and listed the six constitutionally permitted uses for surplus funds. Robinson noted the FY24 surplus was about $595.1 million; 50% of that would be split between the Budget Stabilization Fund and payments on the unfunded accrued liability for retirement systems under the administration's plan.

Representative Cary Mack pushed on the long‑term outlook, saying that slide 6 showed large cumulative cuts ahead if no policy change is made: \"you're talking about cutting a billion dollars out of the budget in just a few years? Okay. That's what I thought I saw,\" he said. Administration witnesses confirmed the projection pattern: while FY26 is shown balanced after removing one‑time items and tightening acquisitions and maintenance budgets, the continuation forecast used in legislative committee work shows shortfalls in FY27 and beyond.

Taylor Barra, Commissioner of Administration, said the executive proposal reflects the governor's decision to present a standstill budget that removes one‑time appropriations from prior years (including certain stipends and other nonrecurring items) and keeps the base funding level low so future additions would be carefully considered if revenues improve. Deputy Commissioner Patrick Goldsmith added that the executive budget contains no contingencies for the pending constitutional amendment and does not assume any future federal funding reductions: \"There are no contingencies built into the budget, of course, assuming anything about the constitutional amendment. None of that is included, nor are any cuts that could be proposed at the federal level.\"

Budget staff also outlined the composition of the FY26 request: the proposed state budget was shown at about $49.4 billion, with the means of financing broken out on the slide as roughly 46% federal funding, 24.6% state general fund, 12.8% statutory dedications, 11.8% agency fees and self‑generated revenue and 4.7% interagency transfers. Robinson said the executive budget accounted for a roughly $194 million shortfall in the FY25–26 continuation by reducing acquisitions (about $100 million), not funding certain inflation adjustments and shifting some hurricane‑related expenses out of the current year.

Why this matters: the standstill approach keeps the FY26 base intact while highlighting choices lawmakers will face if the revenue picture does not improve: larger recurring expenditures added to the base would have to be paid for either with new revenue or deeper cuts later. Committee members asked for more detailed back‑up on department spending history, utilization factors that drive certain high‑cost programs (for example, corrections and juvenile justice), and clearer percent‑change labels on the slides cited during the hearing.

The administration noted several follow‑ups: staff will correct chart label errors spotted in committee and post updated slides, and lawmakers signaled plans to question agency heads during budget‑hearing days about program‑level assumptions and monthly actuals used to validate the FY26 line items. The Revenue Estimating Conference and Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget (JLCB) processes will continue to inform session decisions.

Ending: Lawmakers and administration officials agreed to return with more documentation, including month‑by‑month spending history and clarifications on the drivers of large increases and decreases, as the legislature moves toward appropriation decisions for FY26.","House fiscal staff and administration officials told lawmakers the governor's FY26 executive budget is a balanced \"standstill\" package for the coming year but relies on current revenue projections that show growing shortfalls in later years and would require deep cuts if revenues do not improve.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111241,"State employee benefits director says Medicare Advantage options under review; potential savings unclear",106,4816805,4923030,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e&start=4816&end=4923","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e/thumbnail_4816805.jpg","/articles/6111241/Louisiana/State-employee-benefits-director-says-Medicare-Advantage-options-under-review-potential-savings-unclear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111241-96e88cc0354d0fb463a99a619b38cc4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770564285&Signature=SBsPeKbW5zNP7ILTXC10KEcOhZmabbAseeaxYHcdk-U76ohqONpZzP~4mIM5-TuxEwLow9OvdUpR9XDPIAnxi0qyZP2tsXyTlKbZOuj1y2hcqVOunFrtPb43SF~sWX32S0MConOG86qi5NmtFTodH7hXZKZV-LRsM8~q5qCFenFwHcwRJM1F9viQZbalaonzcWnu3wwy7~i~KdqLl3hbgH91NWsvsiaOK5~sOdzQqrygcRnVXHZrkqY545YJnBDpqW6zPP4Ob6jq95BGTt74tIlHcjRI1g3cgZCevDXxgLO2C2Ew8KehTSRsgzc~us3fEJcDRnE1l~tHahI1KzpIeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard a technical briefing about the Office of Group Benefits (OGB) and ongoing work to evaluate alternatives for retiree coverage, including Medicare Advantage (MA) products with PPO wraps or tailored supplemental plans.

Heath Williams (Office of Group Benefits) described modeling underway on potential options to move Medicare‑eligible retirees onto Medicare Advantage plans that include nationwide PPO coverage or to design supplemental plans that would fill gaps. Williams cautioned that past federal matching patterns and recent federal policy changes (for example changes following the Inflation Reduction Act) affect the net fiscal benefit to the state, and that OGB had not yet validated a widely‑circulated savings figure that some legislators referenced during the hearing. Williams said an RFP process for MA products (including a MAPPO option) is imminent and that the agency is actively modeling pricing and federal subsidy implications.

Lawmakers, including Representative Bakkelau and others, asked whether moving retirees to MA would save the state money; Williams said he could not validate a $145 million annual savings figure without additional modeling and that the program design (PPO wrap, retiree choice, federal pass‑throughs) materially affects outcomes. He described constraints: retirees will expect nationwide coverage; some MA products lack PPO nationwide networks and OGB planners want to offer a MAPPO approach to preserve service levels for members who travel or move out‑of‑state.

Why this matters: OGB premiums and retiree coverage design are a major driver of statewide personnel and benefit costs. Any large‑scale shift of retirees to Medicare Advantage or other models could change premium liabilities for state agencies and employees and alter state fiscal exposure. OGB's work — including pending RFPs and actuarial modeling — will inform legislative and budget decisions.

Ending: OGB will continue modeling and issue an RFP for Medicare Advantage products; lawmakers asked staff to follow up with cost estimates and modeling supporting any large savings claims before making policy changes.","Officials from the Office of Group Benefits (OGB) discussed long‑standing proposals to move retirees to Medicare Advantage or other supplemental arrangements. OGB said modeling is underway; a projected $145 million annual savings cited elsewhere cannot yet be validated.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6111246,"Public defender asks legislature to expand building fund, flags capital‑defense costs",44,11074290,11118825,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e&start=11074&end=11118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753052-6a17e56b5ad88171eced531fb61df10e/thumbnail_11074290.jpg","/articles/6111246/Louisiana/Public-defender-asks-legislature-to-expand-building-fund-flags-capitaldefense-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111246-7071298e9d77898be4e3810e4499007e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770564285&Signature=X-7rFjj800yLWnxTfwL7maZZHThqsb8FwtxRISCnzeVZsc4m8pT8DtKVB7v5Mdk0mtCD5WjEj9rtQb2qtQVO4Zkbe2MpGjKFaQYzO8ESd8EU5aqrgRo6c9eWZFPUlt3XKMRETmoj6uZKSdoHK6e9zchP5PB8cjGuFwwTQMDYV7DdEMYEsRpDOYgLQhq7zCWGtvXNTYPLuraRoxRrANDCMxuArhMBSU4SXYYmHh-WGZFEz9ebkCdJgWvUVNXSs-TCCRffia9bvM8jP0ZSyhbiWdUvRka3VxrRTe5pIRg8EdGgVTYa2k3BOPb9MHE5HVeOW099oyW9Q6C7MxZ~Hsd9AQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State public defender leadership briefed the committee on the office's FY26 recommendations and pressed for additional funding for district office buildings and for capital defense resources.

Public defender leadership said the building fund created in recent sessions has been \"transformative,\" enabling the office to buy district headquarters in multiple parishes and reduce recurring rent costs; the office's purchase of a building in Lake Charles was cited as an example that also produces rental income for the local defender office. The public defender asked for $2 million in new state funding on top of the governor's executive request to reimburse Jefferson Parish (which bought a courthouse‑adjacent building), acquire a Winn Parish building (following a fire), and purchase a building in LaSalle Parish. The defender said these acquisitions would both secure office space near courthouses and, in some cases, generate revenue back to district offices.

On criminal defense costs, the public defender highlighted the specialized and ongoing expense of capital‑case work. The office reported it spends roughly $7.7 million annually on death‑penalty litigation and collateral post‑conviction work; the defender noted that a root‑and‑branch elimination of the death penalty would reduce that recurring cost but did not press for a statutory change in this hearing. The office also described recent reforms in how capital representation is managed — moving toward training and resourcing district offices to handle capital cases rather than outsourcing to private firms — as a way to control costs and build local capacity.

Office staff reiterated statutory requirements on how the state public defender allocates funds to district offices (citing revised statute language requiring at least 75% of certain funding be distributed to district defender offices) and provided a table showing district allocations for 2024, which combine state funds, convictions and user fees, local funding and other sources.

Why this matters: The public defender system provides constitutionally required representation for indigent defendants. Building fund investments can reduce long‑term operating costs and stabilize district office operations; capital‑defense spending is a significant recurring budget item and a point of long‑term structural cost pressure.

Ending: The committee said it would consider the building fund request and follow up on the public defender's funding mechanism concerns; the defender said it will supply additional details on the Jefferson, Winn and LaSalle building plans and on district allocations.","The state public defender told the committee that recent investments in owned office buildings have cut operating costs in some districts and asked for $2 million additional state funding to buy or replenish buildings in Jefferson, Winn and LaSalle parishes. The defender also highlighted annual costs of capital and death‑penalty representation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

CPRA says Mid‑Barataria diversion funding remains dedicated while legal challenges continue

Governor moves GOSEP under Louisiana National Guard; officials say emergency response capabilities unchanged

State presents FY26 "standstill" executive budget as multi‑year revenue shortfalls loom

State employee benefits director says Medicare Advantage options under review; potential savings unclear

Public defender asks legislature to expand building fund, flags capital‑defense costs