The Louisiana Board of Regents approved the systemwide operating budgets for fiscal year 2025–26, voting to accept the package after a presentation of the items discussed at budget hearings the prior day. The vote was taken by voice and the motion carried.

The budgets are essentially a stand‑still state‑funded package requested by the governor; Regents staff said the overall increase shown in the plan is driven primarily by growth in self‑generated revenue, particularly enrollment‑driven tuition and fees at LSU system campuses. Miss Bentley Smith, who presented the numbers to the finance committee, said the package reflects the materials discussed at the recent budget hearings.

The plan includes a roughly $4.6 million increase in the general fund line and an overall difference between fiscal 2024–25 and 2025–26 of about $68 million across all financing sources. Specific allocations noted by staff include $24.6 million in systemwide enhancements in the UL system (supporting UNO, Grambling, ULM and others), a $2.3 million increase for the Patriot Scholars program supporting the Louisiana National Guard, and $10.5 million in statutory dedications for campus revitalization and graduate assistantships. Staff also identified nonrecurring reductions from the prior fiscal year totaling about $42 million and a $2.5 million requested decrease to personal services across higher education in response to a statewide directive.

Board members asked about revenue sources that are not yet recognized by the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC). One regent asked whether the legislature’s recent increase in taxes on online sports betting that are designated to support athletics was reflected in the budget; staff replied it is not included because the REC has not yet recognized those dollars, and until REC action occurs those funds cannot be shown in the official budget.

With the motion and second on the floor, the finance committee and then the full board approved the FY2025–26 operating budgets by voice vote.

The board and staff said the FY26 budget process is complete and that the agencies will begin work on the FY27 request next month and expect to bring that to the October board meeting for approval.