Appropriations panel adopts Judiciary budget amendment adding $540,000 for CASA and FINS

The House Committee on Appropriations on a voice vote adopted an amendment to House Bill 647 that adds $540,000 in state general fund for judiciary expenses, including $390,000 for Louisiana CASA and $150,000 for FINS.

The amendment (set 2,576) was read into the record and adopted without recorded roll call after Representative Freiburg moved to adopt it; Chairman McFarland then reported House Bill 647 as amended and made it a special order for the floor.

The amendment reduces the previously requested state general fund increase. Committee staff said the judiciary’s original request for fiscal 2026 totaled $220,424,711, of which $199,188,937 was state general fund; the transcript records the requested state general fund increase as $11,800,000 but says that request was removed prior to the committee amendment. The amendment set brought the state general fund appropriation to $187,855,555 for fiscal 2026.

Chief Justice John Weimer, who attended the hearing, thanked members and called for proper funding of the courts and their programs. “Brevity is the soul of wit,” Weimer told the committee before noting he was “with Justice Griffin and Amanda Moody, with Casa.” Brian Wolf, chief financial officer for the Supreme Court, was also present and available to answer questions.

Representative Zirang proposed an amendment that would have conditioned any future judicial salary increases on the completion and submission of a final report from the National Center for State Courts; he said the National Center’s review — based on a judges’ survey — is expected in early fall and would inform legislative decisions about judges’ pay. Chief Justice Weimer told members the judges’ survey had a high response rate and that the National Center is currently analyzing collected data. Vice Chairman Hughes and other members asked for time to draft precise language; Zirang withdrew the motion subject to further work with staff and the vice chairman so the proposal could be offered on the House floor instead of in committee.

The committee also authorized staff to make technical corrections to adopted amendments. With no recorded objections, House Bill 647 was reported favorably as amended and placed on the committee’s special-order calendar.