JLCB approves higher‑education deferred maintenance project list, $25M add to fund and multiple change orders

The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved a list of deferred maintenance projects for higher education created under the 2024 legislative session and accepted several university change orders and a supplemental project authorization.

"You provided $75,000,000 in deferred maintenance funding," said Kim Hunter Reed, commissioner of higher education, as she updated the committee on the new fund created in the 2024 session ("Act 7 51" in the meeting record). Reed said the systems prioritized projects across campuses and that $66,200,000 has been allocated for 76 projects currently underway. She said the legislature also provided an additional $25,000,000 to the fund for a statewide campus facility assessment.

Roger Husser of the Office of Facility Planning and Control (FP&C) asked the committee to approve adding 255 projects to the preapproved list that campuses can draw from as they prioritize work. "We do recommend that you approve the 255 projects that have been proposed," Husser said; Senator DeBara moved approval and the motion carried with no opposition.

The committee also approved a supplemental authorization for the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans to increase the project authority for a new data center by $1,000,000, raising the authorized total from $2,000,000 to $3,000,000; the center will fund the additional cost itself, the committee was told. Representative DeWitt moved approval; the motion carried with no opposition.

FP&C presented four larger change orders for approval covering university capital projects:

- A $159,918 change order for the Health Science Complex (Sugar Hall and Caldwell Hall) at the University of Louisiana at Monroe to address degraded roof drains, replacement of unbraced masonry walls and HVAC ductwork modifications; funded from project contingency.

- A $280,224 change order for Southern University in Baton Rouge to add an outdoor bandstand seating area and landscaping to an outdoor classroom amphitheater after rebidding produced lower costs; fully funded by Southern University.

- A $317,149 change order for Southern University's Global Innovations and Welcome Center to extend sewer lines, add smart metering, surge protection and EV charging stations; FP&C reported a negotiated reduction from the originally submitted amount; fully funded by Southern University.

- A $139,826 change order for D. Ficker's Hall renovation and addition at Southeastern Louisiana University to install a code‑required fire curtain in the main theater, including needed electrical and data connections; funded from project contingency. FP&C noted the overall project is more than $30 million and scheduled to be complete in roughly 60 days.

FP&C noted four additional reporting change orders between $50,000 and $100,000 for the two months covered; those were informational and required no committee action.

Committee members asked about speeding project delivery; Reed and FP&C pointed to recently enacted job‑order contracting legislation and use of third‑party project managers that campuses can hire using a small percentage of the fund to accelerate work. "We could not do this without you," Reed said, thanking legislators for the funding.

All approvals on these facility items were recorded as carried with no opposition.