House adds 'excellence' TOPS award, approves amendment to let out‑of‑state alumni use unused TOPS for medical/dental school

The Louisiana House on Monday approved an amendment to HB77 that adds a new "excellence" TOPS award tier and—by a subsequent floor amendment—allows certain Louisiana high‑school graduates who completed undergraduate degrees out of state to reclaim unused TOPS eligibility for medical or dental school provided they return to practice in Louisiana for a required period.

The measure and its floor amendments were debated extensively. Representative Mike Turner, the bill’s floor sponsor, said the ‘‘excellence’’ award would permit students who meet higher academic thresholds (for example, a 31 ACT and a 3.5 GPA in the bill text) to receive full tuition and fee coverage. ‘‘If you hit the excellence award in Louisiana, you would not pay any tuition or fees,’’ Turner said while explaining the new award level.

The most contested amendment, offered by Turner and drawn from HB275, would let Louisiana‑qualified students who graduated outside the state later use their unused TOPS eligibility for professional medical or dental education if they commit to stay and work in Louisiana for three years; the fiscal note for that amendment estimated roughly $367,000 in year one and $4.6 million in year five. Critics on the floor argued the change could create new recurring costs and urged the body to send the amended bill back to appropriations for a full fiscal review. Representative Robby Miller and other opponents unsuccessfully moved to recommit the bill; that motion failed on the recorded vote.

After extended debate and several additional floor amendments (including one from Rep. Chasson to cover Louisiana students who returned in‑state after an out‑of‑state freshman year), members adopted the Turner amendment on a roll call (73 ayes, 26 nays) and later passed the final bill as amended on a recorded vote (reported in the transcript as 91 ayes, 4 nays). The House also recorded separate votes rejecting a motion to recommit the amended bill to appropriations (33 ayes, 67 nays).

Supporters said the changes aim to keep high‑performing students and future physicians in Louisiana and to put leftover TOPS dollars from prior years to work. Opponents warned the proposal could be an unfunded mandate without further appropriations review and questioned whether the state has reliable estimates of how many students would use the program. A number of members also urged consideration of alternative spending priorities—such as need‑based GoGrant funding for undergraduates—during debate.

Pending actions and next steps: proponents acknowledged some floor amendments (the medical/dental provision) had not yet been vetted by appropriations; opponents successfully used that point in arguments against recommittal but the body ultimately adopted the amendments and passed the bill. If enacted, the statute changes would take effect as provided in the text and implementation details (including any repayment/recapture language and enforcement for the three‑year return requirement) rely on follow‑up rules and fiscal allocations.