Administration presents ‘standstill’ executive budget; highlights $50 million voucher funding and agency shortfalls

Taylor Barak, Commissioner of Administration, presented Governor Landry’s executive budget for fiscal 2026 at a legislative hearing, telling members the plan is a ‘‘standstill’’ budget that removes one‑time items and relies on the December Revenue Estimating Conference forecast.

Barak said the administration prepared the budget without assuming the outcome of a pending constitutional amendment and removed one‑time expenditures from the base. ‘‘We removed all of the one‑time items that were included in the current budget, to get the agencies back to their baseline,’’ Barak said.

The administration said REC revenue recognized in December showed only modest growth: Deputy Commissioner Patrick Goldsmith said general revenue from 2025 to 2026 increased about $42 million, or roughly 3.35 percent, leaving very little room for new spending. The executive budget therefore preserves agency baselines while covering statutory and mandated increases and selected policy commitments.

Why it matters: Lawmakers will consider this budget during the session and must decide how to use $600 million in surplus and $29.4 million of current‑year excess recognized by REC. The administration’s baseline choices affect schools, health care and public safety budgets across the state.

Major elements and agency adjustments

- Revenues and the ‘‘standstill’’ approach: Goldsmith told the committee that the small REC increase constrained available new spending and required the administration to omit various continuation items and inflationary increases from the executive budget. The presentation separated totals ‘‘with and without’’ interagency transfers and carryforwards to clarify accounting differences.

- Key agency shortfalls and mandated costs: The presentation identified specific state general fund adjustments the executive branch says are necessary to maintain current services, including about $50.8 million for public safety (to offset Office of Motor Vehicles shortfalls tied to delinquent collections), a roughly $33.6 million shortfall for Wildlife and Fisheries conservation funds, $32 million for nursing home rate rebasing required by prior law, and other statutory items.

- Health care and MCOs: The budget includes a $22.3 million step toward raising managed care organization (MCO) reimbursement rates under Act 306 from last year to 85 percent of Medicare as an initial increase; administration officials said LDH will present more details during agency hearings.

- Education and MAJOR APPROPRIATIONS: The executive budget includes $50 million for phase one of the LA Gator (voucher/ESA) expansion enacted in 2024; the Department of Education told the administration the application process will begin in March. Barak also said the administration expects to work with local school districts and higher education leaders on any savings or reallocations that result if a constitutional amendment affecting pensions passes.

- Economic development: The Department of Economic Development (LED) was allocated $11.1 million for restructuring and operational needs, including moving the FastStart program into LED and funding certified site improvements and marketing.

- Surplus, excess and constitutional amendment: The administration described a roughly $600 million surplus from the prior fiscal close and $29.4 million of REC excess; constitutional amendment proposals would alter how surplus is deposited into the Budget Stabilization Fund and other accounts. Barak said the governor’s intent would be to work with legislative leaders to address shortfalls at local school systems if the amendment’s pension paydown mechanism left some districts short of the targeted teacher pay increases.

Lawmakers’ questions and clarifications

During the question period, members asked about teacher pay under constitutional amendment scenarios, charter schools’ inclusion in pension‑related pay plans, whether higher education savings would be reinvested, and specific line‑item changes such as DCFS overtime and domestic violence shelter funding. Representative Hughes pressed for a commitment to ensure districts that cannot realize full UAL savings would still receive funding to deliver the $2,000 teacher pay increase; Barak said the governor intends to work with the legislature and local districts to address shortfalls.

The administration also clarified accounting matters repeatedly during the hearing, noting that reductions in some agencies reflect removal of prior‑year carryforwards or substitution between means of finance rather than across‑the‑board program cuts.

Votes at a glance (committee actions recorded during the meeting)

- BA‑7, Office of State Fire Marshal — increase federal budget authority for two grants (fire training tower/burn building; carbon monoxide grant) — Representative Thompson moved; approved, no objection. - BA‑7, Louisiana Department of Health (AOT grant for Terrebonne Parish) — Representative Amity moved; approved, no objection. - BA‑7, New Orleans & Company (sales tax dedication increase) — Senator Cloud moved; approved, no objection. - Facility Planning: add one project to Higher Education deferred maintenance list; LSU Head House renovation (new project under self‑generated funding); combine two Office of Juvenile Justice projects for Judson Center — motions made by committee members and approved, no objection. - Multiple change orders and capital items (BRCC Allied Health change order; Acadiana Center for Youth emergency generator; Turpin Stadium lighting): motions made and approved, no objection. - Water Sector Commission additional funding and phase‑2 recommendations: Representative Butler moved; approved, no objection. - Retirement systems’ operating budgets (Teachers Retirement, LASERS, School Employees, State Police retirement): motions to accept administrative budgets; approved, no objection.

What the committee did not finalize

The executive budget presentation was informational and the committee directed agencies to provide more detailed line‑item backup during scheduled budget hearings. Several members asked for detailed agency adjustment schedules and for staff to produce consolidated totals of reductions and increases by agency for follow‑up hearings.

Speakers (selected)

- Taylor Barak, Commissioner of Administration (government) - Patrick Goldsmith, Deputy Commissioner (government) - Ternisa (staff member, Office of Administration) (government) - Representative Hughes (government) - Representative Nammedi (government) - Representative Marceau (government) - Senator Edmonds (government) - Representative Feinberg (government) - Senator Boudreau (government)

authorities:[{"type":"other","name":"Revenue Estimating Conference (REC)","citation":"REC December forecast referenced","referenced_by":["executive-budget-2526-overview"]},{"type":"other","name":"Act 306 (prior session)","citation":"Act 306 referenced for MCO rate changes","referenced_by":["executive-budget-2526-overview"]},{"type":"other","name":"Act 1 of 2024 Regular Session","citation":"LA Gator scholarship enactment referenced","referenced_by":["executive-budget-2526-overview"]}],

actions:[],

sections:{"lede":"Taylor Barak, Commissioner of Administration, presented Governor Landry’s fiscal 2026 executive budget to the legislature, describing it as a ‘‘standstill’’ plan that removes one‑time items and uses the December Revenue Estimating Conference forecast to set agency baselines.","nut_graf":"The presentation matters because REC showed only modest revenue growth, leaving limited room for new ongoing spending; the administration proposes targeted replenishments for mandated items, public safety, health care and the LA Gator scholarship while asking lawmakers to consider surplus and excess revenue allocations.","ending":"The committee did not adopt the budget; members asked for more detailed agency schedules and will hold follow‑up hearings where lawmakers may amend or reallocate funds during the session."},

topic_primary:"state_budget",

topics:[{"name":"state_budget","justification":"Central subject: the governor's FY26 executive budget and revenue assumptions.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.75,"opinionatedness":0.05,"controversy":0.40,"civic_salience":0.95,"impactfulness":0.88,"geo_relevance":1.00}}],

speakers:[{"name":"Taylor Barak","role_title":"Commissioner of Administration","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Office of the Governor/Division of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:03:20","transcript_line_range":[200,206]}},{"name":"Patrick Goldsmith","role_title":"Deputy Commissioner","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Division of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:08:08","transcript_line_range":[488,496]}},{"name":"Ternisa","role_title":"Staff member","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Office of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:23:34","transcript_line_range":[1412,1418]}},{"name":"Representative Hughes","role_title":"Representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana House of Representatives","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:37:06","transcript_line_range":[2226,2236]}},{"name":"Representative Nammedi","role_title":"Representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana House of Representatives","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:41:21","transcript_line_range":[2481,2490]}},{"name":"Representative Marceau","role_title":"Representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana House of Representatives","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:45:54","transcript_line_range":[2753,2763]}},{"name":"Senator Edmonds","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana State Senate","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:51:26","transcript_line_range":[3081,3092]}},{"name":"Representative Feinberg","role_title":"Representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana House of Representatives","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:55:48","transcript_line_range":[3343,3353]}},{"name":"Senator Boudreau","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana State Senate","first_reference":{"timecode":"00:58:05","transcript_line_range":[3483,3490]}}],

clarifying_details:[{"category":"REC growth","detail":"REC December forecast: approximately $42,000,000 (3.35%) increase from '25 to '26","value":42000000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Patrick Goldsmith"},{"category":"surplus_and_excess","detail":"Surplus approximately $600,000,000; excess recognized $29,400,000","value":600000000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Taylor Barak"},{"category":"LA Gator scholarship","detail":"Phase 1 funding included at $50,000,000; application process to begin in March","value":50000000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Taylor Barak"},{"category":"State Police shortfall","detail":"Estimated state general fund need to maintain current funding: $50,800,000","value":50800000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Taylor Barak"}],

proper_names:[{"name":"LA Gator scholarship","type":"program"},{"name":"Revenue Estimating Conference","type":"agency"},{"name":"Governor Landry","type":"person"},{"name":"Department of Health (LDH)","type":"agency"},{"name":"Department of Education","type":"agency"},{"name":"Department of Economic Development (LED)","type":"agency"}],

community_relevance:{"geographies":["statewide"],"funding_sources":["state general fund","federal grants","statutory dedications"],"impact_groups":["K‑12 students","teachers","nursing home residents","juvenile justice population","public safety employees"]},

meeting_context:{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":18,"duration_minutes":120,"items_count":10},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[]},

searchable_tags:["budget","REC","LA Gator","teacher pay","MCO","nursing home","LED"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_200.38","local_start":0,"local_end":123,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, Senator Barrow. First order of business, would be the presentation of the governor's executive budget, fiscal year 2526. Commissioner, welcome. You and your team.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_2205.31","local_start":0,"local_end":136,"evidence_excerpt":"But I think that's all we have and we'll open it for, questions and comments from you guys. Thank you.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.85,"overall_justification":"State general fund and statutory allocation choices shape K‑12, health care and public safety; the presentation set the template for appropriation hearings this session."}},{"id":"criminal-justice-priority-funding-commission","headline":"Criminal Justice priority funding panel recommends $99.9 million for six projects, including $16 million for Jetson juvenile facility","shortSummary":"A new Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission presented competitive recommendations totaling $99,906,680 for juvenile detention and criminal justice projects, including $16 million for a new Jetson Center facility and $5 million for an integrated criminal justice information system; the committee will review the package next month.","body":"The Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission presented recommendations to the legislature for $99,906,680 in competitive capital funding aimed at juvenile detention and criminal justice system improvements. The administration described the package as the first round of awards from a $100 million pot created by recent legislation.

Matt Baker, assistant director of Facility Planning and Control, told the committee that a working panel reviewed 18 applications and the commission approved six projects to forward for legislative consideration: a new Jetson Center for Youth (East Baton Rouge Parish) recommended for $16,000,000; the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center (Rapides Parish) recommended for $37,978,880; the River Parishes Juvenile Detention Center (Thibodaux) recommended for $36,615,100; Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office detention upgrades recommended for $3,000,000; Tangipahoa Parish work‑release dormitory and infrastructure upgrades recommended for $1,312,700; and a $5,000,000 statewide Integrated Criminal Justice Information System initiative (ICJIS).

Total recommended funding equals $99,906,680, Baker said, and the commission approved the list and submitted it to the Joint Legislative Committee for consideration. Roger Husser, director of Facility Planning and Control, described the program and said the funding will be used for a mixture of new construction, repairs and capacity increases depending on the project.

Jetson, interim beds and a new intake facility

The Jetson Center in East Baton Rouge received detailed questions from legislators. Commissioners and Office of Juvenile Justice officials said the recommendation will fund two phases: near‑term work to create or reconfigure up to 44 intake beds at the existing Jetson property and a longer‑range plan to build a new 72‑bed, state‑of‑the‑art facility on existing state land at the Jetson campus.

Jason Starnes, undersecretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, said the short‑term work would make the existing dorms usable for intake and diagnosis and give officials immediate additional capacity while design and construction proceed on the permanent facility. "There is capacity we believe for up to 44 that, as we discussed, could potentially have some transitional youth that may be ready to exit," Starnes said.

Legislators raised concerns about community notification, security and demolition of older buildings. Representative Carpenter and Senator Barra asked about outreach to neighbors and security upgrades; Husser and Starnes described plans for perimeter fencing, improved internal layouts and modern surveillance and said the new facility will consolidate classrooms, medical and dorm functions to reduce movement and exposure across a sprawling older campus.

Timing and next steps

Facility planning staff estimated final design work is nearing completion and that construction could take about two years after bidding and award. The commission’s recommendations were approved by the commission; the Joint Legislative Committee will consider the proposal next month for final action. Matt Baker told the committee the grant selection used a nine‑member working panel that included facility planning, OJJ and local government association representatives.

Integrated Criminal Justice Information System

The package includes a $5 million recommendation for a statewide ICJIS initiative. Deputies described ICJIS as a multi‑agency effort to make existing court, clerk, law enforcement and corrections systems interoperate so conviction and sentencing records flow accurately between agencies. Supporters said the system would reduce errors in criminal records, speed data sharing and help limit overdetention and incorrect background‑check results.

What the committee recorded

Committee members did not finalize appropriations at the meeting; commissioners recommended the package for JLCB consideration and said they will return in a subsequent meeting for formal approval. Lawmakers pressed for community engagement at Jetson, demolition plans for obsolete buildings, confirmation of bed counts (44 interim, 72 new), and assurances about workforce and ongoing operations funding.

Speakers (selected)

- Taylor Barak, Commissioner of Administration (government) - Roger Husser, Director, Facility Planning and Control (government) - Matt Baker, Assistant Director, Facility Planning and Control (government) - Jason Starnes, Undersecretary, Office of Juvenile Justice (government) - Senator Cloud (government) - Representative Carpenter (government) - Senator Barra (government)

authorities:[{"type":"other","name":"Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission (special session legislation)","citation":"Commission established by special session legislation; referenced by Commissioner Barak","referenced_by":["criminal-justice-priority-funding-commission"]}],

actions:[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{"project_slug":"cj_priority_round1"},"motion":"Commission recommends six projects for funding totaling $99,906,680 and forwards recommendations to Joint Legislative Committee for consideration","mover":"Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"legal_threshold":{},"outcome":"consensus_note","notes":"Commission approved recommendations; JLCB will consider final approval next month","amendments":[],"programs":["Criminal Justice Priority Funding"],"implementation":{}}],

sections:{"lede":"The Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission recommended nearly $100 million in competitive capital funding for juvenile detention, facility repairs and a statewide criminal justice information initiative, the administration told the Joint Legislative Committee.","nut_graf":"The package aims to add short‑term capacity and fund multi‑parish detention projects while investing in an integrated information system; commissioners said the mix of new construction and repairs was selected to produce capacity and improve safety quickly.","ending":"The committee will review the commission’s recommendations next month before any final appropriation; lawmakers requested more detail about Jetson outreach, demolition and security and about long‑term operating costs."},

topic_primary:"juvenile_justice",

topics:[{"name":"juvenile_justice","justification":"Primary focus: capital projects to expand or repair juvenile detention and intake facilities and to improve criminal justice data systems.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.98,"depth_score":0.80,"opinionatedness":0.03,"controversy":0.60,"civic_salience":0.88,"impactfulness":0.85,"geo_relevance":1.00}}],

speakers:[{"name":"Taylor Barak","role_title":"Commissioner of Administration","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Office of the Governor/Division of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"01:34:26","transcript_line_range":[5926,5934]}},{"name":"Roger Husser","role_title":"Director, Facility Planning and Control","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Division of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"01:39:57","transcript_line_range":[4197,4205]}},{"name":"Matt Baker","role_title":"Assistant Director, Facility Planning and Control","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Division of Administration","first_reference":{"timecode":"01:43:01","transcript_line_range":[6181,6190]}},{"name":"Jason Starnes","role_title":"Undersecretary, Office of Juvenile Justice","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Office of Juvenile Justice","first_reference":{"timecode":"01:55:32","transcript_line_range":[6632,6640]}},{"name":"Senator Cloud","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana State Senate","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:26:33","transcript_line_range":[4472,4478]}},{"name":"Representative Carpenter","role_title":"Representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana House of Representatives","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:24:57","transcript_line_range":[7341,7350]}},{"name":"Senator Barra","role_title":"Senator","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Louisiana State Senate","first_reference":{"timecode":"02:08:08","transcript_line_range":[6348,6356]}}],

clarifying_details:[{"category":"total_recommendation","detail":"Total recommended funding for Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission round 1","value":99906680,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Matt Baker"},{"category":"jetson_interim_beds","detail":"Short term work to add or reconfigure intake capacity at existing Jetson site","value":44,"units":"beds","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Jason Starnes"},{"category":"jetson_new_facility","detail":"Planned new Jetson facility bed capacity","value":72,"units":"beds","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Roger Husser"},{"category":"estimated_timeline","detail":"Estimated construction timeline after design and bid","value":24,"units":"months","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Roger Husser"},{"category":"ICJIS_allocation","detail":"Recommended funding for integrated criminal justice information system","value":5000000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Matt Baker"}],

proper_names:[{"name":"Jetson Center for Youth","type":"facility"},{"name":"Judson Center for Youth","type":"facility"},{"name":"Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center","type":"facility"},{"name":"River Parishes Juvenile Detention Center","type":"facility"},{"name":"Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (ICJIS)","type":"program"}],

community_relevance:{"geographies":["East Baton Rouge Parish","Rapides Parish","River Parishes","Concordia Parish","Tangipahoa Parish"],"funding_sources":["Criminal Justice Priority Fund (state)"],"impact_groups":["juveniles in custody","local law enforcement","parish governments"]},

meeting_context:{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":12,"duration_minutes":150,"items_count":6},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"not specified","note":"Commission created by special session legislation; this is first competitive round"}]},

searchable_tags:["juvenile justice","Jetson","ICJIS","criminal justice","capital outlay","facility planning"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_5926.595","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, mister chairman. Taylor Barra, Commissioner of Administration. This is, some goodness that has been a result of, the work that you guys have done. And again, I'll reference, Senator Cloud's bill in the special session, that created our Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission program, of which I was asked to be the chairman and happy because I think we have some good projects to present to you.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_9164.92","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you all. So, appreciate the presentation. Thank you all for all your hard work on this. All the committee members as well as others will have a chance to review this and we'll bring it back next month for approval.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.80,"overall_justification":"Adds near‑term juvenile capacity and funds multi‑parish facilities and a statewide data system; high local and operational impact, plus community concerns about security."}]}],