Chris Herring, Associate Commissioner for Facilities Planning and Emergency Management, asked the board to approve a project under Act 959 to construct a covered indoor practice facility on the campus of Grambling State University. Herring described the requested structure as “a 36,505 square foot facility” with an estimated cost of “approximately $6,700,000,” and recommended approval contingent on University of Louisiana System action.

The board approved the Act 959 request by voice vote.

Herring then presented the Board of Regents’ annual FY26–27 capital outlay recommendation, which compiled 153 projects submitted by institutions and recommended 79 projects for approval (new state dollars or maintenance of current appropriations). Herring described the recommendation categories as projects under construction or committed to bid (13 projects, approximately $121,000,000), shovel‑ready projects, projects under design that will need funding to complete design, and 11 new projects to seed future years’ pipelines.

Members discussed the prominence of deferred maintenance in institution requests and the need for steady, predictable funding. A board member noted a backlog of deferred maintenance—on the order of billions— and a history of variable annual appropriations that complicate campus planning. Board staff said deferred maintenance and renovation projects are allowed through Act 751 and that the prevalence of deferred maintenance in the recommendation this year reflects institutions’ need to address urgent failures when multiyear funding is uncertain.

As part of the capital planning improvements, the Board hired Gordian to conduct comprehensive facilities condition assessments, a space utilization analysis and a return on physical assets review for all campuses. Herring said the total contract is approximately $9.4 million for the assessments across higher education and that consultants have completed eight on‑site assessments and will continue work with a goal of completion by next year.

Why it matters: The Act 959 approval enables Grambling to proceed with the indoor practice facility pending system approval. The capital outlay recommendation is the Board’s prioritized list to submit to the Division of Administration and the legislature; it aims to balance immediate construction needs with longer‑term planning informed by a third‑party facilities assessment.

Board action: The board approved the Act 959 request for Grambling State University's indoor practice facility and approved the FY26–27 capital outlay budget recommendation as presented.