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Joint Legislative Committee approves fiscal status, multiple budgets and contract reviews
Summary
The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved the fiscal status statement and a slate of operating budgets, funding clarifications and contract reviews on Feb. 19, 2026, acting largely by unanimous voice 'seeing no objection.' Key items included the Louisiana Lottery FY2026‑27 budget, additions to a higher‑education deferred maintenance list, and retirement systems approved in globo.
The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met Feb. 19, 2026, and approved a series of budget and contract items ranging from the statewide fiscal status statement to local funding clarifications.
Julia Gradney of the Office of Planning and Budget presented the fiscal status statement and five‑year baseline projection, saying the documents showed no changes from the prior month and that "the remaining state general fund excess is $292,589,608." The committee approved the fiscal status statement by voice vote after the Speaker moved to adopt it.
The committee also approved a request from the Office of Facility Planning & Control to add five projects to the Higher Education Deferred Maintenance Fund (Act 751), including four projects at McNeese State University and one at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Matt Baker, director of the office, characterized the additions as priorities that emerged during the year; Representative Tarver moved approval and the item passed without objection.
Rose Hudson, president of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation, presented the Lottery’s FY2026‑27 operating plan, saying the agency budgeted $610,000,000 in gross revenue and was projecting to finish the current year at about $619,500,000. Hudson said the Lottery has returned roughly "$5,000,000,000" to the Minimum Foundation Program over time and noted the agency has operated for nearly three decades without management comments from the legislative auditor. Senator Boudreau moved approval; the budget was approved after no objections were raised.
The committee reviewed operating budgets for four retirement systems and discussed funding ratios and use of surplus dollars (see separate article for details). After discussion, Senator Price moved to approve the retirement systems’ budgets in globo; the motion carried with no objection.
Other approvals and reviews during the meeting included:
• Approval to pay prior‑year Deputy Sheriff Supplemental Pay expenditures of $20,262.32 out of the current year budget (requested by Katie O’Connor, State Treasurer’s Office). Representative DeWitt moved approval; no objection was recorded.
• Approval of Water Sector Commission recommendations for $2,800,000 in additional funding across four ongoing water and sewer projects; Representative Zorrain moved approval and the committee approved the recommendations.
• Review (no approval required this month) of a contract extension between the Department of Environmental Quality and RTI International for microgravimetric PM2.5 filter weighing, presented by Teresa Delafos.
• Review (no approval required this month) of proposed one‑year extensions and backfill adjustments for several Office of Tourism marketing contracts presented by Jeff Harland.
• Review (no approval required this month) of the fifth‑year amendment to the Sedgwick Claims Management Services contract for the Office of Risk Management; Marsha Pimble said the contract year amount is approximately $21,000,001.01 and described which line items are contingency or nonrecurring.
The committee also approved clarifications of legislative intent for multiple 2025 appropriations (examples: specified uses and recipient municipalities/parish governments for small grants and equipment purchases). Those clarifications were moved by Representative Amade and approved without objection.
The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn carried with no objection.
Votes at a glance: • Fiscal status statement — approved (motion by Speaker; no objection). • Higher education deferred maintenance additions (Act 751 projects) — approved (motion by Rep. Tarver; no objection). • Louisiana Lottery FY2026‑27 operating budget — approved (motion by Sen. Boudreau; no objection). • Retirement systems operating budgets — approved in globo (motion by Sen. Price; no objection). • Deputy Sheriff Supplemental Pay prior‑year expenditures ($20,262.32) — approved (motion by Rep. DeWitt; no objection). • Water Sector Commission additional funding ($2,800,000) — approved (motion by Rep. Zorrain; no objection). • Multiple Act 2025 appropriations clarified for intended recipients and uses — approved (motion by Rep. Amade; no objection).
The committee took no final votes this month on the DEQ‑RTI, Office of Tourism, or Sedgwick contract items; those were presented for review and will return if/when approval is needed.
