A new law will loosen eligibility rules for TOPS-Tech awards, part of a broader push to steer more students into technical and vocational training as the state tries to meet workforce demands tied to major industrial investments. The bill still awaits the signature of Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and will then head to the Governor.
Sponsored by Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, the law will add a third way for students to qualify for TOPS-Tech: completing at least nine hours of early college credit through academic or technical dual enrollment courses, or equivalent skills and learning measures approved by the Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council.
Under the bill, students graduating high school during or after the 2026-27 academic year would qualify if they meet at least two of three requirements: the minimum core curriculum GPA, the minimum ACT score or the new early college credit standard.
Brass told the Senate Education Committee the bill is part of his workforce development package and is aimed at a program he said is being underused.
“We found that TOPS-Tech is being underutilized as far as funding, as far as usage with students across the state,” Brass said.
The bill also incorporates provisions from a broader proposal by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston. Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, TOPS-Tech students could keep their award while enrolled either part time or full time, rather than only full time, so long as they make steady academic progress, remain continuously enrolled, maintain at least a 2.50 GPA and avoid disqualifying criminal convictions.
Current law requires students to maintain continuous full-time enrollment unless granted an exception.
The fiscal note estimates that for every 41 additional students who qualify for TOPS-Tech, state general fund costs would increase by $100,000 annually. The Board of Regents reported that in the 2024-25 academic year, 496 TOPS-Tech students had their awards canceled or were ruled ineligible for failing to meet full-time enrollment or credit-hour requirements.
Using the average TOPS-Tech award value of $2,437, the fiscal note estimates roughly $1.2 million in awards could have been paid to those students under the proposed law.
Richard Nelson, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, said he supports Turner’s broader bill, arguing current rules are too restrictive for many students seeking workforce training.
“The eligibility requirements are very steep,” Nelson told The Center Square in a previous interview.
The proposal comes as Gov. Jeff Landry has urged lawmakers to place greater emphasis on technical and vocational education. In his opening remarks for the 2026 regular legislative session, Landry said Louisiana spends more than $300 million a year on TOPS while only about $6 million goes to students pursuing vocational and technical education.
“Yet only 30% of the new jobs we are creating require a four-year degree — 60% do not,” Landry said. “That mismatch does not service our citizens and slows growth.”
Brass framed the bill around Louisiana’s effort to prepare workers for large-scale economic development projects, saying the state is bringing “over $90 billion worth of investment” across Louisiana.
