House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant revisions to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) in Louisiana, introducing a new award category called the "Excellence Award" for students achieving an ACT score of 31 or above. This new award will be available to first-time freshmen enrolling in the 2025-2026 academic year and will provide up to $12,000 for public colleges. The bill also revises the award amounts for the existing Opportunity, Performance, and Honors awards, establishing specific dollar amounts that will no longer be tied to the 2016-2017 tuition rates, but rather based on current tuition rates.

Furthermore, the legislation clarifies the definition of "tuition" for the program and outlines the applicability of these changes, ensuring that students who enroll before the 2025-2026 academic year will continue to receive awards under the previous structure. The bill also modifies stipends for students eligible for both TOPS and a National Guard tuition exemption, ensuring that those qualifying for the Excellence award receive a higher stipend. Overall, the bill aims to enhance financial support for high-achieving students while aligning the TOPS program with current educational and workforce priorities in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB77 Original: 17:5025, 17:5027(C), 17:5029(B)(3), 17:5041, 17:5043(1)