Senate Bill No. 304, introduced by Senator Edmonds, aims to reform the accreditation process for public colleges and universities in Louisiana. The bill enacts new provisions under R.S. 17:3125.1 and Chapter 25-B of Title 17, granting the Board of Regents the authority to set policies regarding the accreditation of public postsecondary institutions. It allows these institutions to seek new accreditors for both the institution as a whole and for specialized programs, provided that the selection process complies with the established policies. The Board of Regents will coordinate with management boards to ensure that institutions maintain continuous accreditation from recognized accreditors.

Additionally, the bill prohibits the selection of any accreditor that conditions accreditation on violations of the Louisiana Constitution or state law. It also mandates that institutions must apply for approval from their management boards when seeking a new accreditor and requires transparency by having institutions update their accreditation status on their websites. The bill replaces references to the "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges" with "an accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education" in existing laws. The proposed changes are set to take effect upon the governor's signature or after the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.