Lawmakers are one step closer to wrapping up this year’s session after the House passed the bulk of a state budget with full funding for teacher stipends but less than expected for early childhood education.
The approved budget includes enough money to give all teachers a $2,000 stipend again this year. Lawmakers also restored some — but not all — of a $24 million cut to early childhood education that was made earlier in the session.
Lawmakers have not yet passed a judicial budget. It’s heading to a conference committee for lawmakers to reach a compromise on some provisions. The rest of the budget heads to Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk, where he can use his line-item veto power to get rid of some items if he wants.
The session must end no later than 6 p.m. today.