Louisiana Internship Bill Heads to Governor as Session Tensions Rise

Trey Godfrey from the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership joined Talk Louisiana to discuss the changing tone at the State Capitol and several workforce development bills moving through the Legislature. He explained how recent redistricting fights and congressional map debates shifted the atmosphere inside the session and slowed movement on other legislation. Godfrey also highlighted Senate Bill 376, known as the “Learn and Earn Act,” which has been sent to Gov. Jeff Landry for approval. The bill would allow businesses to partner with schools to create paid, on-campus internships for high school students. The goal is to give students real-world job experience while removing barriers like transportation and limited internship access in rural areas. The conversation also focused on Louisiana scholarship programs like TOPS and MJ Foster Promise. Godfrey said new studies will track whether students stay in Louisiana after graduation and whether taxpayers are seeing a return on investment from those programs.