Louisiana Governor Proposes Teacher Pay Raises and Income Tax Elimination

Landry pushes constitutional amendment to fund permanent teacher pay increases and discusses plans to eventually phase out state income tax.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry advocated for a constitutional amendment to create permanent teacher pay raises and discussed plans to eventually eliminate the state's income tax in his opening address to the state legislature. Landry is pushing for Proposed Amendment 3, which would pay down debt in the Teachers' Retirement System and enable $2,250 raises for teachers and $1,125 for support staff. He also supports a bill to phase out the state income tax, which generates around $4 billion annually, though the specifics of how to replace that revenue are unclear.

Why it matters

Teacher pay and education funding are perennial issues in Louisiana, and Landry's proposals aim to address long-standing concerns about teacher retention and compensation. The potential elimination of the state income tax would be a major tax policy shift, though the impact on state revenues and services remains to be seen.

The details

Landry advocated for the passage of Proposed Amendment 3, which would create a permanent teacher pay raise by paying down debt in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. The proposed increases are $2,250 for teachers and $1,125 for support staff. He also discussed a bill to eventually eliminate the state income tax, which generates about $4 billion annually, though the specifics of how to replace that revenue are unclear. Landry's agenda also touched on education policy, corrections funding, and expanding the LA Gator school choice program.

  • Landry made these proposals in his opening address to the Louisiana Legislature on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • Proposed Amendment 3 is slated to appear on the May 2026 ballot.

The players

Gov. Jeff Landry

The Republican governor of Louisiana who is advocating for the teacher pay raise amendment and the eventual elimination of the state income tax.

Rep. Danny McCormick

A Republican state representative who pre-filed a bill to eliminate Louisiana's state income tax.

Senate President Cameron Henry

The Republican state senator who said larger tax cuts would need to be planned over a longer budget cycle, but that residents could expect a 0.5% decrease in state income tax during next year's legislative session.

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What they’re saying

“With a 'yes' vote, we can strengthen the retirement system, improve their take-home pay, and guess what? We can do it without raising taxes.”

— Gov. Jeff Landry (neworleanscitybusiness.com)

“This is a conversation piece that hopefully we can figure out where to make cuts in the government so we can get the people their money back.”

— Rep. Danny McCormick (LSU Manship School News Service)

“If the Legislature 'can be disciplined' this session, residents could anticipate a 0.5% decrease in state income tax during next year's session.”

— Senate President Cameron Henry (Baton Rouge Press Club)

What’s next

The proposed constitutional amendment for teacher pay raises will appear on the May 2026 ballot, and the legislature will continue to debate the potential elimination of the state income tax.

The takeaway

Governor Landry's proposals to raise teacher pay and eventually phase out the state income tax reflect ongoing debates in Louisiana over education funding, tax policy, and the role of government. The success of these initiatives will depend on legislative support and voter approval, with potential implications for the state's budget, public services, and economic competitiveness.