The budget approved by the legislature last week includes several of One Acadiana's priorities, including money for I-49, increased funding for early child care and education and replenishing of the unemployment trust fund.

The budget bill is now on the governor's desk for approval after it passed in the Louisiana House 88-7 and the Senate 38-0. There are several other companion bills addressing other state expenditures, such as the capital outlay bills, which has also been sent to the governor.

Before the legislative session began, One Acadiana — which serves as the chamber of commerce for Lafayette Parish and the economic development organization for the overall Acadiana region — outlined several of its priorities for the session.

One Acadiana: As the Louisiana legislature convenes, here's what Acadiana should watch for

“We’re grateful that our Legislature understands the importance of ensuring a thriving business ecosystem in our state while also making strategic investments to boost Louisiana’s competitiveness," said One Acadiana President and CEO Troy Wayman in a statement.

"I also cannot say enough about the strength of leadership in the Acadiana Delegation – our senators and representatives put in countless hours of work to deliver this budget and we thank them for their tireless efforts on behalf of Acadiana and the entire state.”

The Acadiana region has amassed significant power in the legislature in recent years. The president of the senate, Republican Page Cortez, is from Lafayette, as is Republican Rep. Stuart Bishop, who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Several chairs of other committees, including Senate Natural Resources, Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, Senate Health and Welfare, House Natural Resources and Environment, House Retirement, and House and Governmental Affairs, also call Acadiana home.

One of the top items on One Acadiana's wish list was replenishing the state's unemployment trust fund with federal COVID relief money to avoid having to increase taxes on businesses to fill the account. The trust fund was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused an unprecedented spike in unemployment claims across the state.

As part of the proposed budget, the state would funnel $500 million of the relief money into the account. The governor had proposed moving $550 million into the trust fund in his draft budget.

More: Louisiana budget includes teacher pay raises, new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state's unemployment trust fund paid out more than $11 billion — much of it federal money — to more than 700,000 Louisiana workers.

At the beginning of 2020, the trust fund had more than $1 billion in its coffers. If the fund is below $750 million, state law mandates a tax increase on businesses to refill the account. Using the one-time money from the federal government would allow Louisiana to avoid that tax increase.

The proposed budget also includes an estimated $155 million in payments through the Louisiana Quality Jobs Rebate Program, which One Acadiana said it sought to protect during the session.

Around $200 million is set aside for construction on Interstate 49 between Lafayette and New Orleans, and additional funding was allotted for other infrastructure projects, such as $300 million for a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, $200 million for a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and $150 million for preservation projects.

One Acadiana also pushed for increased investment in early childhood care and education. The legislature has proposed $1,500 pay increases for teachers and $750 pay raises for support staff. The legislature has also included $84 million for early childhood care and education initiatives.

MJ Foster Promise: Louisiana poised to provide free community college for adults in high demand careers

Last year, One Acadiana lauded the legislature for the creation of the MJ Foster Promise Program, which provides free community college education for adults in high demand careers. This year, One Acadiana sought the continued support of the program. The legislature provided $10.5 million to fund the program in its budget.

There's still several days left in the session, so it's possible that bills targeting more of One Acadiana's priorities are passed, and the legislature also has time to potentially override and line-item vetoes from the governor.

CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: I-49 construction, education funding included in state budget proposal