The bill will stress a major funding stream schools rely on, leading to ripple effects that make it harder for schools to offer free meals.

President Trump's signature tax and spending legislation, the "big beautiful bill," is now law, and that means cuts to Medicaid spending. The big picture: The law sets in motion almost $1 trillion in slashes to Medicaid and other health policy changes,

Of the $16.4 billion annual Medicaid costs for Louisiana, state taxpayers kick in about $3 billion, according to the Legislature. The new law would halt some of the tools Louisiana uses to pay that $3 billion, requiring the state to pour in extra money or let some people go without health insurance.