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LouisianaHB 3982026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

PUBLIC OFFLS/EMPS: Prohibits payment for meals and incidental expenses for state public officials and employees from exceeding amounts for such expenses established by the U.S. General Services Administration

Sponsored By: Jerome Zeringue (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate and Governmental AffairsHouse and Governmental Affairs

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher emergency meal reimbursements for state workers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Louisiana allows higher meal and incidental-expense reimbursements for officials and employees directly responding to governor-declared emergencies. Payments can reach 175% of the applicable federal daily limit, but the higher payment is not guaranteed. Expenses must occur in the designated emergency area or an area where state personnel are deployed to respond. The higher limit runs from the declaration date until it ends or 30 days after it starts, whichever comes first. It can continue under a renewed declaration. Budget units must document the expenses' direct emergency connection and submit records to the administration commissioner within 60 days after termination.

Meal reimbursement caps for Louisiana state workers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Louisiana limits meal and incidental-expense reimbursements for state officials and employees across all three branches. Payments generally cannot exceed the U.S. General Services Administration's maximum daily rates. The administration commissioner can approve higher executive-branch payments in writing under a policy and procedure memo. Judicial and legislative agencies can use equivalent exceptions for agency-hosted conferences and meals during working meetings. The commissioner must set meal prices with minimums of $2.75 for breakfast, $3.25 for lunch, and $5.00 for dinner. With the governor's approval, the commissioner must also set rules for transportation expenses and state aircraft and vehicles. Expenses incurred before July 1, 2026, use the paying agency's rate when incurred, even if submitted later.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jerome Zeringue

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 188 • No: 46

House vote • 5/29/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 89, nays 5, Senate amendments concurred in.

Yes: 89 • No: 5

Senate vote • 5/26/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 10 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 27 • No: 10

House vote • 4/29/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 63, nays 31. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 63 • No: 31

House vote • 4/23/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 799.

    6/8/2026House

  2. Effective date: 07/01/2026.

    6/8/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/1/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/1/2026House

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/31/2026House

  6. Read by title, roll called, yeas 89, nays 5, Senate amendments concurred in.

    5/29/2026House

  7. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.

    5/27/2026House

  8. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 10 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/26/2026Senate

  9. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/26/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/25/2026Senate

  11. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/21/2026Senate

  12. Reported favorably.

    5/20/2026Senate

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

    5/5/2026Senate

  14. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    5/4/2026Senate

  15. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 63, nays 31. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/29/2026House

  16. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/27/2026House

  17. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.

    4/27/2026House

  18. Reported with amendments (9-0).

    4/23/2026House

  19. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

    3/9/2026House

  20. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

    2/27/2026House

  21. Prefiled.

    2/25/2026House

  22. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

    2/25/2026House

Bill Text

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