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LouisianaHB 9232026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

LABOR: Provides relative to continuous technical corrections and revisions of provisions of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950

Sponsored By: Stephanie H. Berault (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Labor and Industrial Relations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 4 mixed.

Unemployment fraud brings higher repayment penalties

Claimants who knowingly lie, hide important facts, or otherwise obtain benefits through fraud must immediately repay affected benefits. They remain disqualified for the rest of the benefit year. Disqualification continues until benefits and penalties are repaid or the legal time limit for the repayment claim expires, whichever comes first. The fraud penalty rises to 50% of the total overpayment, replacing the greater of $20 or 25%. Exceptions under state overpayment law and laws governing money held by the state still apply.

Working claimants face larger benefit deductions

For eligible unemployment claimants who work, wages above 50% of their current weekly benefit amount reduce that week's payment. The law removes the old $50 cap on the wage deduction. The deduction can now exceed $50 when wages above that threshold exceed $50.

State sets services and family income limits

Louisiana Works leads the Community Services Block Grant program and must develop its state plan. Funds must support jobs, education, better use of income, housing, emergency help, and access to other programs. Louisiana Works sets household income limits in the state plan, but they cannot exceed guidelines set by Congress. Community action agencies must also provide services Louisiana Works sets through formal rules. The law sets no specific income limit, funding amount, or guaranteed household payment.

Job seekers get twice-yearly benefit limits

Louisiana sets maximum unemployment benefit weeks using the average of the three latest published, seasonally adjusted state unemployment rates. Claims filed January 1–June 30 use the average available before January 1. Claims filed July 1–December 31 use the average available before July 1. Louisiana Works must publish each limit by January 1 and July 1. The provided provisions do not list the number of weeks allowed at each unemployment rate.

Claimants and employers gain appeal exceptions

Legal holidays and agency closure days extend applicable unemployment appeal deadlines. Late appeals can count as timely when filed within the benefit year in which the decision was issued. The appealing party must provide reliable evidence that an administrative error or physical inability caused the delay. This exception also covers base-period employers contesting whether benefits are charged to them. It does not apply after that benefit year or when a court ruling came before the appeal.

Injured workers gain claim filing flexibility

Workers' compensation claims started by mailing, faxing, or electronically sending the proper form allow seven days to pay the filing fee. The prior fee-payment window was five days. When two doctors disagree about a worker's condition or ability to work, either party can request an additional medical opinion. The request goes to the assistant secretary for an order.

Community agencies gain smaller board options

Agencies serving parishes that meet the state's rural-area definition can request boards with 9–31 members instead of 15–31. Their annual Community Services Block Grant allocation must be less than $80,000.01, and requests must arrive 180 days ahead. At least one-third of members must be local low-income residents or their representatives. Public community action agencies still need advisory-only boards, but the former 15–31 member limit is removed. At least one-third of advisory members must be chosen democratically from the area to represent low-income people and families.

Apprentices gain broader programs and protections

Apprenticeship programs can register for occupations or groups of occupations, not just trades, while following state and federal standards. The apprenticeship director can investigate only when needed to check compliance and after proper notice. Parties to apprenticeship agreements must receive reasonable notice and a fair, impartial hearing. The apprenticeship council recommends registration, removal, agreement, and rule standards, subject to the secretary's approval. It must report its work and findings to lawmakers and the public through the secretary at least annually.

Employers gain broader injury reimbursement access

For injuries after December 31, 2010, Second Injury Fund reimbursement no longer requires the worker to come from Louisiana Works' registry. Employing, retaining, or rehiring a worker with a permanent partial disability can establish the employer's knowledge of that disability. The employer must have that knowledge before the later injury. This broadens reimbursement access for eligible employers and insurers, not the worker's benefit amount.

Employers face payroll reporting notice deadlines

Employers with missing, incorrect, or incomplete unemployment payroll reports can receive notices by mail or electronically. Notices go to the last mailing address or electronic contact on record. The 20-day period to file or correct a report starts on the notification date. After that opportunity, the administrator can estimate payroll and contribution rates using the best available evidence.

Community agencies face new oversight rules

Louisiana Works now designates community action agencies instead of parish governing authorities. Agencies also qualify through designation before the 1998 federal reauthorization or by the governor under federal grant and governance rules. Each agency must submit an annual budget approved by its governing body and signed by the secretary or designee. The budget covers grant programs, spending, administrative costs, contracts, employee classifications, salaries, and benefits. Agencies no longer have to provide technical help to other public or private agencies under this law.

Employer compensation discounts face renewal limits

The workers' compensation office must offer cost-control meetings when employers on its target list request them. It must tell eligible employers how to schedule a meeting. A designated company representative must attend for the employer to receive the experience-modifier reduction used in setting compensation costs. Otherwise eligible employers can requalify for that reduction only once every four years.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stephanie H. Berault

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 141 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote • 3/23/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 184.

    5/15/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/15/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/13/2026House

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

    5/12/2026House

  5. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/12/2026Senate

  6. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/11/2026Senate

  7. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/11/2026House

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

    4/28/2026Senate

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

    4/27/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    4/22/2026Senate

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

    4/13/2026Senate

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  13. Called from the calendar.

    4/7/2026House

  14. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/7/2026House

  15. Notice given.

    3/30/2026House

  16. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/07/2026.

    3/30/2026House

  17. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    3/26/2026House

  18. Scheduled for floor debate on 03/26/2026.

    3/25/2026House

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

    3/24/2026House

  20. Reported with amendments (9-0).

    3/23/2026House

  21. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

    3/9/2026House

  22. Prefiled.

    2/27/2026House

  23. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.

    2/27/2026House

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

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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