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LouisianaSB 522026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

CHILDREN/FAMILY SERVICES DEPT: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Sponsored By: Stewart Cathey Jr. (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Unreported child moves trigger benefit investigations

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana's health department must refer certain benefit cases to its fraud detection unit. Referral is required when the department finds someone failed to report a required household change and still receives benefits for a child who no longer lives there. The unit investigates and seeks recovery of benefits received improperly. The law sets no repayment amount or formula.

Family benefits change when children move

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services must report child and household identifying information to the health department. Reports are due within three business days after a hearing under Children's Code Article 624. The agency must also report when a child under 18 returns to a parent's custody. Upon receiving the report, the health department must immediately check whether either parent receives benefits that include the child. It must adjust SNAP, WIC, and Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program cash benefits to reflect the household change. Benefits can go up or down; the law sets no specific amount. Children enrolled in Medicaid must get a new managed-care insurance card at their new residence. If a benefit application lists a child already included in another benefit household, the department must check the child's residence and adjust benefits. The state child ombudsman must review both agencies' compliance with reporting deadlines and their procedures each year. Both agencies must provide related household-change and benefit-adjustment records upon the ombudsman's written request.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stewart Cathey Jr.

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Beryl Amedée

    Republican • House

  • Mike Johnson

    Republican • House

  • Rashid Armand Young

    Democratic • House

  • Sylvia Elaine Taylor

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 7

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 84, nays 7. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 84 • No: 7

House vote • 5/19/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re-reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 733.

    6/1/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/29/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/29/2026Senate

  5. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 84, nays 7. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  7. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

  8. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/25/2026House

  9. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/20/2026House

  11. Reported with amendments (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/19/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    4/21/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    4/20/2026House

  14. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re-reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    4/15/2026Senate

  15. Read by title; Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered reengrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/14/2026Senate

  16. Reported with amendments.

    4/13/2026Senate

  17. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

    3/30/2026Senate

  18. Reported favorably.

    3/25/2026Senate

  19. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    3/9/2026Senate

  20. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    2/18/2026Senate

Bill Text

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