HB 689 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children (RE SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 689 requires Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report within 72 hours when a child enters or leaves foster care custody to the Louisiana Department of Health. This ensures the health department can immediately adjust public assistance benefits for parents if a child is no longer living in their household - such as SNAP (food stamps), WIC, or FITAP benefits - and update Medicaid coverage for the child. The bill directly affects parents receiving benefits and children in foster care by streamlining benefit adjustments based on custody changes. It also mandates fraud investigations if individuals fail to report such changes, ensuring benefits align with current household circumstances.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action May 5, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB689 Reengrossed HB689 Engrossed · 3 edits · Apr 29, 2026
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from 'Reengrossed' to 'Engrossed' and updated its digest to clarify that the Department of Children and Family Services must notify the Department of Health within three business days of a child being placed in custody, rather than waiting for a hearing. The digest also added a requirement to notify the Department of Health when a child under 18 is returned to their parent's home. These changes streamline the reporting timeline to ensure public assistance benefits are adjusted immediately upon custody changes.
REQUIREMENT

The digest clarifies that the Department of Children and Family Services must report a child's placement in custody within three business days of the placement, removing the previous requirement to wait until after a hearing.

The digest adds a new requirement for the Department of Children and Family Services to report to the Department of Health within three business days when a child under 18 is returned to their parent's custody.

TECHNICAL

The document title and header were updated from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENGROSSED' to reflect the final version of the bill.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2026

How they voted

8310
Passed · 12 other
Total votes 105
Apr 29, 2026
D Democratic33
16 Yea 10 Nay 7
48% Yea
R Republican72
67 Yea 5
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 10. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (8-4).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
BA
Beryl Amedée
RRepublican
LA
51