SB 415 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Creates the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

This bill creates the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, to provide restricted-use food purchase cards through qualified nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits must be IRS 501(c)(3) entities that operate food assistance programs and agree to follow reporting requirements, with the program initially launched as a pilot in one region before expanding statewide. The program allows individuals to fund cards directly or for others, prohibits cash withdrawals, and operates separately from SNAP while matching its eligible food items. The department will generate annual transaction reports but will not audit charitable spending or access donor or recipient records, with a final evaluation report due by March 1, 2028.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 23, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB415 Original → SB415 Act 508 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the number of sponsors and formally enroll the legislation as Act No. 508. The core policy regarding the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program remains substantively unchanged, retaining the requirement that nonprofit organizations fund the cards and prohibiting cash withdrawals.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; no new entities are added or existing ones removed from the program's reach.

TECHNICAL

Added co-sponsors to the bill, expanding the list of representatives and senators supporting the measure.

Changed the bill status from 'ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED ACT No. 508', indicating it has been signed into law.

Updated the statute citation from R.S. 46:290 to R.S. 46:291 to reflect the new section number in the Revised Statutes.

Added signatures from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor, finalizing the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 21, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

Apr 21, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 19 co-sponsors