SB 461 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

GROUP BENEFITS PROGRAM: Provides relative to the office of group benefits. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)

SB 461 expands eligibility for group benefits programs in Louisiana to include active employees of entities created by the Supreme Court to regulate the legal profession. This change specifically covers organizations like the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and the Committee on Bar Admissions, provided the court approves their participation and they fund the employer portion of premiums using their own generated revenue. The bill amends existing state law to formally define these employees as eligible participants in life, health, and other sponsored benefit plans. It does not alter the benefits themselves but clarifies who can access them under the current Office of Group Benefits framework.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 31, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB461 Original → SB461 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits by expanding eligibility to include active employees of entities created by the state Supreme Court, provided the court approves their participation. It also clarifies that these new entities must fund their share of premiums using only their own generated funds. The document was finalized as an enrolled act with signatures from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include active employees of entities created by the Louisiana Supreme Court, whereas the original draft did not explicitly include this group.

ELIGIBILITY

Active employees of entities created by the Louisiana Supreme Court are now eligible for the group benefits program, subject to court approval.

FISCAL

A requirement was added that the new eligible entities must pay the employer share of premiums solely from monies generated by the entity.

TECHNICAL

The document status was updated from 'ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED ACT No. 390' and included signatures from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor, indicating final approval.

SB461 Enrolled → SB461 Original · 13 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates the list of eligible employees for the Office of Group Benefits program. It adds new categories of eligible individuals, including certain court-appointed officials, specific elected officials with long tenure, and members of the National Guard under strict conditions. The changes expand the program's reach to include these new groups while retaining existing eligibility rules.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Office of Group Benefits program by adding specific new categories of eligible employees and officials who were previously not included.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for appointed officials of the West Jefferson Levee District who were appointed for more than eight years before January 1, 2007.

Added eligibility for state employees and elected officials who completed at least 10 years of continuous full-time employment and were terminated without cause or resigned.

Added eligibility for active employees of entities created by rule or order of the Louisiana Supreme Court, subject to court approval and specific funding requirements.

Added eligibility for active or retired members of the Louisiana National Guard, provided they pay 100% of premiums and certify no other coverage is available.

Added eligibility for the district attorney or active employees of the New Orleans District Attorney's office.

Added eligibility for active or retired employees of the La. Naval War Memorial Commission.

Added eligibility for employees of the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association.

Added eligibility for parish judges paid in part or full by the state.

Added eligibility for active or retired district supervisors or employees of soil and water conservation districts.

Clarified eligibility for school board employees to require the board to elect to pay at least half of employee premiums.

Added eligibility for retirees as defined by the Office of Group Benefits.

Added eligibility for classified or unclassified civil services employees.

TIMELINE

Established an effective date of August 1, 2026, for the proposed changes.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2026 · House May 18, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

Apr 29, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 12, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (17-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

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

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors