CHILDREN/FAMILY SERVICES DEPT: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
SB 52 requires Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report child custody changes to the Department of Health within 72 hours when a child is placed in or returned to a parent's custody. This triggers automatic adjustments to public assistance benefits (like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid) for the parent's household to reflect the child's new living situation. The bill ensures benefits accurately match where the child resides, preventing overpayment if a child is no longer living with a household receiving aid. It directly affects families receiving public assistance and the state agencies managing those benefits.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 18, 2026
Signed Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons
What changed between versions
Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2218, Cathey, Adopted
→
SB52 Act
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill enacts two new state statutes to formalize the duties of the state child ombudsman and establish a reporting system between the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Health. It requires the child welfare agency to report household changes to the health department within three business days after a hearing, triggering automatic adjustments to public assistance benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. Additionally, the bill mandates that the health department investigate and recover benefits if a parent fails to report that a child no longer lives in their household.
Scope change
The bill expands the legal authority and specific duties of the state child ombudsman and creates a new inter-agency reporting protocol between child welfare and health departments.
REQUIREMENT
Establishes a new duty for the state child ombudsman to conduct annual reviews of how the Departments of Children and Family Services and Health implement public assistance laws.
Mandates that the Department of Children and Family Services report identifying information to the Department of Health within three business days following a custody hearing.
ENFORCEMENT
Requires the Department of Health to immediately adjust SNAP, WIC, FITAP, and Medicaid benefits when a child's household status changes.
Directs the Department of Health to investigate and recover ineligible benefits if a parent fails to report that a child has left their household.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2026
How they voted
38–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Apr 15, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Yea
R
Republican28
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
21
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.
upper
May 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 84, nays 7. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 20, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
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.
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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