Healthcare

passed · Louisiana · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 324: HEALTH: Requests certain entities to evaluate the use of certain terms related to miscarriage

This Louisiana House resolution asks various medical and coding organizations to review and update terms used to describe miscarriage and pregnancy loss. The bill specifically urges groups like the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association to replace older phrases such as "spontaneous abortion" with language that is more compassionate and less likely to cause confusion or emotional distress. By recommending terms like "early pregnancy loss" or "miscarriage," the resolution aims to ensure that clinical records and billing documents reflect patient preferences while maintaining medical accuracy. This request is based on findings that current terminology can stigmatize women and negatively impact their mental health during a traumatic time.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes compassionate language in healthcare to reduce patient distress and improve communication.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 384: HEALTH: Requests the Louisiana State University School of Health Sciences to conduct certain studies to identify associations between environmental risk factors and maternal health outcomes

This resolution asks the Louisiana State University School of Health Sciences to study how environmental risks affect maternal health. The study must identify connections between chemical exposures and health issues like respiratory or reproductive problems and deliver a written report by July 1, 2027. Findings will be shared with state health committees and the legislative research library to help guide future public health policies. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal request for research.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill commissions a study to identify environmental health risks for maternal health, aiming to inform and improve future public health policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 316: AGRICULTURE: Urges and requests the LSU AgCenter, in coordination with the Southern Ag Center and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, to study and develop strategies to strengthen small and mid-scale agricultural production and to increase opportunities for young adults to participate in and pursue careers in agriculture

This resolution asks the LSU AgCenter to work with other state agencies to study how to help small and mid-sized farms in Louisiana succeed. The study will focus on creating better training, improving access to processing and storage facilities, and developing programs to encourage young people to enter the agricultural workforce. Specific areas of interest include marketing skills, mental health support for farmers, and expanding opportunities for agritourism and direct-to-consumer sales. The agencies involved must submit a report with their findings and policy recommendations to the House by February 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes mental health support for farmers as a specific area of interest, indicating a supportive stance toward healthcare services.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill aims to increase youth participation in agriculture and improve workforce training, directly supporting employment opportunities and labor development.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 501: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Requires public postsecondary education institutions to post information on campuses promoting STI prevention, screening, and treatment to be known as the Campus Awareness Initiative. (gov sig) (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG EX)

SB 501, known as the Campus Awareness Initiative, requires public colleges and universities in Louisiana to display specific signs in student health centers. These signs, which must feature the message "Worried about STIs? Just Check!" along with a link to state resources, aim to promote awareness of sexually transmitted infection prevention, screening, and treatment. The Louisiana Department of Health or a designated nonprofit organization is responsible for designing and producing these durable signs, though the department may use donated funds or accept donated signs to cover costs. This bill directly affects public postsecondary institutions and their health services by mandating the placement of these informational displays in patient admission, waiting, and consultation areas.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates public universities to display signs promoting STI prevention, screening, and treatment, directly improving patient access to healthcare information and services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1176: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Requires that Medicare Advantage plans provide insurance coverage for integrative care services (EN SEE FISC NOTE See Note)

This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to cover integrative care services, directly affecting millions of Americans enrolled in these private insurance options. The legislation mandates that these plans include coverage for such services starting on January 1, 2027, with a later date adjustment to January 1, 2028, as specified in the text amendments. By establishing this new coverage requirement, the bill aims to expand the range of treatments available to Medicare beneficiaries under their existing private plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates Medicare Advantage plans to cover integrative care services, expanding access and benefits for beneficiaries.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 426: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides relative to the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority. (2/3CA7s2.1(A)) (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)

This bill updates Louisiana laws governing the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority to establish a formal regulatory framework for addiction counseling professionals. It creates new categories of credentials including peer support specialists and peer support specialist associates, defining their roles, training requirements, and supervision needs. The legislation also introduces criminal background checks, renewal procedures, and fee structures for the board, while expanding definitions to include gambling addiction and co-occurring disorders. These changes aim to standardize how addiction counseling services are licensed and supervised in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes regulatory framework for addiction counseling professionals, creates new credential categories, and expands definitions to improve mental health service access and quality.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 218: SCHOOLS: Requires the inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurity on a residency questionnaire administered to public school students (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 218 requires Louisiana public schools to screen all students in grades K-12 for food insecurity at enrollment and once per semester, plus during school health clinic visits. The bill mandates using a free, age-appropriate screening tool selected by the state Department of Education and Health, with results kept confidential except for parents/guardians or authorized school staff. Schools must refer identified students to resources like meal programs, food pantries, and public assistance. Charter schools are exempt from this requirement under Section 3996(B)(24), but the bill applies directly to public school students and their families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires food insecurity screenings and referrals to meal programs, addressing a key barrier to student learning and educational access in K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires school food insecurity screenings and referrals to meal programs/public assistance, addressing a social determinant of health and supporting public health initiatives as defined in the topic.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 155: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for coverage of certain dental care when connected with cancer treatment. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 155 requires Louisiana health insurers to cover medically necessary dental procedures directly related to cancer treatment, such as infection prevention/treatment or addressing tooth decay caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or biological therapy. It specifically covers procedures within 30 days before treatment, during treatment, or as a result of treatment (including obturators for oral cavity defects), but excludes routine preventive care like cleanings. The law applies to all new health insurance plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, with existing plans required to comply by January 1, 2028. It does not apply to short-term policies, limited-benefit plans, or excepted benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to cover cancer-treatment-related dental procedures, expanding health insurance coverage for medically necessary care during cancer treatment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 295: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for insurance coverage of services for persons with acquired brain injuries. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 295 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover medically necessary treatments for people with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke or trauma survivors. It prohibits lifetime or unreasonable annual limits on treatment days/sessions, ensures ABI care isn’t subject to higher deductibles/copays than other benefits, and bans coverage denials based solely on treatment location (e.g., home vs. facility) if clinically appropriate. The bill defines covered services to include cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, and community reintegration support, and mandates peer-reviewed appeals for denied claims. The bill is pending in the Insurance Committee after being prefilled in February 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for ABI treatments, prohibits coverage limits/denials, ensures equal benefits - directly expands access and protects patient rights in healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 430: LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS: Enacts the MJ 911 Act to extend health insurance coverage for families of law enforcement officers and firemen employed by the City of Lafayette who are killed in the line of duty (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)

HB 430, known as the "MJ 911 Act," mandates that Lafayette Parish employers provide lifelong health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children (including step- or adopted children) of law enforcement officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. Specifically, it requires employers to pay for health insurance for surviving spouses for life and for children until age 18 (or until 23 if enrolled in school or disabled). The law applies retroactively to January 1, 2017, for all qualifying families and ensures coverage matches what active members receive. It does not require families to accept the coverage, allowing them to decline it if desired.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates lifelong health insurance coverage for surviving families of deceased officers, expanding access to healthcare benefits for specific beneficiaries.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare