HB 335: PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Provides relative to entities administering public benefits - Louisiana

HB335 Original → HB335 Act 795 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Louisiana's public assistance laws to require agencies to verify that applicants are U.S. citizens or have specific immigration status. It expands reporting requirements to include data on individuals reported to immigration authorities and those whose benefits were terminated, while adding exemptions for domestic violence shelters, food programs, and healthcare providers.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of entities required to verify citizenship from just state agencies to include any entity administering public benefits, and adds specific exemptions for domestic abuse services, food distribution, and Medicaid healthcare providers.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for all public benefit entities to verify that applicants are U.S. citizens or have satisfactory immigration status as defined by federal law.

Mandated that agencies report annual results of citizenship verification to the Senate, House, Governor, and Legislative Research Library, including counts of individuals reported to ICE and those whose benefits were terminated.

Added a good faith provision protecting entities from liability when taking actions to protect life or safety during emergencies or disasters.

ENFORCEMENT

Established that these records are subject to audit by the legislative auditor, though the records required for the audit are strictly limited to those maintained for this specific purpose.

SCOPE

Created exemptions for organizations providing domestic abuse, sexual assault, and homelessness services, as well as food distribution programs and Medicaid healthcare providers.

DEFINITION

Explicitly defined 'qualified alien' as someone with satisfactory immigration status under 8 U.S.C. 1641(b).

HB335 Enrolled → HB335 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from its final enrolled version to its original draft version, reverting several substantive policy changes. The original version expanded the law's scope to include all entities administering public benefits, whereas the enrolled version limited this requirement to only state agencies and political subdivisions. Additionally, the original version included detailed exemptions for domestic abuse services, disaster response, and healthcare providers, which were removed in the final enrolled bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed in the final version; the original draft applied to all entities administering public benefits, while the final version applies only to state agencies and political subdivisions.

SCOPE

The requirement to verify citizenship was restricted from all entities administering public benefits to only state agencies and political subdivisions.

ELIGIBILITY

Exemptions for domestic abuse shelters, sexual assault services, disaster response, and healthcare providers were removed, meaning these entities must now verify citizenship.

REQUIREMENT

Specific instructions requiring entities to maintain records of whether services were continued or discontinued based on citizenship verification were removed.

Mandates requiring entities to request proof of citizenship and maintain specific records regarding immigration status were removed.

HB335 Engrossed → HB335 Enrolled · 6 edits · May 31, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the law governing how public benefits agencies verify citizenship. It expands the requirement to include all entities administering federal, state, or local benefits and adds specific exemptions for food distribution programs, domestic abuse shelters, and healthcare providers. It also strengthens audit requirements and clarifies that agencies must not penalize individuals solely for failing to provide proof of status if federal authorities later request that information.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope from specific state agencies to any entity administering public benefits, while simultaneously carving out significant exemptions for food programs, domestic violence services, disaster response, and healthcare.

SCOPE

Expanded the verification requirement to apply to any entity administering federal, state, or local public benefits, not just state agencies.

EXEMPTIONS

Added explicit exemptions for food distribution by nonprofits, farmers' markets, and domestic abuse/sexual assault/shelter services.

Added an exemption for healthcare providers serving Medicaid recipients.

REQUIREMENT

Updated reporting requirements to include specific data on individuals reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and those whose assistance was terminated.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that entities must provide information to federal authorities if requested, even if the individual previously failed to provide proof of citizenship.

Added a 'good faith' provision protecting entities from liability when acting to protect life or safety during emergencies.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Provides relative to entities administering public benefits

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