AGRICULTURE/GRAIN: Provides relative to the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
HB 344 adjusts Louisiana's Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund rules to manage its financial balance. It requires the commission to stop collecting assessments from grain and cotton producers when the fund balance reaches $12.25 million, and to restart collections if the balance falls below $10.22 million. Any assessments collected after hitting $12.25 million but before suspension remain in the fund. The bill directly affects farmers who pay these assessments, ensuring the fund maintains sufficient reserves without ongoing fees during high balances.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2026
Signed May 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB344 Original
→
HB344 Act
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund by raising the financial thresholds that trigger the suspension and resumption of assessment collections. Previously, collections paused when the fund reached $12 million and resumed at $10 million; the new law increases these limits to $25 million and $22 million, respectively, allowing the fund to grow larger before restricting future contributions. Additionally, the bill clarifies that any money collected while the fund balance is between $12 million and $25 million must remain in the fund rather than being transferred to the state's Agricultural Finance Authority.
REQUIREMENT
Increased the fund balance threshold for suspending assessment collections from $12 million to $25 million.
Increased the fund balance threshold for resuming assessment collections from $10 million to $22 million.
FISCAL
Confirmed that assessments collected between the old and new suspension thresholds ($12M to $25M) must stay in the fund rather than being transferred to the Agricultural Finance Authority.
TECHNICAL
Changed the document header from 'ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED' and updated the act number to reflect final passage.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 27, 2026 · House Apr 1, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Apr 27, 2026
D
Democratic12
100% Yea
R
Republican28
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Apr 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (13-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kim Coates
RRepublican
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