HB 430 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB430 Original HB430 Act 643 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the law regarding health insurance for families of fallen first responders in Lafayette Parish. It expands coverage to include children under 26 or with disabilities, extends benefits until a surviving spouse reaches Medicare eligibility, and adds a new section for law enforcement officers previously covered only under fireman provisions.
Scope change
The bill changes the jurisdiction from the entire Lafayette Parish to specifically the City of Lafayette, and adds a new category of covered personnel (law enforcement officers) alongside firemen.
SCOPE

Coverage jurisdiction changed from 'Lafayette Parish' to 'City of Lafayette'.

Added a new section (1665.6) providing identical health insurance benefits for surviving spouses and children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new subsection extending health insurance to children of fallen first responders until age 26 or if they have a physical or mental disability.

Changed the duration of coverage for surviving spouses from 'remainder of life' to 'until the surviving spouse reaches Medicare eligibility'.

Floor votes · Senate May 25, 2026 · House Apr 13, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
May 25, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
28 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 19, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (18-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
lower
1 primary · 17 co-sponsors

Sponsors