HB 616 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

MENTAL HEALTH: Provides for oversight of publicly funded homeless service providers

HB 616 requires homeless service providers receiving state or local public funds to submit specific documentation upon request from the legislative auditor, parish presidents, or municipal governing bodies. Providers must share program performance metrics (like housing outcomes), goal effectiveness, and clear, simple reports on how public funds are used. Failure to comply could lead to suspension or termination of public funding. This bill directly affects organizations managing homelessness services in Louisiana, aiming to ensure transparency and proper use of taxpayer money.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed Jun 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB616 Original → HB616 Act 819 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was enacted into law as Act No. 819, expanding the oversight of homeless service providers by adding the Legislative Auditor and parish presidents as entities that can request audits, alongside municipal governing bodies. The bill also broadened the funding sources subject to audit to include federal funds, not just state and local funds. Additionally, the penalty for non-compliance was strengthened to explicitly include the termination of federal funding, whereas the original draft only mentioned state and local funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include federal funding sources and added the Legislative Auditor and parish presidents as authorized entities to request audits.

ELIGIBILITY

Added the Legislative Auditor and parish presidents to the list of entities authorized to request audits from homeless service providers.

FISCAL

Expanded the definition of public funds subject to audit to explicitly include federal funds, in addition to state and local funds.

ENFORCEMENT

Strengthened the enforcement mechanism by changing the penalty for non-compliance from a potential suspension to an explicit suspension or termination of all public funding, including federal funds.

TECHNICAL

Added the names of Representatives Chassion and Martinez as co-sponsors to the bill.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

May 26, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 21, 2026

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (9-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors