HCR 72 is a non-binding resolution urging the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies (specifically CMS) to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for direct care support workers (DCSWs), such as nursing assistants and home health aides. It directly addresses DCSWs who provide essential care to vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, chronically ill) but face low wages (averaging $9/hour in Louisiana in 2020), leading to staffing shortages. The resolution requests federal action to revise payment structures to improve worker retention and care quality, without creating new law or funding. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal effect but formally expresses Louisiana’s position to federal leaders.
This resolution (HR 345) is a memorial from Louisiana's House urging Congress to create a federal disaster insurance program covering flooding, tornadoes, fires, and other disasters. It directly affects homeowners and businesses in disaster-prone areas by requesting affordable insurance to cover rebuilding costs, modeled after the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The resolution emphasizes that such insurance would provide financial certainty for insurers and expedite recovery efforts after events like hurricanes or wildfires. It does not create new law but asks Congress to adopt this approach to complement existing disaster relief programs.
HR 297 is a resolution urging Louisiana's Department of Education and Department of Health to jointly study how to maintain school-based health center (SBHC) services during school governance changes, such as charter conversions or management transitions. It directly affects SBHCs, which provide critical health services to students on school campuses, by requiring the departments to develop specific recommendations to prevent service disruptions. Key mechanisms include creating processes for notifying SBHC providers early, preserving facility agreements, drafting protective contract language, and identifying regulatory barriers. The departments must publish these recommendations online by July 2026, ahead of the next legislative session. This resolution does not create new law but directs state agencies to address potential gaps in student health care access during school transitions.
HR 249 creates a task force to study how Louisiana can support small nuclear reactors as an energy source. The task force, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's engineering dean and the Public Service Commission chair, will research policies to promote this technology within the state. It does not enact new laws but will recommend specific actions to the legislature. This bill directly affects Louisiana's energy planning and future regulatory approaches. The task force will operate under the state's Natural Resources and Environment Committee.
This resolution (HR 314) urges the Louisiana Department of Health to provide information and resources about preventable diseases like measles and pertussis, and to improve access to immunizations in rural and low-income communities. It specifically targets barriers such as distance to providers, transportation gaps, and healthcare workforce shortages. The resolution requests the department collaborate on practical solutions like mobile clinics and community outreach to help these underserved areas. It does not create new law but formally asks for action to address existing access challenges.
HR 329 is a resolution (not a binding bill) passed by the Louisiana House urging the Attorney General and Louisiana Department of Insurance to investigate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for potential violations of existing laws. It specifically requests that these agencies examine whether PBMs are violating rules by owning or financially benefiting from pharmacies, which critics argue creates conflicts of interest that disadvantage independent pharmacies. The resolution also urges the Louisiana legislature to pass new laws prohibiting PBMs from owning or having financial interests in pharmacies. This would aim to prevent PBMs from steering patients to their own affiliated pharmacies and ensure fair reimbursement practices for all pharmacies. The resolution highlights concerns about rising drug costs, reduced competition, and threats to rural pharmacy access, referencing similar actions taken by other states.
HR 218 is a resolution urging the Louisiana Department of Health to develop a coordinated healthcare plan for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. It requests the creation of an Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) that would integrate Medicare and Medicaid benefits through partnerships with organizations like the ARC of Louisiana, providing comprehensive services including medical care, behavioral health, vocational support, and specialized care coordination. The resolution does not create new law but formally asks the Department to collaborate with stakeholders and seek federal waivers to implement this unified care model, aiming to reduce fragmented care and improve health outcomes. This request directly affects Louisiana residents with intellectual/developmental disabilities currently receiving services through Medicaid waivers or intermediate care facilities.
HCR 73 is a Louisiana legislative resolution urging Congress to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which negotiate drug prices and manage prescription coverage for insurers and government programs. It directly affects Louisiana residents - particularly seniors, low-income families, and people with chronic conditions - who face higher costs and limited access due to PBM practices. The resolution requests Congress take specific action, including requiring PBMs to disclose pricing details, pass savings to patients, prevent anti-competitive drug steering, and improve oversight of PBM operations. It does not create new law but seeks to influence federal policy to reduce drug costs and improve access for vulnerable populations.
This resolution (HR 313) is a formal request from the Louisiana House of Representatives to the U.S. Congress. It urges federal action to ensure artificial intelligence in healthcare supports, rather than replaces, physicians' decision-making. The resolution specifically asks Congress to establish nationwide standards for AI transparency, patient privacy, and ethical use in medical care, while preserving the doctor-patient relationship. It does not create new laws but calls for federal legislation to protect patient safety and professional medical judgment.
HR 214 is a Louisiana state House resolution (not a federal bill) urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary to ban imported seafood until testing and inspections improve. It cites a study finding banned substances like malachite green, oxytetracycline, and nitrofurantoin in imported shrimp, along with widespread failure to label sulfite presence. The resolution requests HHS to implement a temporary import ban to address gaps in current FDA seafood safety protocols. This is a non-binding request to a federal agency, not a law, and focuses on procedural changes to testing requirements. The Louisiana legislature plans to debate it further in June 2025.
This resolution urges Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to restore management authority over Cocodrie Lake to the Cocodrie Lake Game and Fish Commission. The Commission, established to balance property use and the fishing industry after a dam raised lake levels, seeks to control the Clearwater water gate structure to maintain optimal water levels for residents' farms, hunting, and boat launches. The resolution notes the Commission has lost input since 1981 when management powers were transferred to the state department. It does not create new law but formally requests the department return oversight to the local commission, which holds public meetings and collaborates with stakeholders. The resolution passed unanimously in the House on June 10, 2025.
This resolution approves Louisiana's Fiscal Year 2026 annual integrated coastal protection plan, developed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board. It directly affects coastal protection and restoration projects across Louisiana, including hurricane protection, land restoration, and environmental programs. The bill follows state law requiring legislative approval for the plan to become effective, which would take effect if not disapproved by July 1, 2025. This is a procedural step, not a policy change, to formalize an existing plan for coastal management.
