This resolution asks the Louisiana State University School of Health Sciences to study how environmental risks affect maternal health. The study must identify connections between chemical exposures and health issues like respiratory or reproductive problems and deliver a written report by July 1, 2027. Findings will be shared with state health committees and the legislative research library to help guide future public health policies. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal request for research.
This resolution asks the LSU AgCenter to work with other state agencies to study how to help small and mid-sized farms in Louisiana succeed. The study will focus on creating better training, improving access to processing and storage facilities, and developing programs to encourage young people to enter the agricultural workforce. Specific areas of interest include marketing skills, mental health support for farmers, and expanding opportunities for agritourism and direct-to-consumer sales. The agencies involved must submit a report with their findings and policy recommendations to the House by February 1, 2027.
SB 501, known as the Campus Awareness Initiative, requires public colleges and universities in Louisiana to display specific signs in student health centers. These signs, which must feature the message "Worried about STIs? Just Check!" along with a link to state resources, aim to promote awareness of sexually transmitted infection prevention, screening, and treatment. The Louisiana Department of Health or a designated nonprofit organization is responsible for designing and producing these durable signs, though the department may use donated funds or accept donated signs to cover costs. This bill directly affects public postsecondary institutions and their health services by mandating the placement of these informational displays in patient admission, waiting, and consultation areas.
This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to cover integrative care services, directly affecting millions of Americans enrolled in these private insurance options. The legislation mandates that these plans include coverage for such services starting on January 1, 2027, with a later date adjustment to January 1, 2028, as specified in the text amendments. By establishing this new coverage requirement, the bill aims to expand the range of treatments available to Medicare beneficiaries under their existing private plans.
This bill updates Louisiana laws governing the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority to establish a formal regulatory framework for addiction counseling professionals. It creates new categories of credentials including peer support specialists and peer support specialist associates, defining their roles, training requirements, and supervision needs. The legislation also introduces criminal background checks, renewal procedures, and fee structures for the board, while expanding definitions to include gambling addiction and co-occurring disorders. These changes aim to standardize how addiction counseling services are licensed and supervised in the state.
This bill prohibits health insurance companies and Medicaid managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization for certain generic medications when prescribed by board-certified physicians. The law defines a board-certified physician as a doctor certified by a recognized medical specialty board and a generic medication as a drug chemically equivalent to a brand-name drug approved by the FDA. Under this legislation, insurers must cover these specific generic prescriptions without needing additional approval from the insurance company before dispensing or reimbursing them. The restrictions apply to new insurance policies and contracts starting January 1, 2027, with existing plans required to comply by January 1, 2028.
SB 295 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover medically necessary treatments for people with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke or trauma survivors. It prohibits lifetime or unreasonable annual limits on treatment days/sessions, ensures ABI care isn’t subject to higher deductibles/copays than other benefits, and bans coverage denials based solely on treatment location (e.g., home vs. facility) if clinically appropriate. The bill defines covered services to include cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, and community reintegration support, and mandates peer-reviewed appeals for denied claims. The bill is pending in the Insurance Committee after being prefilled in February 2026.
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.
HB 833 creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force in Louisiana to study and recommend improvements to services for sexual assault survivors. The task force, composed of members from the attorney general's office, sheriffs' association, state legislators, and district attorneys, will evaluate needs like counseling, school/work accommodations, and mandatory training for schools/hospitals/law enforcement. It must submit a report with specific recommendations to the governor and legislature by February 1, 2027, after which the task force will terminate. This bill does not change existing laws but sets up a process to inform future legislation.
HB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.
