HB 1 is Louisiana's budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, allocating state funds for the ordinary operating expenses of all state government departments and offices. It specifies funding amounts for departments like the Executive Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of State, and others, covering day-to-day operations such as administrative costs, elections, and state programs. This bill does not create new policies or programs; it directs existing budget resources to maintain current government functions. It directly affects state agencies by providing their operational funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
HB 401 designates the elevated section of U.S. Highway 190 over the Bogue Falaya River in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, as the "Corporal Justin D. McLeese Memorial Bridge" to honor a military corporal. The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting this name, using local or private funds to cover costs up to $2,250 per sign. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no substantive policy changes, solely commemorating an individual through a public infrastructure designation.
HB 682 amends Louisiana law to allow veterans with an honorable military discharge (as defined in R.S. 13:5364) to serve as school resource officers alongside traditional peace officers. This directly affects Louisiana public schools seeking resource officers and eligible veterans who meet the military service criteria. The bill changes the legal definition of "school resource officer" to explicitly include qualified veterans, without creating new funding or mandatory requirements. It does not alter existing hiring processes but expands the pool of eligible candidates for these school safety roles. The bill is currently in the early stages of consideration after being prefaced and referred to the Education Committee.
This bill updates Louisiana's absentee voting rules to better accommodate members of the United States military stationed or deployed outside the country. It allows these service members to use federal postcard applications or electronic submissions and extends the validity of their applications until they are no longer deployed abroad. The law also requires registrars to provide written reasons if they reject a military member's application and mandates that service members submit a new application if their ballot is returned as undeliverable due to address changes. These changes aim to simplify the voting process for military personnel while maintaining oversight through specific requirements for application validity and registrar responsibilities.
HB 609 prohibits healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana from charging fees for medical records when veterans request them specifically to apply for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. It applies only once per veteran for the purpose of a disability claim, requiring providers to verify veteran status and the claim's purpose before waiving fees. The law exempts costs for preparing, reproducing, handling, or transmitting records under this specific circumstance. This directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and healthcare entities handling such record requests.
This bill designates specific sections of the Galatas Memorial Bridge in Louisiana by inserting the word "Memorial" into its official name. The change is made through three amendments that update the bridge's title in the state's highway records. Once passed, the legislation ensures the bridge is formally recognized with this specific designation in all relevant transportation documents.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's support for the continued operations of the National Guard at Camp Beauregard in Pineville and commends the Youth Challenge Program. The resolution recognizes Camp Beauregard's long history of supporting military training and emergency operations, noting its role as a primary training platform for the Louisiana National Guard. It also highlights the Youth Challenge Program, which provides an alternative educational opportunity for youth aged sixteen to eighteen, offering residential and post-residential phases focused on life skills, academics, and personal development. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement of legislative appreciation for these military and youth programs.
This bill is a Louisiana state resolution that asks the U.S. Congress to award the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to U.S. veterans who served in Honduras between 1981 and 1992. It does not directly change federal law or provide benefits but serves as a formal request to recognize military personnel who faced hostile conditions during that period. The resolution cites that U.S. troops were involved in training and combat support activities where they experienced danger and casualties. It is a commemorative measure intended to honor service rather than to alter policy or funding.
HB 175 creates a new instant lottery game in Louisiana, with all proceeds dedicated to veteran programs. It establishes the Veterans Game Board (comprising state agency leaders and veteran organization representatives) to manage the "Veterans Game Fund," which receives all revenue from this specific game. The board distributes one-time grants of up to $50,000 to eligible applicants like 501(c)(3) veteran service organizations, colleges, JROTC programs, or veterans courts that improve veterans' lives. Unused funds are returned to the state treasury annually. This bill directly affects Louisiana veterans by channeling new lottery revenue into targeted support programs.
HB 450 adds five points to the final test score of veterans applying for entry-level firefighter or police positions in Louisiana civil service. It applies to veterans who served 180+ days honorably during wartime and received an honorable discharge, as verified by the hiring board. The bill modifies existing law (sections 33:2491(E) and 33:2551(5)) to include this scoring adjustment for competitive employment lists. This change directly affects veterans seeking these public safety jobs by potentially improving their ranking in hiring processes.
