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HLS 26RS-917 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 335
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHANCE HENRY
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE: Provides relative to entities administering public benefits
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 46:233.4(A), (C)(introductory paragraph), and (D) and to enact
3 R.S. 46:233.4(C)(4) and (G), relative to verification of citizenship of applicants for
4 public benefits; to provide relative to entities administering public benefits; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 46:233.4(A), (C)(introductory paragraph), and (D) are hereby and
8 amended and reenacted and R.S. 46:233.4(C)(4) and (G) are hereby enacted to read as
9 follows:
10 §233.4. Verification of citizenship of applicants for public benefits
11 A. Except as prohibited by federal law, a state agency, or political
12 subdivision, or any entity administering federal, state, or local public benefits shall
13 verify that each applicant who applies for federal, state, or local public benefit
14 benefits is a person who has been recognized as a citizen of the United States by
15 birthright, naturalization, or any other method provided for under applicable federal
16 law or has satisfactory immigration status as a qualified alien as defined in 8 U.S.C.
17 1641(b).
18 * * *
19 C. Upon the termination of any reasonable opportunity period to verify
20 citizenship status, or upon receipt of a final verification that indicates that the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-917 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 335
1 applicant is not a United States citizen or lacks satisfactory immigration status and
2 has entered the United States without inspection or admission, or has remained
3 beyond the expiration of his authorized period of stay, the state agency or political
4 subdivision shall:
5 * * *
6 (4) Be subject to audit by the legislative auditor.
7 D. A state agency, or political subdivision, or any entity administering that
8 administers federal or state public benefits shall report at the end of each fiscal year
9 to the president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives, governor,
10 and David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library on the results of the citizenship
11 verification requirements of this Section. The report shall include but not be limited
12 to the number of individuals reported to United States Immigration and Customs
13 Enforcement and the number of individuals who had public assistance terminated in
14 accordance with this Section.
15 * * *
16 G. This Section does not apply to the distribution of food by nonprofit
17 organizations.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 335 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Chance Henry
Abstract: Provides relative to the requirements of entities administering public benefits.
Present law requires a state agency or political subdivision to verify the citizenship status
of an applicant who applies for federal, state, or local public benefits.
Present law requires a state agency or political subdivision to complete certain tasks upon
termination of the reasonable opportunity period to verify an applicant's citizenship status
or upon receipt of final verification that an applicant is not a U.S. citizen or lacks satisfactory
immigration status.
Present law requires such a state agency or political subdivision to provide a certain report
to the legislature at the end of each fiscal year.
Proposed law applies present law to any entity administering federal, state, or local public
benefits. Otherwise retains present law.
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HB NO. 335
Proposed law further provides that the agency, political subdivision, or entity administering
federal, state, or local public benefits is subject to audit by the legislative auditor after the
reasonable opportunity period for verification provided in present law.
Proposed law excludes nonprofit organizations that distribute food from the provisions of
present and proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 46:233.4(A), (C)(intro. para.), and (D); Adds R.S. 46:233.4(C)(4) and (G))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Exclude nonprofit organizations that distribute food from the requirement to
verify citizenship status and other provisions of present and proposed law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.