HB 218 — SCHOOLS: Requires the inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurity on a residency questionnaire administered to public school students (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HLSENROLLED 26RS-647 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

218 BY REPRESENTATIVES LAFLEUR, BOYD, BRASS, CARPENTER, CARVER, CHASSION, ECHOLS, EDMONSTON, FISHER, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, GREEN, DANA HENRY, JACKSON, MIKE JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX, TERRY LANDRY, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ, MURRAY, TAYLOR, WALTERS, AND TAYLORYOUNG SCHOOLS:AN ACT ToenactR.S.17:2113and3996(B)(24),relativetostudentquestionnaires;toprovideforthe inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurityon a residencyquestionnaire;

Requirestheinclusionofquestionspertainingtofoodinsecurityonaresidency questionnaire administered to public school students AN ACT ToenactR.S.17:2113and3996(B)(24),relativetostudentquestionnaires;toprovideforthe inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurityon a residencyquestionnaire;

(2) Each public school shall annually distribute the questionnaire to each student in grades kindergarten through twelve upon enrollment, change of address, and reasonable suspicion of food insecurity by school personnel or school-based health clinics.

(3)B.(1) EachIf schoolthe thatquestionnaire doesresponses notindicate providethat a freestudent schoolis lunchat programrisk orfor participatefood ininsecurity, the federalschool Communityshall Eligibilityprovide Provisionthe universalparents lunchor programlegal guardian information on Page 1 of 43 CODING:

HLS 26RS-647 REENGROSSED HB NO.

218 shallENROLLED alsofederal, providestate, thecommunity, questionnaireand each school yearresources toand eachservices studentthat whomay isbe classifiedavailable, asincluding economicallybut disadvantagednot aslimited definedto bypublic theassistance Stateapplications, Boardsocial ofservices, Elementarycommunity food banks and Secondaryfood Educationpantries, forand purposesschool ofmeal theprograms minimumand foundationfood program.pantries.

B.(1) If the questionnaire responses indicate that a student is at risk for food insecurity, the school shall provide the parents or legal guardian information on federal, state, community, and school resources and services that may be available, including but not limited to public assistance applications, social services, community food banks and food pantries, and school meal programs and food pantries.

Noschoolboardoremployeethereofshallbeliablefordamagesinacivil actionforinjury,actionforinjury,death,orloss death,orloss to personorpropertythatallegedlyarisesfromanact oromissionor omission associatedwith the provisions ofofthis thisSectionunlesstheact Sectionor unlessomission the actoromission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

requirements * * * PageB. 2 of 4 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-647 REENGROSSED HB NO.

218 B.

* * * (24)Page Food2 insecurityof questions3 onCODING: residency questionnaire, R.S.

17:2113.

* * * DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart 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 218 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session LaFleur Abstract:

Requires the inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurity on a residency questionnaire administered to public school students.

Proposed law:

(1) Requires the state Dept.

of Education (DOE), in consultation with the La.

Dept.

of Health (LDH), to include questions pertaining to food insecurity on the residency questionnaire administered for purposes of federal law.

(2) Requireseachpublic school to distribute the questionnaire to each student in grades K-12 upon enrollment, change of address, and reasonable suspicion of food insecurity by school personnel or school-based health clinics.

(3) Requireseachschoolthatdoesnotprovideafreeschoollunchprogramorparticipate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision universal lunch program to also provide the questionnaire each school year to each student who is classified as economically disadvantaged as defined by the State Bd.

of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(4) Providesthatif the responses indicate thatastudent isatriskforfoodinsecurity,the school shall provide the parents or legal guardian information on federal, state, community, and school resources and services that maybe available.

(5) Requires the information onfederal,state,andcommunityresourcesto be compiled byLDH, which shall provide the information to each school at no cost to the school or its school board.

(6) Requires that responses remain confidential except for disclosure to a student's parent or legal guardian or to the student if he has reached the age of majority or is Page 3 of 4 CODING:

HLS 26RS-647 REENGROSSED HB NO.

218 anENROLLED emancipated(24) minorFood andinsecurity toquestions authorizedon schoolresidency personnelquestionnaire, responsibleR.S. for the provision of the information as required byproposed law.

(7)17:2113. Prohibits school employees from using the responses to make any decision relating to student instruction, academic opportunities, or discipline.

(8)* Provide* that* noSPEAKER schoolOF boardTHE orHOUSE employeeOF thereofREPRESENTATIVES shallPRESIDENT beOF liableTHE forSENATE damagesGOVERNOR inOF aTHE civilSTATE actionOF forLOUISIANA injury,APPROVED: death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an act or omission associated with proposed law unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

ProposedPage law3 isof applicable3 toCODING: all public schools, including charter schools.

(Adds R.S.

17:2113 and 3996(B)(24)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:

1.