SB 194 — FUNDS/FUNDING: Requires the referral of applicants who fail citizenship or immigration verification to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE See Note)

SLS 26RS-477 ENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

194 BY SENATORS MIGUEZ AND HODGES FUNDS/FUNDING.RequiresthereferralofapplicantswhofailAN citizenshiporimmigrationACT verificationTo toamend U.S.and reenact R.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(8/1/26) AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

Verification of citizenship of applicants for public benefits A.Exceptasprohibitedbyfederallaw,astateagencyorpoliticalsubdivision shall verifythat each applicant who applies for federal, state, or local public benefit is a person who has been recognized as a citizen of the United States by birthright, naturalization,naturalization,oranyothermethodprovidedforunderapplicablefederallawor,has orsatisfactoryimmigrationstatusasaqualifiedalienasdefinedin8U.S.C.1641(b),or anyotherreceives methodcoverage providedpursuant forto under42 applicable federallaw or has satisfactory immigration status as a qualified alien as defined in 8 U.S.C.

1641(b).1396b(v)(4).

ForthepurposesofForthepurposesofMedicaid,Medicare,theSupplementalNutrition Medicaid,Medicare,theSupplementalNutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and any health plan offered through the AffordableCareActmarketplace,theterm"qualifiedalien"shallbelimitedto:

1101(a)(15) and 1101(a)(20), excluding alien visitors, Pagetourists, 1diplomats, ofstudents, 5and Coding:other individuals admitted temporarily without intent to abandon a foreign residence.

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-477 ENGROSSED SB NO.

194 tourists, diplomats, students, and other individuals admitted temporarily without intent to abandon a foreign residence.

96-422).Page 1 of 4 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO.

194 ENROLLED 96-422).

(4)(4)Noadditional No additional reasonableopportunity period shall begrantedtoanybe grantedtoany applicantwhohaspreviouslybeendeniedeligibilityatanytimeduetoafailure to verify citizenship or satisfactory immigration status.

(6) The department has the discretion to provide emergency healthcare services.

Upon the termination of any reasonable opportunity period to verify citizenship status or receipt of a final verification that indicates that the applicant is not a United States citizen or lacks satisfactory immigration status and has entered theUnitedStateswithoutinspectionoradmissionorremainedbeyondtheexpiration Page 2 of 54 Coding:

SLS 26RS-477 ENGROSSED SB NO.

194 citizenshipENROLLED status or receipt of a final verification that indicates that the applicant is not a United States citizen or lacks satisfactory immigration status and has entered theUnitedStateswithoutinspectionoradmissionorremainedbeyondtheexpiration of his authorized period of stay, the state agency or political subdivision shall:

(3) TerminateTerminateanyrecurringfederal,state, anyrecurringfederal, state, or local public benefits as defined in Subsection EH of this Section.

F.TheentireincomeandfinancialresourcesofanyindividualF.Theentireincomeandfinancialresourcesof anyindividual rendered ineligible for participation in SNAP under 7 U.S.C.

2015(f) and Subsections A andBofthisSectionshallbeconsideredavailabletothehouseholdandBofthisSectionshallbeconsideredavailabletothehouseholdandshallbe andshallbe includedindeterminingtheeligibilityandbenefitallotmentofthehouseholdof which such individual is a member.

For the purposes of this Section, a federal, state, or local public benefit shall include any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which paymentsorassistanceareprovidedtoanindividual,household,orfamilyeligibility unit by an agency of the United States, this state, or a political subdivision of this state or by appropriated funds of the United States, this state, or a political Pagesubdivision 3 of 5this Coding:state.

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-477 ENGROSSED SB NO.

194 subdivision of this state.

For purposes of any benefits paid by any public pension or retirement system, fund, or plan, the verification of a public employee's United States citizenship or satisfactory immigration status at the time of their enrollment in a publicPage pension3 or retirement system, fund, or plan shall satisfy the verification requirements of Subsection4 ACoding: of this Section.

The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, 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)] DIGEST SB 194 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Miguez Present law requires a state agency or political subdivision to verify that each applicant for a federal, state, or local public benefit is recognized as a United States citizen or has satisfactory immigration status as a qualified alien defined in federal law.

Proposed law retainspresentlawandprovides that for purposes of Medicaid, Medicare,the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and any health plan offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the term qualified alien shall be limited to anyone of the following:

(1) An alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence as an immigrant, as defined in U.S.C.

1101(a)(15) and 1101(a)(20), excluding alien visitors, tourists, diplomats, students, and other individuals admitted temporarily without intent to abandon a foreign residence.

(2) An alien granted the status of Cuban or Haitian entrant, as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub.

L.