Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 19 D · 17 R cosponsors

HB 609 — HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments

Last action — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 558.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 26, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on May 29, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 36 sponsors

    1 primary, 35 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 D · 17 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill exempts fees for health records requested by veterans affairs departments.

This bill allows the federal and state veterans affairs departments to access health records without paying fees. It aims to facilitate better access to records for veterans.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Healthcare workers will need to adjust processes for providing records at no cost to veterans affairs departments.
  • Families: Families of veterans may see improved access to necessary health records for their loved ones.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

The newly revised version of Bill HB 609 removes the reference to "ACT No. 558." This change clarifies the legislation by eliminating outdated or irrelevant information. It's important because it keeps the focus on the current provisions of the bill, ensuring that the law remains clear and relevant for those it affects.

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Latest
HLS 26RS-1277 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
609 BY REPRESENTATIVES CHASSION AND TAYLOR HEALTH CARE/RECORDS:
609 BYREPRESENTATIVESCHASSION,ADAMS,BAYHAM,BEAULLIEU,BERAULT, BILLINGS, BOYD, BRYANT, BUTLER, CARVER, CHENEVERT, CREWS, ECHOLS,GREEN,HILFERTY,HORTON,MIKEJOHNSON,JORDAN,KNOX, LAFLEUR, LARVADAIN, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ, MILLER, MOORE, MURRAY, NEWELL, OWEN, PHELPS, SAWYER, SCHLEGEL, TAYLOR, WALTERS, WILEY, AND WYBLE AN ACT To enact R.S.
Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments AN ACT To enact R.S.
records * * * D.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, no healthcareprovider, healthcarefacility, or custodian of healthcare information shall charge any fee for the preparation, reproduction, handling, or transmission of medicalrecordswhensuchrecordsarerequestedbyor on behalf of a veteranforthe solepurposeofsubmitting aclaimfordisabilitybenefitsadministeredbytheUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
records * * * D.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, no healthcare provider, healthcare facility, or custodian of healthcare information shall charge any fee for the preparation, reproduction, handling, or transmission of medicalrecordswhensuchrecordsarerequestedbyor on behalf of a veteranforthe solepurposeofsubmittingaclaimfordisabilitybenefitsadministeredbytheUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3) The exemption provided in this Subsection shall apply only once per veteranand shall not applyto anysubsequent request for medical recordsregardless of purpose.
HLS 26RS-1277 ENGROSSED HB NO.
HB NO.
609 (3) The exemption provided in this Subsection shall apply only once per veteranand shall not applyto anysubsequentrequestfor medical recordsregardless of purpose.
609 ENROLLED (4)Ahealthcareproviderorcustodianmayrequirereasonabledocumentation establishing veteran status and that the request is made in connection with a disability benefits claim prior to applying the exemption.
(4)Ahealthcareproviderorcustodianmayrequirereasonabledocumentation establishing veteran status and that the request is made in connection with a disability benefits claim prior to applying the exemption.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
Page 2 of 2 CODING:
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 609 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Chassion Abstract:
Providesfortheone-timeexemptionoffeesforhealthrecordswhenveteransare seeking disability benefits administered by the federal and state veterans affairs departments and thathealthcareprovidersmayrequirereasonabledocumentation to establish veteran status.
Proposed law provides for the one-time exemption of fees when veterans are requesting health records for the sole purpose of disability benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
Proposed law provides that healthcare providers or custodians may require reasonable documentation toestablishveteranstatus andthattherecordsrequestis madein connection to a disability benefits claim.
(Adds R.S.
40:1165.1(D)) Page 2 of 2 CODING:
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Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 558.

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  7. Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. Reported favorably.

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

  12. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  13. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 03/26/2026.

  15. Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  16. Reported favorably (8-0-1).

  17. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

  18. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  19. Prefiled.

  20. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 35 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (35)

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 111 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

FINAL PASSAGE (#1162)

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 24003
Democrat 8003
Total 33006
% of votes cast 85%0%0%15%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Yea
Gary Carter Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Yea
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Yea
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Not Voting
Royce Duplessis Democrat Yea
Sam Jenkins Democrat Yea
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Not Voting
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Yea
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Yea
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Yea
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Yea
Franklin J. Foil Republican Not Voting
Glen Womack Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Not Voting
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Yea
Kirk Talbot Republican Yea
Mark Abraham Republican Yea
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Yea
Patrick Connick Republican Yea
Patrick McMath Republican Not Voting
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Robert Allain Republican Yea
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Yea
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#140)

Passed 93 Yea · 0 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Republican 59009
Democrat 27003
Total 930012
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Yea
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Yea
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Not Voting
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Yea
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Not Voting
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Yea
Candace N. Newell Democrat Yea
Chasity Martinez Democrat Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Yea
Edmond Jordan Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Yea
Joy Walters Democrat Yea
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Yea
Ken Brass Democrat Yea
Mandie Landry Democrat Yea
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Yea
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Yea
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Not Voting
Steven Jackson Democrat Yea
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Yea
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Yea
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Yea
Annie Spell Republican Not Voting
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Not Voting
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Not Voting
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Yea
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Not Voting
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Yea
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Not Voting
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Not Voting
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Yea
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Yea
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Yea
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Yea
Polly Thomas Republican Not Voting
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Not Voting
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Not Voting
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

veterans healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 609?
HB 609 is sponsored by John E. Wyble (Republican), Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley (Republican), Joy Walters (Democrat), Laurie Schlegel (Republican), Paul Sawyer (Republican), Tammy T. Phelps (Democrat), Charles Owen (Republican), Candace N. Newell (Democrat), Ed Murray (Democrat), Pat Moore (Democrat), Dustin Miller (Democrat), Chasity Martinez (Democrat), C. Denise Marcelle (Democrat), Rodney Lyons (Democrat), III, Ed Larvadain (Democrat), Vanessa Caston LaFleur (Democrat), Alonzo L. Knox (Democrat), Edmond Jordan (Democrat), Mike Johnson (Republican), Dodie Horton (Republican), Stephanie Hilferty (Republican), Jr., Kyle M. Green (Democrat), Michael Charles Echols (Republican), Raymond J. Crews (Republican), Emily Chenevert (Republican), Kim Carver (Republican), Rhonda Gaye Butler (Republican), Marcus Anthony Bryant (Democrat), Delisha Boyd (Democrat), Beth Anne Billings (Republican), Stephanie H. Berault (Republican), IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu (Republican), Jr., Michael Robert Bayham (Republican), Roy Daryl Adams (Democrat), Sylvia Elaine Taylor (Democrat), and Tehmi Jahi Chassion (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 609?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 26, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 609?
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