Louisiana HB609: HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments

What the bill says

An act To enact R.S. 40:1165.1(D), relative to healthcare information records; to provide for the exemption of fees for medical records when requested for disability benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs; and to provide for related matters.

From the introduced text:

AN ACT To enact R.S. 40:1165.1(D), relative to healthcare information records; to provide for the exemption of fees for medical records when requested for disability benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs; and to provide for related matters. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. R.S. 40:1165.1(D) is hereby enacted to read as follows: §1165.1. Healthcare information; 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 medical records when such records are requested by or on behalf of a veteran for the sole purpose of submitting a claim for disability benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) For purposes of this Subsection, "veteran" has the same meaning as provided in R.S. 13:5364. Page 1 of CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 26RS-1277 ORIGINAL HB NO. (3) The exemption provided in this Subsection shall apply only once per veteran and shall not apply to any subsequent request for medical records regardless of purpose. (4) A healthcare provider or custodian may …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Chassion, Tehmi (D, 44) · primary sponsor
• Adams, Roy (D, 62)
• Bayham Jr., Michael (R, 103)
• Beaullieu IV, Gerald (R, 48)
• Berault, Stephanie (R, 76)
• Billings, Beth (R, 56)
• Boyd, Delisha (D, 102)
• Bryant, Marcus (D, 96)
• Butler, Rhonda (R, 38)
• Carver, Kim (R, 89)
• Chenevert, Emily (R, 66)
• Crews, Raymond (R, 8)

Latest actions

1. May 29, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2. May 29, 2026: Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 558.
3. May 26, 2026: Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
4. May 25, 2026: Signed by the President of the Senate.
5. May 25, 2026: Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
6. May 25, 2026: Received from the Senate without amendments.
7. May 21, 2026: 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. May 18, 2026: Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
9. May 14, 2026: Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
10. May 13, 2026: Reported favorably.

Votes

• Senate Vote on HB 609, FINAL PASSAGE (#1162) (May 21, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
• House Vote on HB 609, FINAL PASSAGE (#140) (March 26, 2026): 93 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB609?

HB609 is a bill in the Louisiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments.

What does HB609 do?

In its own words: An act To enact R.S. 40:1165.1(D), relative to healthcare information records; to provide for the exemption of fees for medical records when requested for disability benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs; and to provide for related matters.

What is the status of HB609?

Signed into law as of May 29, 2026. Latest action: Effective date: 08/01/2026. (May 29, 2026).

Who sponsored HB609?

Chassion, Tehmi (D, 44), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB609?

On the Louisiana Legislature website: https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=HB609