(The Center Square) – Nongovernmental organizations administering taxpayer-funded public assistance in Louisiana must now verify recipients’ citizenship or qualified immigration status under a new law Attorney General Liz Murrill says is intended to protect taxpayer dollars and combat public assistance fraud.

Act 795 took effect Aug. 1 and expands verification requirements Louisiana imposed on government agencies last year to include nongovernmental organizations administering certain public benefits.

“The State of Louisiana provides public benefits to those in need. They are paid for by the hard-working men and women of Louisiana who get up every morning and go to work to provide for their families,” Murrill said. “They belong to the people of Louisiana and those who actually qualify.”

The law began as House Bill 335, sponsored by Rep. Chance Henry, R-Crowley, and was one of 24 measures included in Murrill’s 2026 legislative package.

It builds on Act 351, passed by lawmakers in 2025, which requires citizenship verification for people seeking public assistance from state agencies or political subdivisions.

The new law extends similar requirements to nongovernmental entities administering taxpayer-funded assistance.

“Louisiana taxpayers fund these programs, and they deserve to know the money is reaching people who actually qualify,” Henry said. “I’m grateful to the Attorney General’s Office for standing behind this law.”

The law also creates reporting requirements designed to show how the verification process affects public assistance.

At the end of each fiscal year, entities administering federal or state public benefits must report information including the number of people reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the number whose public assistance was terminated.

The reports are submitted to the governor, Senate president, House speaker and David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor also has authority to audit entities for compliance with the law.

There are exceptions and additional protections for certain organizations and services.

Food distribution programs, including those operated by nonprofits, farmers markets and farm stands, are exempt from the verification requirements.

Organizations providing services related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, homelessness, disaster response or pregnancy assistance are subject to separate provisions. Those organizations generally must request proof of citizenship or qualified immigration status and document whether it was provided and whether services continued.

However, they cannot be required to report someone to ICE solely because citizenship or immigration status could not be verified. The law also provides protections for good-faith actions taken to protect life, health and safety during emergencies, disaster response and public health operations.

Health care providers serving Medicaid recipients are also exempt from the requirements.

Gov. Jeff Landry signed the measure June 8.