LouisianaState agencies generally cap travel reimbursements at federal rates
Starting July 1, 2026, agencies across Louisiana’s three branches generally must keep meal and incidental reimbursements within federal daily rates, with exceptions for written approval and emergency work.
What it does
State agencies generally may not reimburse officers and employees above federal daily rates for meals and incidental expenses. The executive branch has a written approval exception, and certain work-meal rules remain available in the other branches.
For work directly tied to a governor-declared emergency or disaster, state officials and employees may receive up to 75 percent above the federal daily rate for meals and incidental expenses in covered areas and for a limited period.
Argument forFederal daily rates could make routine travel reimbursements more consistent, while allowing higher payments for qualifying emergency work.
Argument againstEmployees could have to cover some meal or incidental costs themselves when expenses exceed the federal rate and no written exception applies.
More detail
State agencies generally may not reimburse officers and employees above federal daily rates for meals and incidental expenses. The limits cover executive branch agencies and entities, courts and state entities in the judicial branch, and agencies and entities in the legislative branch. An executive branch agency may pay more if the administration commissioner approves it in writing under an issued policy and procedure memorandum. The judicial and legislative branch limits do not prevent use of equivalent executive branch rules for agency-hosted conferences or work-meeting meals. The limits apply to expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2026. Earlier expenses submitted after that date are paid at the rate in effect for the paying organization when the expense was incurred.
State agencies may reimburse up to 75 percent above the federal daily rate for qualifying emergency or disaster work. This higher rate covers state public officials and employees doing work directly related to an emergency or disaster declared by the governor. The officer or employee must perform duties directly related to the governor-declared emergency or disaster. Expenses must be incurred in the designated emergency area or where state personnel are deployed in direct response. Each budget unit must keep records showing the expenses were directly connected to the emergency or disaster and send them to the administration commissioner within 60 days after the declaration ends. The higher rate applies from the declaration date until the emergency ends or 30 days after the declaration, whichever comes first. If the governor renews the declaration, it continues during the renewed declaration. These rules apply to expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 8Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 799.Became Law
- Jun 8Effective date: 07/01/2026.
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 31Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 29Read by title, roll called, yeas 89, nays 5, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1680). Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- May 26Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 10 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1335). Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 25Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 21Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 20Reported favorably.Minor
- May 5Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.Minor
- May 4Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 29Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 63, nays 31. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#819). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 27Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 27Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.
- Apr 23Reported with amendments (9-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 25Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 25Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.Introduced
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