[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6203161,"mediaKeyId","3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423","parentId",3784095,"title","Louisiana Department of Health officials testify; committee moves into executive session on confirmations","audioSeconds",1043,"startMs",592000,"endMs",1635050,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423&start=592&end=1635","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423/thumbnail_592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6203161/Louisiana/Louisiana-Department-of-Health-officials-testify-committee-moves-into-executive-session-on-confirmations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203161-85e8012b287360609de2bb7207b85fa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598890&Signature=ZUuo1ztanEbNaAP92Z3S6ynar3m1Mkdfd2YDbTvGrJkpAIW7Jj~y-xq81GVBLw1uQzP6XmeOVzJdyX-ds5w8NEIuOcauYS18be~oUMR2JJAM9YpKz0Js~XyH0p-UufcrSowHBI5FRSA1vyAbqfbJyLorKX4V9ik~Z-mEwG5LrKJTidx8otmkzuo~bNbcBve3T5bQ3FPLsvJ5hjfsPgGiNzCC0pnKIfWqLxCzqx9z~DqIg5zSJj40tsxvfwC7HaOdPlYpUmY4Rgv7unZSaAZFgjXNfKsVBF4BX7o3Ei~V~kjQ-j72fwQfJb3GJbv2pohBTF4u8EuVvCGRG8YEQLmIbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana State Legislature","date","2025-06-12T11:09:00Z","article","Multiple officials from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) appeared before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on June 11, 2025, and described priorities for Medicaid, behavioral health, and organizational change before the committee moved into executive session to consider confirmations.

Dr. (former Congressman) Abraham, introduced as the surgeon general, told the committee LDH serves “the 1,600,000 Louisiana residents that we, help hopefully with their health care and their health care needs,” and described the agency as touching “every Louisianan in some form or fashion almost every day.” He said the agency’s work ranges from emergency preparedness to routine public‑health responses and emphasized the staff team behind LDH’s work.

LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein outlined his background in federal and state health roles and told the committee the department’s “plan in the department is to break down silos, make programs work together, and simplify without being simplistic.” Greenstein said the department has “the largest budget in state government” and stated, “spending almost $20,000,000,000 this year isn't getting us as far as we like it to be.” He described goals including improving Medicaid efficiency, integrating behavioral health services, and bringing patients and providers closer together.

Undersecretary Drew Maranto and Gary Williams, appointed assistant secretary for the Office of Aging and Adult Services, also testified about their experience and roles at LDH. Maranto described a “1 team approach to Louisiana,” said he has worked across every parish, and noted his prior roles in federal and state government. Williams outlined his administrative experience and said he looks forward to improving services within the Office of Aging and Adult Services.

Committee members asked routine introductory questions; the senators also confirmed that nominees had communicated with their state senators. After the public testimony, Senator Miller moved “to go into executive session for the purpose of the matters related to the confirmation of appointments.” The sergeant-at-arms cleared the room and the motion was adopted; the committee record shows the executive session motion was granted with no objection.

The public portion of the hearings emphasized priorities and personal backgrounds rather than final confirmation votes; the committee’s vote to enter executive session indicates further confirmation deliberations and votes took place privately.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate and Governmental Affairs June 11, 9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Louisiana Department of Health officials, including the surgeon general and the department’s new secretary, testified to the Senate committee about priorities for Medicaid, behavioral health, and system reform; the committee later voted to enter executive session for confirmation matters.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6203165,"Senate panel approves updated campaign‑finance forms for party primary changes",12,440000,452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423&start=440&end=452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423/thumbnail_440000.jpg","/articles/6203165/Louisiana/Senate-panel-approves-updated-campaignfinance-forms-for-party-primary-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203165-52d360c00924d5d12e3d4ce1da1236ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598890&Signature=QfDBrLv2OJU-ALZzZFIjXEMJHSkoCxe0ayOhM0OMD0kaFGEvqS3SiPs3QmkzMyRJt925Cb5jiFN~7zGke419z1~flIOxZ~EGjIHzPJFNuDwwcRpJqgNlDTMCE8PFFVil7pmMbeM3IrtwhJDA9Z7tkncpsyliwhwgXziSyd6DWj4FPQEYZAIJEdEofhQAVJSJ53l5B6ArEREObWsk3guB1717aMKWzcrMTcygIgFxcYrFp1pNqcSIkaC2j2e~SY5MetSNYkjb~ZW6U5BuHqHi~vJEb9kQhFuGNyuao3QHe3SDIfgV9qqREy2zBkONDl-oDdAtfno3fl7yRTvIPsCAhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs approved updated campaign‑finance reporting forms drafted by the Louisiana Board of Ethics on June 11, 2025.

David Bordelon, ethics administrator, told the committee that “Act 6 40 of last year's regular session created the concept of a party primary system for the offices of, Bessie Public Service Commission, Supreme Court Justice,” and that the staff updated candidate and committee reporting forms and instructions to implement the new party-primary filing deadlines and categories.

Bordelon explained the primary practical change: “we've created 2 different, filing, I guess, columns, 1 for the open primary positions and 1 for those party primary positions. The legislation created some different filing deadlines for those. So it required 2 different, columns.” He said the bulk of the forms remained the same but that summary pages were updated to reflect the distinction.

Committee members were given time to review the draft forms. The ethics administrator reminded the group that state statute requires committee approval before the forms can be posted for public use. A committee member moved to approve the forms; the chair asked for objections, and with none the forms were approved.

The changes the board presented are administrative: they separate filing lines and deadlines for candidates in open primaries from those in party primaries, revise instructions, and update summary pages. The committee took no other action beyond approving the forms for public release.","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs approved revised campaign finance forms from the Board of Ethics to implement Act 640’s new party primary reporting requirements for certain statewide offices.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6203170,"Panel moves bill to raise formula funding for parish councils on aging",216,104000,320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423&start=104&end=320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3784095-9380a00a9e466a9ff5a6ea572db5d423/thumbnail_104000.jpg","/articles/6203170/Louisiana/Panel-moves-bill-to-raise-formula-funding-for-parish-councils-on-aging","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6203170-63389bde8a903a8854ab112a7c68d2bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775598890&Signature=dFJO419gsJkSTkQl8bpDr7zSTsEMNof6tMee9jWc5hgce2nYcfALbzQbiT1ZiiqtH8TZy8CjttOWBftXOMzqYa5nb49e~mpdM3NmrPXOhZbXHAU93hFavKwSGttORbNfrWHyF7guxY3azqsz~o1m0PXd-45kfJ~bk93te~dvVx-AfDSqm6tnBO~qNVOy7DdJusoMKvHJyukleUpe659tJ37osaSoSfWjx~-~Fy0xRt5ESMWEGfC2bW5gNFkwSzN8-TZGPmqUggHPAas5kdUodvbDDZhYPTTxGEAjquZeJmODFMaB506c0dHGVD48i~IXR-CSaVdHdj2dC6l~ynxB1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 126, which changes the formula used to allocate state funds to parish councils on aging, was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on June 11, 2025.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Lines, told the committee that “House Bill 1 26 is basically a formula funding used to, to determine allocations for parishes, councils on agents throughout the, throughout the state. And what we're doing, we're just basically raising the, the formula, which provide more services to them,” and said the change “came through the house pretty much subject to appropriation.”

Committee members pressed staff on the bill’s fiscal mechanics. Senator Miguez asked whether the bill was tied to a proposed amendment that would have increased the online sports-wagering tax; Representative Lines clarified that “that was an amendment that was proposed, but it's not,” and that the bill’s fiscal effects are “subject to appropriation.”

Senator Miguez also asked about a specific rate change, saying, “we are still doing moving the rate from 2.5 to $4 on the minimum.” Representative Lines replied that funding is not currently provided by the earlier tax increase and that “it's just as we can appropriate it going forward, it'll be there, but the formula will be changed.”

A white-card witness, Charles Sabin, financial controller for the Jefferson Council on Aging, offered brief support for the bill, saying he was “just an additional support” and that he agreed with the testimony given earlier. The committee read multiple green cards in support from council on aging organizations across parishes, including Ascension Council on Aging, West Baton Rouge, East Feliciana and others.

Senator Jenkins moved to report the bill favorably; the committee chair asked if there were any objections and, seeing none, the committee “will report that bill favorable.” The record shows the motion passed by voice with no recorded roll-call vote and no objections noted.

The legislation alters the allocation formula for parish councils on aging but does not itself appropriate new dollars; committee members emphasized that any spending resulting from the new formula would require an appropriation in a subsequent bill or budget action.

Supporters at the hearing said the change is intended to increase services for older residents through local councils on aging; opponents did not appear and no formal fiscal figures tying the change to a specific funding source were presented during the committee’s discussion.

House Bill 126 now advances from the committee with a favorable report; any future funding depends on appropriations action in later budget processes.","The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs voted to report House Bill 126 favorably after members heard that the bill raises the formula used to allocate funds to parish councils on aging; funding is subject to future appropriations and is not tied to the earlier proposed online sports wagering tax amendment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Louisiana Department of Health officials testify; committee moves into executive session on confirmations

Senate panel approves updated campaign‑finance forms for party primary changes

Panel moves bill to raise formula funding for parish councils on aging