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

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.