§ 46:331 — Findings and intent

§331. Findings and intent
A. The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
(1) It is the policy of this state to encourage self-sufficiency so that Louisianians may
reduce dependence on public assistance to meet basic needs and become economically
self-reliant.
(2) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as "food
stamps" and referred to in this Subpart as "SNAP", provides support to needy households and
to persons making the transition from public assistance to work.
(3) Federal regulations provided for in 7 CFR 273.24 limit the duration of receipt of
SNAP benefits by nonworking, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) who do
not qualify for certain exemptions to a total of three months in any three-year period.
However, states may submit to the federal government applications, commonly known as
"waivers", to have this three-month limit waived. If approved, such waivers allow
able-bodied, nonworking, nonexempt adults to receive SNAP benefits for an unlimited
duration if those persons meet other eligibility standards of the program. Louisiana has long
used these waivers to exempt the majority of able-bodied adults without dependents from the
federal work requirement.
(4) Federal law allows states to exempt up to eight percent of able-bodied adults
from the work requirement without providing any reason whatsoever. These "no-good-cause
exemptions" also accumulate and carry over from year to year without limit. As a policy,
Louisiana has not used these "no-good-cause exemptions". However, because Louisiana has
waived the work requirement, there has been no reason to use these additional exemptions.
B. It is the intent of this Subpart to institute a comprehensive, statewide work
requirement for able-bodied adults up to fifty-two years old without any dependents who
receive SNAP benefits in this state.

Legislative History

Acts 2024, No. 308, §1, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 478, §12, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.