House Bill No. by Representative Henry amends and reenacts R.S. 46:233.4(A) and (D) and enacts R.S. 46:233.4(C)(4) to enhance the verification process of citizenship for applicants seeking public benefits in Louisiana. The bill expands the scope of entities required to verify citizenship status to include not only state agencies and political subdivisions but also any entity administering federal, state, or local public benefits. It mandates that these entities verify that applicants are recognized U.S. citizens or possess satisfactory immigration status as defined by federal law.

Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for these entities to be subject to audit by the legislative auditor following the termination of the reasonable opportunity period for verifying citizenship status. It also stipulates that upon receiving final verification indicating that an applicant is not a U.S. citizen or lacks satisfactory immigration status, the entities must take specific actions, including reporting the results of citizenship verification efforts to key legislative leaders and the governor at the end of each fiscal year.