House Bill No. by Representative Zeringue aims to regulate travel expenses for state public officials and employees by prohibiting payments for lodging, meals, or incidental expenses that exceed the amounts established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The bill amends R.S. 39:231(A) and enacts new provisions in R.S. 13:6, R.S. 24:16, and R.S. 39:231(E) to set a maximum payment limit for these expenses across the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of state government. It includes exceptions for situations where lodging is reserved or recommended near a conference or meeting facility, allowing reimbursement for the full reserved rate if it is proven to be less expensive than commuting from another location.

The bill specifies that these regulations will apply to expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2026, and any reimbursements for expenses incurred prior to this date but submitted afterward will be based on the rates in effect at the time the expenses were incurred. The proposed law aims to ensure fiscal responsibility and standardization in the reimbursement process for state officials and employees while maintaining flexibility for specific circumstances related to travel.

Statutes affected:
HB398 Original: 39:231(A)