Senate Bill No. 415, introduced by Senator Abraham, aims to establish the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program under the Louisiana Department of Health. This program will provide restricted-use food purchase cards through qualified nonprofit organizations that operate food assistance programs in the state. To participate, these organizations must be recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and comply with specific reporting requirements. The bill outlines that each nonprofit will be responsible for funding the purchase cards and must create a process for individuals to contribute funds for these cards, which can be issued directly to the contributors or designated individuals.

The proposed legislation also emphasizes that the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program will operate separately from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while aligning allowable food items with those eligible for purchase through SNAP. It prohibits cash withdrawals and transfers, and the Louisiana Department of Health is tasked with generating transaction records and annual reports without auditing charitable expenditures. Additionally, the department is required to submit an evaluation report of the program to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare by March 1, 2028, and to promulgate rules for implementation. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.