Lawmakers advanced several bills addressing veterans' homes and recognition programs.

Representative Dickerson presented House Bill 387 to update a statute last substantially revised in the 1960s to allow non‑veteran spouses, Gold Star family members and caretakers to continue residing in state veterans' homes after a veteran's death under an adjustable fee schedule. "This pertains to spouses of veterans and Gold Star family members as well," Dickerson said. Connor Junkin, executive counsel for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA), told the committee the statute has not been updated since about 1965 and that the homes began accepting non‑veteran residents around 2008. Junkin said there are about five state homes and roughly 36 non‑veteran residents; the current rate charged to non‑veterans dates to 2008 and is about $4,500 per month, he said.

Representative Adams sponsored House Bill 468 to create a Civilian Honor Medal, a non‑military decoration to recognize outstanding civilian support for veterans and military communities. Junkin said the medal would be awarded at the secretary's discretion and would be a low fiscal cost; the statute would distinguish the new civilian medal (white ribbon) from the existing Louisiana honor medal for military veterans.

Representative Golly (HB60) proposed expanding classifications of veterans eligible to reside in veterans' retirement homes; LDVA counsel said payment mechanisms vary (federal reimbursements, Medicaid eligibility, or private pay) and the fiscal note estimates incremental self‑generated revenue for new private‑pay residents (the transcript cites roughly $54,000 per year per new private‑pay patient in the fiscal discussion). Committee members asked for more detailed counts and reimbursement breakdowns; LDVA said it could provide home‑level Medicaid and reimbursement figures on request.

All veterans measures presented in the transcript were moved out of committee favorably by voice vote or without recorded objection.