Committee reports addiction‑treatment trust‑fund bill; amendments to be added before floor

House Bill 658, a proposal to create a trust fund to support addiction treatment programs, was presented June 8 and reported favorable by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

Steven Wright, representing Louisiana Addiction Treatment Providers, described the bill as functioning similarly to an existing trust fund structure used for elderly services and said the sponsor expects LDH technical amendments. Committee members agreed the bill would not move to the floor without those technical amendments in place.

LSMS and LAFP representatives (Mariah Bowen and Sherry Buffington) signed in support. Senator Andrews moved to report the bill favorable; committee raised no objections. The sponsor and committee recorded that LDH amendments would be added in the committee record and the bill would proceed to the floor with those technical changes.