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Describe any special State initiatives (i.e. Governor-initiated or through State legislation) that include SNAP E&T. Describe any efforts taken by the State agency to coordinate these programs, services, partners, and/or activities with the State's E&T program. As part of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, Louisiana enacted House Bill 624—now Act 478—which introduced significant structural changes to the state’s social services system, including the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. The legislation transfers administration, fiscal, and oversight of the SNAP program from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). Additionally, the bill restructures the administration of Strategies to Empower People (STEP)—by transferring the STEP program from DCFS to a newly rebranded workforce agency known as “Louisiana Works,” formerly the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Under this new structure, LDH will have a contractual agreement with LA Works to provide SNAP E&T services which further aligns public assistance programs with the state’s workforce development strategy. This transition is part of a broader workforce reform effort aimed at unifying workforce and public assistance services under a “One Door” model of service delivery. HB 624 also formally ends the SNAP E&T pilot designation and establishes the program as a permanent, state-administered initiative. The legislation also updates program terminology to reflect a more customer-centered approach, changing references from “participants” to “customers”. These changes aim to strengthen program accountability, streamline service coordination, and support improved outcomes for individuals working toward self-sufficiency. Describe the extent to which the State agency is carrying out SNAP E&T programs in coordination with title I programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The LDH implements SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) in coordination with Title I programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) through its participation in the state’s Combined WIOA Plan. This plan is developed every four years in collaboration with Louisiana Works, the Workforce Investment Council, and other key state and employer stakeholders. Because SNAP eligibility confers automatic WIOA eligibility, the state strategically leverages this connection to promote co-enrollment and expand access to training, employment, and supportive services. Many SNAP E&T providers maintain partnerships with America’s Job Center-certified sites, enabling seamless coordination with Title I program offerings and more efficient service delivery. This collaboration improves access to career pathways, education, and wraparound supports for shared populations. As this coordination deepens, DCFS continues to explore opportunities to braid SNAP E&T and WIOA funding, expand cross-agency infrastructure, and strengthen holistic workforce development strategies across Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) implements SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) in coordination with Title I programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) through its participation in the state’s Combined WIOA Plan, developed every four years in collaboration with Louisiana Works, the Workforce Investment Council, and other key state and employer stakeholders. Because SNAP eligibility confers automatic WIOA eligibility, the state leverages this connection to promote co-enrollment and expand access to training, employment, and supportive services. Many SNAP E&T providers partner with America’s Job Center-certified sites, enabling seamless integration with Title I offerings and more efficient service delivery. This coordination improves access to career pathways, education, and wraparound supports for shared populations, and LDH continues to explore opportunities to braid SNAP E&T and WIOA funding, expand cross-agency infrastructure, and strengthen holistic workforce strategies statewide. These efforts align with major structural reforms enacted through Louisiana House Bill 624 (2025 Regular Session), now Act 478, which transfers multiple family support and workforce development programs— including STEP —from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to the Louisiana Workforce Commission who will be renamed “Louisiana Works". The administration, fiscal and oversight 1/29/26, 8:19 AM State Plan LA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-lafy26stateplan//index.html 10/115