The LHIMA Advocacy Committee serves as the voice of Louisiana’s health information management professionals. The committee monitors state and federal issues impacting HIM, promotes grassroots engagement, and partners with AHIMA to advance legislation and policies that support data integrity, patient safety, and access to accurate health information. Through education, collaboration, and action, the committee empowers members to advocate effectively for the profession and the patients we serve.
Questions or interested in getting involved? Contact the Advocacy Committee at advocacy@LHIMA.org!
AHIMA Advocacy Resources
Visit the AHIMA Advocacy website action center to sign up for advocacy email alerts and participate in AHIMA advocacy grassroots campaigns.
AHIMA Advocacy Summit
The AHIMA Advocacy Summit is an annual event that brings members together to learn about key legislative and regulatory issues impacting health information management and to participate in grassroots advocacy efforts. All AHIMA members are invited to attend the 2027 Advocacy Summit in March 15th-16th, 2027 in Washington DC. Join in advancing the HIM profession through advocacy.
LHIMA Board Members represented our state at the 2026 AHIMA Advocacy Conference. We met with the elected state senator and house representative offices to discuss the MATCH IT Act and new legislation supporting more research for non-clinical AI use.
Louisiana State Advocacy Resources
- Louisiana State Legislative Website — Locate House Bills, see status and even watch live or recorded committee meetings. Find existing Louisiana legislation
- Bill Search — Louisiana State Legislature — Check status of legislation in progress
- Find My Legislators — Louisiana State Legislature — Locate your Louisiana and US Legislators using google for geocoding.
Proposed Louisiana Legislation in 2026
LHIMA Advocacy Committee is following these new legislations for 2026. Check your LHIMA e-news for updates. LHIMA Advocacy Committee will email “calls to action” to participate in supporting the proposed legislation. Join the LHIMA CEU opportunities throughout the year to hear more advocacy updates.
- HB535 Summary: To amend and reenact R.S. 40:46.12(E). Remove the requirement for the presence and signatures of 2 witnesses
- HCR: 19 Summary: Directs the La. State Law Institute to study filiation proceedings and the feasibility of removing the presumption of paternity. Requires the La. State Law Institute to provide a written report of its findings to the Legislature no later than Feb. 1 2027
- HB318 Summary: Reduces the timeline for the presumption of paternity. Present law (C.C. Art. 185) provides that the husband of the mother is presumed to be the father of a child born during the marriage or within 300 days from the date of the termination of the marriage. Proposed law changes the timeline in present law from 300 days to 90 days from the date of the termination of the marriage