AARP Louisiana Announces 2024 Legislators of the Year

AARP Louisiana announces State Senator Kirk Talbot (Senate District 10, River Ridge) and State Representative Jason Hughes (House District 100, New Orleans) as recipients of the 10th annual AARP Legislator of the Year Award. Both leaders were selected for their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for Louisiana’s older adults during the 2024 legislative session.

Senator Talbot and Representative Hughes played pivotal roles in helping seniors get the services they need to live at home and defeating the controversial “Bob Dean Protection Act,” which sought to shield nursing home operators from lawsuits related to understaffed facilities, poor patient care, and neglect.

“We are proud to honor Senator Talbot and Representative Hughes with the 2024 Legislator of the Year Award for their unwavering advocacy and dedication to improving the lives of older adults in Louisiana,” said Denise Bottcher, AARP Louisiana State Director. “Their leadership led to the expansion of the Community Choices Waiver program which provides older adults with services they need to live at home rather than being forced into costly nursing homes.”

“We thank Senator Talbot and Representative Hughes for their leadership during the 2024 legislative session,” said Andrew Muhl, advocacy director. “Their efforts secured essential funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) options. This support is especially crucial as our population of older adults expands over the next decade.”

Each recipient will be honored during separate award ceremonies:

Representative Hughes will be honored on January 21, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the AARP Community Resource Center, 3502 S. Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans

Senator Talbot will be honored on January 28, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the AARP Community Resource Center, 3502 S. Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans



For more information or media inquiries, contact LaTonya Scott at lsscott@aarp.org.