HB 384 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Provides relative to disciplinary penalties for certain public school students found to be in possession of certain substances on school property

HB 384 requires Louisiana public school boards to annually collect and report specific expulsion data to the state Department of Education regarding students found with certain substances on school property. The bill mandates reporting on: (1) first-time expulsions for substance offenses, (2) repeat expulsions, and (3) students returning to regular schools after alternative placements. This directly affects public school students in Louisiana who possess specified substances on campus and the school boards responsible for disciplinary actions. The key provision creates a standardized data collection system to track disciplinary outcomes for these offenses, replacing previous requirements. The bill does not change the actual disciplinary penalties but focuses on transparency and data collection for accountability.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

House Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Signed Jul 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB384 Original → HB384 Act 497 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly tightens disciplinary consequences for students found with illegal substances or weapons on school property. It replaces the previous tiered suspension system with mandatory expulsion for possession of firearms, knives, or illegal drugs, while introducing a new tier for tobacco, alcohol, or vaping products that allows for expulsion recommendations. Additionally, it requires school boards to annually report expulsion data to the state Department of Education.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of mandatory expulsion to include possession of tobacco, alcohol, or vaping products on school property, whereas previously only illegal narcotics triggered such severe penalties. It also clarifies that students with prior marijuana offenses are now subject to the stricter mandatory expulsion rules rather than the previous lighter suspension penalties.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed penalties for first-time possession of marijuana, THC, or derivatives from mandatory substance abuse education to mandatory expulsion for a minimum of two semesters.

Added new provisions requiring expulsion for possession of firearms, knives with blades over 2.5 inches, or illegal narcotics on school property.

Introduced a new category for possession of tobacco, alcohol, or vaping products, allowing for expulsion recommendations on the first occurrence.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that local school boards annually report expulsion statistics to the state Department of Education.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that students with prior marijuana offenses are now subject to the stricter mandatory expulsion rules instead of the previous lighter suspension penalties.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 8, 2025 · House May 13, 2025

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 37

Jun 8, 2025

D Democratic11

8 Yea 3

72% Yea

R Republican26

25 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 91, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

Jun 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Jun 1, 2025

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 1. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor