HB 400 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

HEALTH/CHILDREN: Provides relative to a minor's consent for medical procedures and treatments

HB 400 clarifies who can consent to medical care for minors under 17 years old. It defines "in loco parentis" as a temporary caregiver authorized by a parent or guardian to make medical and mental health decisions for a minor. The bill updates definitions in healthcare law to explicitly include these authorized temporary caregivers alongside parents or legal guardians. This directly affects minors under 17, their families, and healthcare providers who must follow these consent guidelines.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB400 Reengrossed HB400 Engrossed · 3 edits · May 27, 2025
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from 'Reengrossed' to 'Engrossed' and updated to include new definitions for 'Abuse' and 'Neglect' that were previously missing. The age limit for parental consent requirements was raised from 17 to 18, and the list of circumstances under which a minor can consent to their own medical care was expanded to include treatment for alcohol or substance misuse.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding specific definitions for abuse and neglect and by increasing the age threshold for parental consent from 17 to 18.
DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Abuse' and 'Neglect' to clarify what constitutes harm to a child.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the age limit for requiring parental consent from 17 to 18 years old.

Added 'alcohol or substance misuse' to the list of conditions where a minor can consent to their own treatment.

Floor votes · House May 27, 2025

How they voted

809
Passed · 13 other
Total votes 102
May 27, 2025
D Democratic31
11 Yea 9 Nay 11
35% Yea
R Republican71
69 Yea 2
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays 9. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (10-0).
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors