HB 685 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

STATE AGENCIES: Provides relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion in state agencies (RE SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 685 establishes regulations concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within Louisiana state agencies and public postsecondary education institutions. The bill restricts institutionally mandated DEI content, specifically excluding concepts such as reparations or race-based privilege from certain provisions. It requires all state agencies and public postsecondary institutions to submit annual reports on their compliance efforts, with the first report due by May 30, 2026. The legislation also includes provisions to protect the academic freedom of individual faculty members regarding their classroom instruction and research.

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced May 12, 2025 Last action May 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB685 Reengrossed → HB685 Engrossed · 6 edits · May 19, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from 'Reengrossed' to 'Engrossed' and reduced from 10 pages to 8 pages. The text of the statute itself contains significant substantive changes, including the addition of 'unconscious bias' and 'the use of pronouns' to the definition of prohibited DEI content, and the removal of specific exclusions for genetic predispositions and biological sex differences. Additionally, the reporting requirements were expanded to include legislative committees, and the deadline for adopting a DEI plan was removed.

Scope change

The scope of prohibited instructional content was narrowed by adding new categories (unconscious bias, pronouns) and removing specific exemptions (genetic predispositions, biological sex differences). The enforcement mechanism was broadened to require reporting to legislative committees in addition to the presiding officers.

DEFINITION

Added 'unconscious bias' and 'the use of pronouns' to the list of topics that constitute prohibited DEI-related instructional content.

Removed the exclusion for instructional content regarding genetic predispositions in medical or biology education.

Removed the exclusion for content discussing differences between biological sexes or bona fide qualifications based on biological sex.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the legislative auditor to conduct annual audits and report to the governor and legislative committees.

Expanded reporting requirements for DEI plans to include legislative committees in addition to the speaker of the House and president of the Senate.

TIMELINE

Removed the specific May 30, 2026 deadline for public institutions to adopt a DEI plan.

Floor votes · House May 19, 2025

How they voted

54–32

Passed · 16 other

Total votes 102

May 19, 2025

D Democratic31

28 Nay 3

90% Nay

R Republican71

54 Yea 4 Nay 13

76% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 57, nays 32. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 421 reported by the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs (10-6).

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors