DWI: Provides relative to operating a vehicle while impaired (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
This bill amends the state's laws regarding driving while impaired by adjusting the order of subsections and adding a provision that allows law enforcement to hold individuals until they can be safely released. The changes directly affect police officers and custodial agencies who enforce impaired driving laws. By renumbering existing sections and inserting new language about safe release, the bill modifies how suspects are processed after being detained for suspected impairment.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Apr 27, 2026
Signed Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB1246 Original
→
HB1246 Act 723
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the handling of drunk driving arrests by removing a specific definition for 'legal limit' and reorganizing the detention requirements. It clarifies that law enforcement can hold an arrested individual until a safe release is feasible, rather than mandating a strict eight-hour minimum hold.
Scope change
The bill maintains its focus on operating while impaired but removes the age exemption for individuals 17 years or younger that was present in the original draft.
DEFINITION
Deleted the specific definition of 'legal limit' as 0.08 percent for R.S. 14:98 and 0.02 percent for R.S. 14:98.6.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the detention requirement from a mandatory minimum of eight hours to a flexible standard where agencies hold individuals until a safe release is feasible.
ELIGIBILITY
Removed the provision stating that the law does not apply to individuals who are seventeen years of age or younger.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill title to reflect two sponsors (Representatives Glorioso and Mandie Landry) and changed the status from 'Original' to 'Enrolled Act No. 723'.
Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2026 · House May 5, 2026
How they voted
37–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
May 21, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Yea
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
5
Committee
3
May 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 98, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 13, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 3. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 264 reported by the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice (10-0).
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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