COURTS: Provides relative to the use of a facility dog by a witness during certain circumstances
HB 126 allows courts in Louisiana to permit facility dogs to accompany specific witnesses during testimony. It directly affects minors under 18, individuals with developmental disabilities (as defined by law), and victims of sex offenses (as defined in state law). The bill requires courts to permit a facility dog if available while these witnesses testify, aiming to help reduce anxiety. The provision applies during court proceedings and does not change existing legal standards or outcomes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 13, 2026
Signed Jun 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB126 Original
→
HB126 Act 616
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill expands the use of facility dogs in Louisiana courts from only witnesses under 18 or those with developmental disabilities to also include victims of sex offenses. It adds specific protections to ensure the dog's presence does not influence the jury and formally names the law 'Duvall's Duvall and Karissa's Law' to recognize the specific victims it protects.
Scope change
The bill broadens eligibility to include victims of sex offenses in addition to minors and individuals with developmental disabilities.
ELIGIBILITY
Expanded eligibility to allow victims of sex offenses to be accompanied by a facility dog during testimony.
REQUIREMENT
Added specific instructions for courts to obscure the dog's presence from the jury and to instruct the jury on the dog's role to prevent bias.
DEFINITION
Updated the official title of the law to include 'Duvall's Duvall and Karissa's Law' to reflect the expanded scope.
Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House Mar 26, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 91, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (14-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
lower
1 primary · 34 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mandie Landry
DDemocratic
Co
Alonzo Knox
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Freiberg
RRepublican
Co
BA
Beryl Amedée
RRepublican
Co
Chasity Martinez
DDemocratic
Co
Chuck Owen
RRepublican
Co
Dana Henry
DDemocratic
Co
Delisha Boyd
DDemocratic
Co
Dixon McMakin
RRepublican
Co
Doyle Boudreaux
RRepublican
Co
Ed Larvadain
DDemocratic
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