HB 126 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

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

350
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
25 Yea 3
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