HB 135 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

SEIZURES/SALES: Provides relative to certain exemptions from seizure with respect to motor vehicles

HB 135 increases Louisiana's exemption for motor vehicles from debt collection. It raises the equity value exemption for one standard vehicle per household from $7,500 to $15,000 (based on NADA retail value), and adds a second vehicle exemption up to $15,000 if the debtor is married or has a child who is a licensed driver. The bill also creates a new $20,000 exemption for vehicles modified for a disability and adds health savings accounts (up to IRS annual limits) to the list of property exempt from debt collection. These changes directly affect Louisiana debtors owning vehicles or holding qualifying health savings accounts.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB135 Original → HB135 Act · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legal exemptions from vehicle seizure in Louisiana, increasing the protected equity value for standard vehicles from $7,500 to $15,000 and for modified disability vehicles from $7,500 to $20,000. It also expands eligibility for a second vehicle exemption to include married debtors or those with a child in the household who is a licensed driver. Additionally, the bill adds a new exemption category for health savings accounts.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of property protected from seizure to include health savings accounts and broadens the criteria for claiming exemptions on multiple vehicles.

THRESHOLDS

Increased the equity value exemption for one standard motor vehicle from $7,500 to $15,000.

Increased the equity value exemption for modified vehicles used by persons with disabilities from $7,500 to $20,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a provision allowing a second vehicle exemption if the debtor is married or has a licensed driver child in the household.

DEFINITION

Added a new exemption for health savings accounts authorized by federal law.

Updated the definition of 'annuity contract' to reference a specific state statute.

Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2026 · House Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

35–2

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

May 5, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

24 Yea 2 Nay 2

85% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 2 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, roll called on final passage, yeas 80, nays 9. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (7-0-1).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor