HB 342 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

EDUCATION/SPECIAL: Provides that a local education agency shall have the burden of proof in any special education due process hearing relative to the appropriateness of a student's current or proposed program or placement (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 342 requires local education agencies (LEAs) in Louisiana to prove the appropriateness of a student's special education program or placement during due process hearings, shifting the burden of proof from parents to the school district. This directly affects parents of students in special education and the LEAs (like school districts) involved in these disputes. The bill specifies that LEAs must meet this burden by showing the program or placement is appropriate "by a preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The change applies to both current and proposed educational plans in formal due process hearings.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed Jun 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB342 Original → HB342 Act 943 · 1 edit

MINOR

This bill updates the official title and sponsors of HB 342 to reflect its final passage as Act 943. The core legal requirement remains unchanged: local education agencies must prove the appropriateness of a student's special education program or placement by a preponderance of the evidence during due process hearings.

Scope change

The scope of the law regarding special education due process remains the same; only the bill's metadata (title and sponsors) was updated to reflect its enactment status.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'HB 342 Original' to 'HB 342 Act 943' and the sponsor list was expanded to include Representatives Adams, Amedee, Bayham, Berault, Boyd, Broussard, Carpenter, Wilford Carter, Carver, Chassion, Chenevert, Edmonston, Egan, Fisher, Freiberg, Green, Jackson, Travis Johnson, Jordan, Lacombe, Terry Landry, Larvadain, Lyons, Marcelle, Martinez, Mena, Moore, Newell, Owen, Phelps, Schamerhorn, Spell, Stagni, Taylor, Ventrella, Walters, Wiley, Wyble, Young, and Zeringue.

Floor votes · Senate May 27, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 27, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 25, 2026

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (11-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.

lower

1 primary · 38 co-sponsors