HB 39 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS: Requires peace officers to be citizens of the United States

HB 39 requires all Louisiana peace officers seeking certification to be U.S. citizens, directly affecting law enforcement applicants and current officers needing certification. The bill adds a citizenship requirement to existing certification standards under Louisiana law (§2404.4), specifying that applicants must be U.S. citizens as defined in federal law (42 USC §9102(18)). It does not alter training or other existing qualifications but mandates citizenship as a new baseline for certification. This policy change applies to all law enforcement peace officers in Louisiana, including those employed by local police departments and sheriff's offices.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB39 Original → HB39 Act 283 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Louisiana law to require peace officers to be United States citizens, aligning state definitions with federal standards. It expands the list of who counts as a peace officer to include security personnel for the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and Capitol security. The law includes a temporary exemption allowing currently employed non-citizens with permanent residency to remain in their roles until August 1, 2031, provided they naturalize by then.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of who is legally defined as a 'peace officer' by adding specific security roles within the state judiciary and legislature, while also clarifying the citizenship requirement for all included roles.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'peace officer' to include security personnel employed by the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and the director of Capitol security.

Removed the previous, narrower definition of 'peace officer' that did not explicitly include the newly added security roles.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new requirement that all peace officers must be United States citizens by law, birth, or naturalization.

TIMELINE

Created a transition period allowing currently employed peace officers with permanent residency to retain their positions until August 1, 2031, if they become citizens by that date.

Floor votes · Senate May 11, 2026 · House Apr 15, 2026

How they voted

29–8

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

May 11, 2026

D Democratic12

3 Yea 7 Nay 2

58% Nay

R Republican28

26 Yea 1 Nay 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 74, nays 22, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 29 yeas and 7 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 65, nays 24. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

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

lower

1 primary · 25 co-sponsors