HB 535 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

PATERNITY: Provides relative to authentic acts for acknowledgment of paternity

HB 535 simplifies paternity acknowledgment for parents using hospital-based programs in Louisiana. It requires both parents to sign the form, which must be notarized (replacing the previous need for two witnesses), making the signed document legally valid for changing a child's paternity record with the state. This applies to parents aged 18 or older who choose to acknowledge paternity through hospitals. Minors under 18 are excluded and must follow other legal procedures to establish paternity. The bill changes the process to streamline legal recognition without altering parental rights or responsibilities.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB535 Original → HB535 Act 304 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was formally enrolled and approved into law as Act No. 304, finalizing the legislative process for HB 535. The substantive policy content regarding paternity acknowledgment requirements remains consistent with the original draft, specifically removing the requirement for two witnesses on hospital-based forms. The primary changes are administrative, including the addition of multiple co-sponsors and the inclusion of governor's approval signatures.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to apply to parents establishing paternity through hospital-based programs, excluding those under eighteen.

TECHNICAL

Added signatures of the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and Governor, along with the 'ENROLLED' status, indicating the bill has passed all legislative stages and is now law.

Expanded the list of co-sponsors to include Representatives Adams, Amedee, Bayham, Berault, Billings, Boyer, Butler, Carver, Dickerson, Edmonston, Egan, Fisher, Horton, Lacombe, LaFleur, McFarland, Owen, and Wyble.

Removed the 'DIGEST' section, which is a non-binding summary prepared by legislative services and is not part of the official law.

Updated header information to reflect the bill's transition from 'Original' draft to 'Act No. 304' and 'Enrolled' status.

Floor votes · Senate May 18, 2026 · House Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 18, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. 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 6, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (11-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

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

lower

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors