HB 546 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS: Provides relative to the ability of peace officers to take a person into protective custody

HB 546 amends Louisiana law to clarify when peace officers can take individuals into protective custody for immediate medical evaluation. It requires officers to have reasonable grounds based on personal observation or credible third-party information that a person is either a danger to themselves/others, gravely disabled, or at substantial risk of serious harm without immediate intervention. The bill specifies that officers must transport such individuals only to designated treatment facilities, following existing department procedures. This directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals experiencing acute mental health crises requiring urgent care.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB546 Original → HB546 Act 556 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the original version of HB 546 to reflect its final approval as Act 556. The primary substantive change is the addition of four new co-sponsors to the bill, while the core legal text regarding protective custody remains consistent with the original draft. The final version also includes standard enrollment markings and signatures from the Governor, confirming the law's official status.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains unchanged; it still authorizes peace officers to take individuals into protective custody under specific conditions. The only change in scope is the expansion of the list of legislators who sponsored the bill.

TECHNICAL

Added four new co-sponsors (Representatives Chassion, Fisher, Jackson, and Knox) to the list of bill sponsors.

Changed the document title from 'HB 546 Original' to 'ENROLLED' and updated the act number to 'ACT No. 556' to signify final passage.

Added official signatures and titles for the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and Governor to certify the bill as law.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2026 · House Apr 7, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

May 21, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% 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 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 14, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

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 Health and Welfare.

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors