HB 808 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to the intentional exposure to HIV (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 808 (Louisiana) amends criminal law to define and penalize intentional HIV exposure without consent. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit HIV through sexual contact, sharing needles without consent, or other contact posing a "substantial likelihood of transmission" (defined as contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid with significant medical risk). The bill specifies higher penalties for exposing first responders (fines up to $6,000, 11 years imprisonment) and includes affirmative defenses if the victim knew of the HIV status and consented, or if medical advice confirmed non-infectious status with disclosure. It also explicitly classifies this offense as a "sex offense" under Louisiana law for sentencing purposes. The bill does not criminalize low-risk conduct, as clarified in Section E.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB808 Original → HB808 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the law regarding intentional exposure to HIV by clarifying the specific acts that constitute a crime, including sexual contact and sharing needles. It introduces a new, stricter penalty for exposing first responders to the virus and adds a new procedural requirement for defendants to notify prosecutors early if they plan to use medical records as a defense. The bill also refines the legal definition of 'first responder' and clarifies what constitutes a 'substantial likelihood of transmission'.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the offense to explicitly include first responders and adds a new procedural chapter to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding medical condition notices.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'first responder' was updated to include probation and parole officers alongside police, fire, and medical personnel.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalties for exposing a first responder to HIV were increased from a maximum of six thousand dollars and eleven years to reflect the severity of the act.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement mandates that defendants must notify the district attorney in writing at least ten days before trial if they intend to use medical records or testimony to prove their non-infectious status as an affirmative defense.

The specific acts constituting the crime were reorganized to clearly list sexual contact, sharing needles, and any other means of transmission without consent.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 12, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 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

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (8-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor