HB 846 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Prohibits drivers from obscuring license plates with coverings or films

HB 846 prohibits drivers from covering or obscuring license plates with films, coverings, or substances that reduce visibility, legibility, or reflectivity. It directly affects drivers who apply decorative films, frames, or other materials to their plates. The bill requires plates to be clearly visible at all times and sets fines of up to $75 for a first offense and $250 for repeat violations. This law amends Louisiana's vehicle code to ensure license plates remain fully readable for law enforcement and identification purposes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB846 Original HB846 Act 322 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to add a co-sponsor, adjust the effective date to January 1, 2027, and refine the legal definitions and penalty structure for obscuring license plates. The changes clarify that the prohibition covers a wider range of materials and devices, including electronic and nonelectronic items, and explicitly define 'obscure' to include any reduction in visibility, legibility, or reflectivity from any angle.
Scope change
The scope of prohibited items was expanded to explicitly include 'nonelectronic devices' alongside electronic ones, and the definition of obscuring behavior was broadened to cover any angle of view.
TIMELINE

Added a specific effective date of January 1, 2027, to the act.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of prohibited items to explicitly include 'nonelectronic devices' in addition to electronic ones.

DEFINITION

Refined the definition of 'obscure' to ensure it applies to any action that diminishes visibility, legibility, or reflectivity when viewed from any angle.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Representative Mandie Landry as a co-sponsor alongside Representative Bayham.

Floor votes · Senate May 11, 2026 · House Mar 23, 2026

How they voted

351
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 11, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
25 Yea 1 Nay 2
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 94, nays 2, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 1 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (15-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors