HB 868 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

MTR VEHICLE/TRAILERS: Provides relative to the requirement that trailers have approved safety chains while being towed by certain vehicles

HB 868 requires all trailers and semi-trailers under 6,000 pounds gross weight (when being towed) to have safety chains or approved safety devices securely attached to the towing vehicle. These chains must be strong enough to hold the trailer if the primary hitch connection fails, eliminating previous exemptions for farm equipment and other trailers. The law directly affects all drivers towing such trailers on Louisiana highways, mandating specific safety standards to prevent accidents from detached trailers. It updates existing vehicle safety regulations by specifying chain strength and attachment requirements under Louisiana law.
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
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed Jun 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB868 Original HB868 Act 778 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Louisiana's vehicle safety laws to modernize brake requirements and clarify safety chain rules. It raises the weight threshold for mandatory trailer brakes from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds and introduces a new exemption for light pole trailers. The law also expands private property exceptions and tightens rules for farm equipment towing to ensure safety while reducing unnecessary burdens on agricultural operations.
Scope change
The scope of mandatory brake requirements was expanded for vehicles originally manufactured with brakes, while specific exemptions for farm equipment were clarified and slightly restricted to ensure compliance on public roadways.
REQUIREMENT

Raised the gross weight threshold for mandatory trailer brakes from 1,500 pounds to 3,000 pounds.

Added an exemption from brake mandates for four-wheel pole trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less.

Clarified that safety chains must be strong enough to hold the trailer if the primary connection breaks.

Adjusted the weight threshold for non-agricultural trailers exempt from brakes from 3,000 to 7,000 pounds.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated farm equipment exemptions to explicitly require compliance with specific safety chain and drawbar rules when operating on public roads.

Floor votes · Senate May 20, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
May 20, 2026
D Democratic12
11 Yea 1
91% Yea
R Republican28
27 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 20, 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 12, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 1. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (14-0).
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 · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jason DeWitt
Jason DeWitt
RRepublican
LA
25