SB 164 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Provides relative to first responders. (gov sig)

SB 164 expands Louisiana's definition of "first responder" to include public works employees - specifically those maintaining municipal or parish infrastructure - who are only classified as first responders during governor-declared emergencies. The bill adds "public works employee" to statutory definitions, clarifying they qualify as first responders only for emergency response, recovery, and prevention activities under the governor's emergency declaration. It also permits public works employees to display "first responder" on their uniforms during such emergencies. These changes update existing statutes (R.S. 29:723, 29:739) to align definitions with emergency response protocols.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB164 Original → SB164 Act 467 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the legal definition of 'first responders' to explicitly include public works employees, such as those maintaining city streets and infrastructure. It clarifies that these workers are only considered first responders during emergencies declared by the governor, allowing them to wear official uniforms and participate in mutual aid agreements with other emergency services.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of who qualifies as a first responder to include municipal and parish public works employees, whereas the previous law did not explicitly list this group.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'public works employee' as anyone working for a municipal or parish department responsible for maintaining infrastructure.

ELIGIBILITY

Granted public works employees the status of 'first responders' specifically during governor-declared emergencies.

REQUIREMENT

Authorized the display of the 'first responder' title on the uniforms of public works employees.

SCOPE

Included public works employees as skilled support personnel eligible for the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's sponsor list to include Representative Carver and changed the session status to 'Enrolled'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026 · House May 18, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 17, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

May 11, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (14-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor