SB 185 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

SEX OFFENSES: Provides that nondisclosure agreements involving victims of child sexual abuse are against public policy and unenforceable. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 185 makes it illegal for agreements to prevent child sexual abuse victims from discussing or disclosing their abuse. The bill declares that any nondisclosure agreement involving such victims is unenforceable in court and against public policy. This directly affects victims in Louisiana by removing legal barriers to speaking about their experiences. The law ensures victims cannot be silenced through binding contracts, focusing solely on this specific policy change.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2253, Pressly, Adopted SB185 Act · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a draft amendment document into an official enrolled Act, adding formal legislative headers and signatures. Substantively, the new law defines 'sexual abuse' and establishes that nondisclosure clauses in contracts are void if they prevent victims of child sexual abuse from disclosing the abuse or supporting such disclosures. It also clarifies that these protections apply retroactively to agreements made before the law's effective date.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a proposed amendment to an enacted statute that applies retroactively to all nondisclosure agreements, regardless of when they were signed.
DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'minor' and 'sexual abuse' to clarify the law's application.

ENFORCEMENT

Established that nondisclosure clauses preventing victims from disclosing child sexual abuse are void and unenforceable.

TIMELINE

Included a retroactive provision ensuring the law applies to agreements entered into before the effective date.

TECHNICAL

Converted the document format from a Senate Floor Bureau Note to an official Enrolled Act with signatures and statutory numbering.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 20, 2026 · House May 12, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
Apr 20, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
27 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 6, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (9-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors