SB 339 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

GAMING: Provides relative to criminal background checks in the gaming industry. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)

SB 339 requires background checks for individuals applying to work in Louisiana's horse racing and charitable gaming industries. It mandates that applicants submit fingerprints to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification for state and national criminal history checks, including records that were expunged or dismissed. The bill specifies that license applicants (for the Racing Commission or Office of Charitable Gaming) must cover the costs of these checks, and the Louisiana Department of Justice will review the results during licensing. These checks apply to all applicants seeking licenses for gaming operations, ensuring criminal history is reviewed as part of the licensing process.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB339 Original → SB339 Act 494 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its final passage as Act No. 494, changing the session status from 'Original' to 'Enrolled' and reducing the page count from 11 to 10. Substantively, the bill's scope was broadened from regulating the general gaming industry to specifically targeting charitable gaming, with new definitions and authority granted to the Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming instead of the State Racing Commission.

Scope change

The bill's focus shifted from the general gaming industry to specifically charitable gaming, replacing the State Racing Commission with the Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming as the primary regulatory body.

SCOPE

The bill's title and introductory text were updated to reflect its status as an enrolled Act (Act No. 494) rather than an original draft, and the page count was adjusted.

The primary regulatory agency was changed from the Louisiana State Racing Commission to the Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added to clarify terms such as 'Bureau', 'Criminal history record information', 'FBI', 'Licensee', and 'Office' specifically within the context of charitable gaming.

REQUIREMENT

The authority to request criminal history records and use fingerprints was updated to apply to the Office of Charitable Gaming, with eligibility standards now referencing specific charitable gaming statutes (R.S. 4:704, 705, 708, and 718) instead of general suitability standards.

New provisions were added stating that all criminal history information obtained must be available for review by the Louisiana Department of Justice as part of license applications.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 30, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Mar 30, 2026

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% 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

Amendments

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 24, 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 · 0 co-sponsors