SB 427: DONATIONS: Provides for procedures and methods to execute gifts under the Anatomical Gift Act. (1/1/27) - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1758, Pressly, Adopted → SB427 Act 511 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Louisiana's anatomical gift laws to modernize definitions and clarify who can make decisions regarding organ donation. It replaces outdated terms with precise legal definitions and expands the list of individuals authorized to make or refuse a gift on behalf of a minor donor.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of applicability by explicitly including 'fetus' and 'stillborn infant' in the definition of a decedent, subject to legal restrictions, and clarifies the status of emancipated minors in the decision-making process.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'adult' with a specific definition of a person who has attained eighteen years of age.

Added a new definition for 'agent' to clarify who is authorized to make health care decisions, including those with a power of attorney or other signed records.

Introduced new definitions for 'anatomical gift', 'authorization', 'consent', 'decadent', 'disinterested witness', 'document of gift', 'donation after brain death', 'donation after circulatory death', 'donor registry', 'driver's license', 'eye bank', 'fishing license', 'guardian', 'hospital', 'hunting license', 'identification card', 'know', 'legally effective', 'minor', 'organ procurement organization', 'parent', 'part', 'person', and 'therapeutic use'.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated eligibility criteria for minors to explicitly include those who are emancipated, authorized to apply for a driver's license, legally married, or have a guardian.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for the recovery of organs or tissue following the determination of death based on brain function or circulatory cessation.

SB427 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1758, Pressly, Adopted · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add a new section defining who can make anatomical gifts before death, expanding eligibility to include emancipated minors and parents of unemancipated minors. It also clarifies that minors cannot make gifts unless they fall into these specific categories, ensuring the process is accessible to those with legal autonomy while maintaining protections for children.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include emancipated minors and parents of unemancipated minors as authorized parties to make anatomical gifts, whereas the original text focused primarily on adults and agents.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new section (2352) specifying that emancipated minors and parents of unemancipated minors may make anatomical gifts.

Clarified that minors generally cannot make gifts unless they are emancipated or legally married, and added an exception for parents of unemancipated minors.

REQUIREMENT

Updated references to ensure consistency with the new eligibility rules regarding who can execute a gift.

SB427 Enrolled → SB427 Original · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from an Enrolled version to an Original version and updated its summary to clarify that it provides procedures for executing anatomical gifts. The text of the definitions section was reorganized and renumbered, but the substantive legal definitions of terms like 'Adult' and 'Agent' remain consistent with the previous version.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains unchanged; the revision is primarily a procedural update to the bill's numbering and a clarification of its purpose in the summary.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from 'ENROLLED' to 'ORIGINAL', indicating a procedural status update rather than a change in law.

DEFINITION

The definitions section was renumbered and restructured (e.g., definitions previously numbered 4 and 6 are now 4 and 6 in a different sequence), but the actual definitions of terms like 'Agent' and 'Anatomical gift' were not substantively altered.

REQUIREMENT

The summary of the act was updated to explicitly state that the bill provides 'procedures and methods to execute gifts under the Anatomical Gift Act', clarifying the bill's practical application.

SB427 Reengrossed → SB427 Enrolled · 4 edits · May 25, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, removing the reengrossed status and the summary description of the bill's purpose. The definitions section was updated to clarify that an 'Agent' must be explicitly authorized by a record to make an anatomical gift, and the definitions for 'Donation after brain death' and 'Donation after circulatory death' were swapped to correct their descriptions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on anatomical gift procedures, but the definition of who can act as an agent was refined to require explicit written authorization.

TECHNICAL

Removed the header indicating the document was 'REENGROSSED' and replaced it with 'ENROLLED', signifying the final version ready for signing.

Deleted the summary line describing the bill's purpose regarding donations under the Anatomical Gift Act.

DEFINITION

Added language to the definition of 'Agent' to clarify that authorization must come from a specific record signed by the principal, rather than just a power of attorney.

Swapped the definitions for 'Donation after brain death' and 'Donation after circulatory death' to ensure each term correctly describes the specific medical criteria for death.

SB427 Engrossed → SB427 Reengrossed · 2 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to correct a clerical error in the list of Revised Statutes being amended, adding R.S. 17:2352 to the scope of changes. Additionally, the bill's title was slightly adjusted to improve clarity by explicitly stating 'anatomical gift' instead of just 'gifts'. These changes ensure the legislation accurately reflects the intended laws being modified and clarifies the subject matter for readers.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes R.S. 17:2352 in the list of statutes to be amended and reenacted, expanding the scope of the legislative update.

TECHNICAL

Added R.S. 17:2352 to the list of statutes to be amended and reenacted in the bill's title and operative text.

Changed the title from 'relative to anatomical gifts' to 'relative to anatomical gifts; to provide requirements and methods for executing an anatomical gift' to improve clarity and consistency.

DONATIONS: Provides for procedures and methods to execute gifts under the Anatomical Gift Act. (1/1/27)

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors