SB 55 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

MOTOR VEHICLES: Provides for clarification on the proper way to wear a safety belt. (8/1/26)

SB 55 clarifies how seatbelts must be worn in Louisiana vehicles, requiring drivers and passengers to fasten safety belts across both the lap and shoulder (not behind the body or under the arm) while the vehicle is moving. It directly affects drivers of passenger cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks under 26,000 pounds, excluding vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1981. The bill amends existing law to specify the proper seatbelt positioning without creating new penalties or requirements. This is a procedural clarification of current safety belt rules, not a new policy.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

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 18, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB55 Original → SB55 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill converts a draft proposal into an official enrolled act, finalizing the legislative process for a seatbelt clarification. The substantive policy change remains the addition of language requiring seatbelts to be worn as designed, ensuring drivers and passengers follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding seatbelt usage requirements remains unchanged; only the document format and status were updated.

TECHNICAL

Added official titles and signatures for the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor to finalize the bill as an enrolled act.

Removed original draft headers, legislative services notes, and the preliminary digest explaining the bill's intent.

Updated the page count from 2 pages to 1 page and changed the document status from 'ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED ACT No. 236'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026 · House May 12, 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 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, 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 (15-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

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 11, 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 Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors