SB 77 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

LEASES: Provides for effects of leases of movable property. (8/1/26)

SB 77 clarifies rules for leases of movable property (like equipment or vehicles) in Louisiana. It states that a lease by someone who doesn't own the item can still bind the owner if the lessor has the owner's permission to possess the item, is a regular merchant leasing similar items, and leases at fair value to a lessee who reasonably believes the lessor has the right to lease. The bill also specifies that a lease of movable property affects third parties (like new owners) only after the item is actually delivered to a good-faith lessee. This primarily affects businesses leasing movable property, their lessees, and property owners who lend items to such businesses.

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 20, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB77 Original → SB77 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the Louisiana Civil Code to clarify how leases of movable property (like cars or equipment) affect the original owner when the lessor does not own the item. It introduces a new rule protecting lessees who lease from merchants in good faith, aligning Louisiana law with the Uniform Commercial Code to ensure business transactions remain stable even if the seller later loses the item.

Scope change

The bill expands legal protections for lessees of movable property by establishing a specific 'entrustment' doctrine, whereas the previous text only contained the new rule without the explanatory context.

DEFINITION

Added a new paragraph to Article 2674 explicitly stating that a lease of movable property binds the owner if the lessor had possession with the owner's consent, was a merchant, and leased for fair value in the regular course of business.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed revision comments explaining the legal basis for the new rule, citing the Uniform Commercial Code and defining key terms like 'possession' and 'good faith' to guide future legal interpretation.

TECHNICAL

Updated document headers and page counts to reflect the final enrolled version of the act.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House May 12, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% 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 96, 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 (8-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Mar 24, 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 17, 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 A.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors