SB 87 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Provides for consistent definition of "commercial sexual activity". (8/1/26)

SB 87 clarifies and standardizes the definition of "commercial sexual activity" across Louisiana's human trafficking and child trafficking laws. It defines this term as any sexual act performed when something of value (like money or goods) is exchanged, including the creation or sharing of child sexual abuse materials. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling trafficking cases by creating a consistent legal standard for charging offenses under both R.S. 14:46.2 and 14:46.3. The bill ensures the same definition applies to both adult human trafficking and child trafficking for sexual purposes, removing potential ambiguity in prosecution.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Signed May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB87 Original → SB87 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill expands the legal definition of 'commercial sexual activity' to include lewd or lascivious acts, not just sexual acts. It also broadens the scope to explicitly cover the transmission of child sexual abuse materials and pornography, ensuring these specific actions are treated as commercial sexual activity when value is exchanged.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the law to cover a wider range of behaviors (lewd acts in addition to sexual acts) and specific digital content (child sexual abuse materials and pornography).

DEFINITION

The definition of 'commercial sexual activity' was changed to include any 'sexual or lewd or lascivious act' instead of just 'sexual act'.

The definition now explicitly includes the 'transmission of child sexual abuse materials or pornography' as part of commercial sexual activity.

ELIGIBILITY

The bill adds 'AND MORRIS' to the list of sponsors.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 30, 2026 · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Mar 30, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 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 5, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (11-0). 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 35 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 C.

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors