SB 153 clarifies which Louisiana local government employees qualify for supplemental pay by defining eligibility more precisely. It excludes secretarial/clerical staff, maintenance workers, part-time employees, volunteers, and those without certified fire training or an active emergency medical responder license. The bill amends existing law to ensure supplemental pay applies only to specific public safety and support roles meeting these criteria. It does not create new benefits but refines who receives current supplemental pay under existing rules. The bill is currently pending before the Finance Committee.
SB 166 amends Louisiana's criminal procedure code to adjust jury verdict options for specific homicide charges. It removes "guilty of negligent homicide" as a possible verdict for first-degree murder (Article 814(A)(1)) and second-degree murder (Article 814(A)(3)), while adding it as a verdict option for manslaughter (Article 814(A)(5)). The bill also repeals the existing provision for negligent homicide verdicts (Article 814(A)(7)). This directly affects Louisiana criminal trials where juries must choose from specified verdicts when charged with murder or manslaughter offenses. The changes clarify which lesser offenses can be considered as responsive verdicts during jury deliberations.
SB 167 requires plaintiffs to pay all fees for serving legal papers (service of process) upfront before a court can issue the papers, within a 90-day window. This directly affects plaintiffs in civil lawsuits who must deposit sufficient funds with the court clerk to cover these fees before the process begins. If fees aren't paid within the timeframe, the court may dismiss the case without prejudice against defendants for whom service wasn't properly requested or paid. The bill takes effect prospectively, meaning it won't apply to cases filed before its enactment.
SB 183 establishes a new "Reserve Fund" as a special fund within Louisiana's state treasury. It allows money to be added to this fund through legislative transfers, donations, or appropriations, and requires all unspent balances from each fiscal year to remain in the fund. The state treasurer must invest these funds identically to the general fund, with all interest credited back to the Reserve Fund. Withdrawals from the fund can only occur through new legislative appropriations, not automatic spending. This bill creates a structured financial mechanism for managing state funds but does not directly affect specific individuals or organizations.
SB 179 defines the specific geographic boundaries where the Jeanerette City Court has jurisdiction within Iberia Parish, Louisiana. It designates Precincts 10-1, 10-4, 11-6, 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, and the portion of Precinct 11-1 west of Lake Fausse Point. The bill also establishes that within these designated areas outside the city limits, the city court shares jurisdiction concurrently with the justice of the peace for cases typically handled by the justice court. This clarifies which court has authority for certain local matters in these specific precincts.
SB 177 amends Louisiana's auto insurance laws to strengthen consumer protections. It prohibits insurers from raising premiums for policies renewed within 10 days after a lapse, banning rate increases based on non-fault incidents, and preventing discrimination against drivers over 65, those who are deaf/hard of hearing, or volunteer firefighters. The bill also requires policies to use clear language, mandates proof of motorcycle licensing for coverage, and stops insurers from denying collision/comprehensive coverage due to approaching storms. These changes directly affect Louisiana drivers and insurers by limiting unfair practices and ensuring clearer policy terms. The bill is currently prefiling for legislative review.
SB 176 amends Louisiana law to clarify the process for handling complaints about prescribed burns. It requires individuals to report burn-related complaints directly to the forestry commissioner, who must investigate and can suspend or revoke authorization for burns that violate rules. This directly affects landowners, forestry managers, and others conducting prescribed burns, as they must comply with established requirements to maintain their authorization. The bill creates a specific enforcement mechanism for the commissioner to address non-compliance without changing the underlying burn regulations.
This bill (SB 184) names the LSU Gymnastics Training Facility in Baton Rouge as the "Coach D-D Breaux Gymnastics Training Facility." It directly honors Coach D-D Breaux, a former LSU gymnastics coach, by formally renaming the existing state-owned facility on LSU's campus. The bill makes no policy changes or funding provisions - its sole purpose is ceremonial recognition through a building name change. The renaming takes effect upon gubernatorial approval or legislative override of a veto, as specified in the bill.
SB 178 updates Louisiana law to clarify the responsibilities of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. The bill specifically adds river water research and agricultural youth development programs (including FFA and 4-H) to the center's existing duties of managing statewide agricultural extension and research. This change directly affects the LSU Agricultural Center, defining its administrative scope for existing programs. The bill does not create new programs or funding but formally incorporates these activities into the center's legal mandate. It is currently pending review by the Education Committee.
SB 187 creates a dedicated subfund within Louisiana's Parish Transportation Fund, requiring 5% of state oil and gas severance tax revenue (starting July 2026) and all annually appropriated funds to be deposited there. The money can only be used to repair and maintain public roads and bridges in parishes where oil and gas operations occur, directly affecting those parishes' infrastructure budgets. It explicitly prohibits using these funds for bond issuances or other purposes outside this specific transportation use. The subfund will be distributed proportionally to qualifying parishes based on established formulas.
SB 188 amends Louisiana law to clarify that waste of oil or gas is prohibited during extraction, directly affecting oil and gas producers who must comply with this requirement. The bill reenacts Section 30:2 of the state code to explicitly state that waste - defined as inefficient or unnecessary loss during production - is banned. This change provides clearer regulatory language for the Department of Conservation and Energy to enforce conservation standards. The bill is procedural, focusing on defining prohibited practices rather than creating new programs or funding. It is currently under review by the Natural Resources committee.
SB 186 sets annual catch limits for commercial menhaden fishing in Louisiana territorial waters. It requires commercial fishing companies using purse seines to harvest no more than 315 million pounds of menhaden per year. The bill also prohibits possessing more than 5% by weight of any non-menhaden or non-herring-like fish species while fishing. These provisions directly affect commercial menhaden fishing operations in Louisiana.
