SB 327 designates the oldest French-language Bible in the Louisiana State Museum (a 1510s edition printed by Johannes Prevel and Jean Petit) as Louisiana's official state book. It also amends education law to formally recognize French immersion programs in K-12 schools, citing research that shows these programs improve English proficiency, academic achievement, and self-esteem for students. The bill emphasizes how French immersion preserves Louisiana's unique bilingual culture, history, and traditions. It does not create new funding or alter school operations but serves as a cultural acknowledgment. The bill is currently pending before the Education Committee (prefiled February 27, 2026).
SB 316 amends Louisiana law to establish clear funding rules for the state's Public Defender Fund, directly affecting public defender offices across all judicial districts. The bill sets a minimum annual deposit amount calculated by multiplying district attorney warrants by a specific value (including retirement benefits) plus a $15,000 supplement per warrant. It mandates that at least 75% of the fund must be allocated each year to district public defender offices and indigent defender funds, while allowing the state public defender to distribute remaining funds for supplemental assistance. The law ensures funds are used exclusively for implementing the Louisiana Public Defender Act and related programs.
SB 342, the Voter Protection Act, creates new Louisiana law to protect voters from intimidation, misinformation, and barriers to registration and voting. It prohibits threatening language, false information about voting requirements, or interference near polling places (within 600 feet), with fines up to $5,000 or jail time for violations. The bill also extends voter registration deadlines by seven days, requires multilingual registration materials, mandates clear notifications for inactive voter registrations, and protects nonpartisan voter assistance providers. These changes directly affect all Louisiana voters, election officials, and organizations helping voters register or cast ballots, effective August 1, 2026.
HB 542 provides an additional $600 monthly supplemental pay to full-time sworn law enforcement officers employed by certain Baton Rouge-based police agencies (excluding state departments like Public Safety). To qualify, officers must have completed one year of service and, if hired after March 31, 1986, must have passed a council-certified training program. The extra pay is funded from the agency’s self-generated revenue and applies specifically to officers patrolling levees, waterways, riverfronts, or bridges within Baton Rouge city limits. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects eligible officers in Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies meeting these criteria.
HB 831 prohibits contractors and insurers from charging different prices for similar property repair work based solely on whether an insurer will cover the cost. It bans price discrimination where higher fees are set because insurers pay part of the bill, while allowing exceptions for pre-negotiated preferred vendor programs. Insurers must consistently apply pricing databases for claims, avoiding selective use of lower rates without documented justification. Violations can lead to fines, license suspension, or revocation for contractors and insurers under Louisiana insurance law. The bill applies only to property damage claims, excluding auto and health insurance.
HB 373 establishes Louisiana's first temporary adult-use cannabis pilot program, limited to existing therapeutic marijuana retailers and cultivators authorized under current law. It allows these permitted businesses to sell cannabis to adults 21+ using the existing Louisiana Medical Marijuana Tracking System (LMMTS), with strict requirements for testing, reporting, and age verification. The pilot program aims to evaluate the feasibility of a permanent adult-use system by testing real-world operations, gathering data, and identifying challenges before any permanent rollout. The program will run for a defined period (with a termination date specified in the bill) and does not affect the separate therapeutic marijuana program for medical patients.
HB 343 creates parole eligibility in Louisiana for individuals who were 18-20 years old at the time of committing their offense and are serving 30+ year sentences. To qualify, they must have served 25 years, have no major disciplinary issues in the prior 36 months, complete 100 hours of prerelease programming, substance abuse treatment (if applicable), and one of several educational or job skills programs, while also receiving a low-risk assessment and completing a reentry program. The bill specifically applies to first-time offenders with no prior sex offenses or life imprisonment convictions. It establishes concrete, measurable requirements for parole consideration rather than altering sentencing laws.
HB 298 expands Louisiana's definition of third-degree rape to include non-consensual sexual acts committed when a victim is confined in a correctional facility (such as a jail, prison, or detention center). This specifically affects victims held in such facilities by making their exploitation a distinct criminal offense under third-degree rape. The bill adds a new provision (Section A(5)) to the law, clarifying that confinement in a correctional facility is one circumstance where rape is deemed non-consensual. It also defines "correctional facility" broadly and states that "simple rape" and "third-degree rape" are now synonymous under this law.
This Louisiana bill establishes new rules requiring companies that offer artificial intelligence chatbots to verify user ages and restrict access for minors. It prohibits developers from creating AI systems that can interact with children in ways that encourage sexual behavior, self-harm, or violence. Covered entities must implement age verification processes, prevent minors from using AI companions, and clearly disclose that the chatbot is not a human or licensed professional. Violations can result in criminal charges, civil fines, and legal action by the state attorney general.
HB 412 proposes a constitutional amendment to change Louisiana's property tax system. It would require property to be reassessed every five years (instead of four), limit yearly increases in homestead tax bills to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate, and create a new exemption for homes where owners have paid property taxes for 30+ consecutive years. These changes would directly affect homeowners with homestead properties, particularly those who have owned their homes for decades. The amendment, if approved by voters in November 2026, would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
HB 424 modifies Louisiana's rules for issuing certain alcohol permits. It requires a local vote (local option election) before new off-premises alcohol permits (Class B or C) can be granted in areas that were previously prohibition zones but have been annexed into municipalities that allow alcohol sales. The law does not affect permits already issued before the bill's effective date. It specifically applies only to Class B and C retail permits for off-premises alcohol sales in these annexed areas.
HB 262 removes a requirement for Louisiana high school students to pass state-administered end-of-course tests (like the LEAP assessments) to earn a diploma. It states that students who successfully complete all required coursework (Carnegie units) for graduation will automatically receive a high school diploma, regardless of their test scores. The bill directly affects all Louisiana public high school students by eliminating a barrier to graduation tied to standardized testing. This policy change shifts graduation eligibility solely to course completion, not test performance, for the first time under Louisiana's current framework.
