HB 764 establishes the Louisiana State Contract Minority Business Opportunity Act to increase participation by minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses (MBE/DBEs) in state contracts. It sets mandatory participation goals: 30% of total state contract dollars by 2031-2032 (with interim targets), 25% for construction contracts over $50,000, and 30% for professional services over $25,000. State agencies and prime contractors must track participation, report quarterly, and implement outreach, while noncompliance may trigger payment withholdings or contract disqualification. The law requires a disparity study by 2027 to update goals based on market data and mandates annual public reporting on progress.
HB 560 amends Louisiana law to update the stated purpose of hospital service districts. It adds a specific objective requiring these districts and their governing boards to cooperate with other public and private healthcare facilities serving district residents. This change clarifies that district boards must work with hospitals and health agencies to provide services. The bill directly affects hospital service districts and their governing bodies across Louisiana. The amendment is procedural and does not create new funding or mandates.
HB 865 requires healthcare facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers) operating within a hospital service district to obtain written consent from that district before providing services. It defines key terms such as "healthcare facility" and "affiliate" to clarify which entities are covered and establishes a formal process for obtaining consent. The bill mandates that facilities provide notice to the district and follow specific procedures to secure this agreement before operating. Hospital service districts and all healthcare facilities within their boundaries are directly affected by these requirements. This law aims to standardize consent procedures without altering existing district governance structures.
HB 777 requires all Louisiana drivers renewing a Class "E" license to pass a knowledge exam every eight years. The exam covers state traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices (including distracted driving), with a minimum passing score of 80%. Drivers failing the exam get three free retakes and a temporary 90-day license to retake it, but must pass within that period to avoid suspension. The bill eliminates the previous third-party tester requirement, mandates multiple test formats (online, in-person, mobile), and prohibits extra fees for the exam during renewal. It takes effect January 1, 2028, with the DMV required to report annual exam data to lawmakers.
HB 701 is a procedural redistricting bill that defines the geographic boundaries for Louisiana's 39 Senate districts. It specifies which precincts in each parish will be grouped into individual districts for electing state senators, replacing the previous district map. The bill directly affects all Louisiana voters by determining which senator represents their specific geographic area. It does not change voting rules, policies, or create new programs - only reassigns precincts into new district configurations. The bill is currently in early stages, having been prefilled and referred to committee.
HB 671 prohibits private companies from requesting or using eminent domain (property takings) for geologic carbon dioxide storage projects. It directly affects landowners whose property might be targeted for such storage, as it restricts expropriation to government entities only. The bill requires Louisiana's Department of Conservation to appoint a neutral acquisition agent (not a private company) to manage all property acquisition processes for CO2 storage, with the expropriating authority reimbursing the department for related costs. This proposed bill, currently pending in committee, would change how property takings for carbon storage are handled in Louisiana but does not yet affect current operations.
HB 787 removes computer science as a mandatory course requirement for Louisiana students seeking TOPS-Tech scholarships. The bill amends the state's education code to change the "nine credits in Jump Start course sequences" requirement so that computer science is no longer a fixed credit; students may now fulfill this credit with other approved career-focused courses instead. This directly affects high school students in Louisiana who qualify for TOPS-Tech awards by altering the specific course requirements they must complete. The change simplifies the path to TOPS eligibility by offering flexibility in course selection within career pathways.
HB 278 requires East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court to live stream all proceedings (including status conferences) online for public viewing, starting January 1, 2027. It mandates that costs for live streaming technology be covered by the Court Modernization and Technology Fund, not by court users. The bill also specifies that custody hearings may only be closed to the public if a judge finds good cause and all parties agree in writing. Minors in custody cases may use initials or pseudonyms during proceedings. This applies directly to East Baton Rouge Family Court operations and the public seeking access to court records.
HB 742 removes a requirement that applicants for the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program and Medicaid must have certain immunizations. The bill repeals specific sections of Louisiana law (R.S. 46:231.4 and Section 13 of Act No. 478) that previously mandated these vaccinations for program eligibility. It directs the Department of Children and Family Services and the Louisiana Department of Health to update their rules to align with this change. This policy change directly affects individuals applying for these two public assistance programs by eliminating a vaccination prerequisite.
HB 612 prohibits Louisiana insurance companies from including "institutional advertising expenses" when calculating insurance rates. The bill amends rate regulation statutes to explicitly exclude these advertising costs from the definition of "expenses" used in rate-setting, affecting all insurers operating in Louisiana. This change requires insurers to base rates solely on other operational costs like acquisition, field supervision, and general expenses, not on marketing or brand advertising budgets.
HB 518 divides Lake Charles City Court's two judicial seats into two election districts based on specific Calcasieu Parish precincts. It requires one judge to be elected from Precincts 300-305, 307-313, and 315-330 (Section 1), and the other from Precincts 306, 314, 315W-326, and 331-372 (Section 2). This change affects all Lake Charles residents who vote in city court elections, as their ballot will be counted within their designated precinct section. The bill establishes these boundaries for future elections but does not alter the court's jurisdiction or create new policies.
HB 528 proposes a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Louisiana state legislators. It would bar senators or representatives who have served more than two and a half terms in three consecutive terms (since 1996) from running for re-election for a full decade after their third consecutive term ends. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2026 election, where voters would decide whether to adopt this 10-year ban on re-election for term-limited lawmakers. If approved, it would change the current term limit rules under Article III, Section 4(E) of the Louisiana Constitution.
