HB 431 requires mayors and governing authorities in Louisiana municipalities with 15,000 or fewer residents (per the latest federal census) to complete 16 hours annually of state-approved training. The training covers specific topics like ethics, harassment prevention, cybersecurity, procurement, and emergency preparedness, organized into 13 categories by the Louisiana Municipal Association. Compliance will be verified through annual attestation included with municipal financial reports and publicly listed by the legislative auditor. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to elected officials but not temporary appointees serving less than one year.
HB 119 makes it a crime to unlawfully share, sell, or possess AI-generated images of another person that show nudity or intimate body parts without authorization, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate. It directly affects anyone creating or distributing such AI images without permission, especially targeting cases involving minors (under 17), which carry harsher penalties. The law imposes penalties of up to one year in prison for general violations and up to five years (with at least one year mandatory) if the victim is a minor. It also adds new provisions to existing laws about "sexting" involving AI-generated intimate images. The bill creates specific criminal penalties for these actions without addressing broader policy impacts.
HB 750, the "Click-to-Cancel Act," requires businesses in Louisiana to clearly disclose automatic renewal terms before consumers sign up for subscriptions and provide an easy way to cancel. It directly affects consumers who subscribe to services (like streaming or software) and businesses offering those subscriptions. Key provisions mandate that businesses: (1) show all renewal details (including charges and cancellation policy) in clear, visible language before payment; (2) give a simple cancellation method as easy as signing up; and (3) keep records of consumer consent for at least three years. The law aims to prevent hidden charges and make it straightforward for consumers to stop recurring payments.
This bill strengthens privacy protections for sensitive information handled by child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams in Louisiana. It establishes that work product - including forensic interviews, medical records, and case notes - created during child abuse investigations is confidential and exempt from public records requests, subpoenas, and most legal discovery. The law requires these organizations to adopt written confidentiality policies that limit information sharing to authorized team members and allow disclosure only through court orders or specific legal exceptions. These provisions aim to protect the privacy of children and families while enabling professionals to collaborate effectively on abuse investigations.
HB 807 establishes a special fund within Louisiana's state treasury to support the Community and Technical College System's workforce training programs. It directly affects community colleges and private-sector employers in high-demand industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology by providing funding to hire more instructors and expand training capacity. Key provisions include using the fund for rapid-response instructor deployment, recruitment incentives, temporary instructors, and salary supplements - while prohibiting these funds from replacing existing state higher education funding. The program requires annual reporting to legislative committees on fund usage, supported industries, and credentials awarded.
HB 874 allows Louisiana state-issued credentials (like professional licenses and IDs) to be provided digitally through electronic wallets. It requires the Commissioner of Administration to work with specific groups - including the Louisiana State Bar Association (for bar membership cards), the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (for referee credentials), and Louisiana universities (for faculty/student IDs) - to implement these digital options. The bill does not change existing credential requirements but adds a digital format option for approved credentials. This affects professionals and institutions that currently issue physical credentials, making them accessible via mobile wallets. The bill focuses on enabling digital delivery, not altering the underlying credential rules.
This bill requires courts to charge defendants an additional three-dollar fee, reduced to one dollar in smaller municipalities, to fund a trial court case management information system. The money collected is placed in a special state fund managed by the judicial administrator, which can only be used to develop and maintain computer systems that help judges, clerks, law enforcement, and other officials manage criminal and juvenile justice cases more efficiently. The bill also establishes the administrator's role in coordinating with policy boards and conducting compliance checks to ensure the fees are properly collected and spent.
HB 134 requires interactive computer services (like social media platforms) that create accounts for minors to stop delivering or displaying material defined as harmful to minors (per existing law) and to avoid using algorithms to promote such content to minors. It prohibits platforms from creating or developing harmful material for minors' accounts and bans algorithmic amplification of such content. Violations can result in civil fines up to $10,000 per incident, but platforms get 45 days to fix issues before enforcement begins. Fines collected fund consumer protection efforts, and the law takes effect January 1, 2027.
SB 80 establishes Louisiana's Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity as the sole authority to oversee and enforce compliance for state-funded broadband programs like GUMBO 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. It requires broadband providers receiving state funds to meet specific deployment milestones (e.g., 10%, 35%, 60%, 85%, and 100% coverage) before receiving payments, with final disbursements contingent on verified completion. The bill also creates a formal process for residents and municipalities to file complaints about service issues like slow speeds, pricing, or coverage gaps, and authorizes the office to impose penalties for noncompliance. These provisions directly affect broadband grantees, providers using state funds, and residents in areas covered by Louisiana's broadband initiatives.
SB 251 establishes the "Louisiana Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2026" to safeguard critical infrastructure - including gas/oil systems, water delivery, telecommunications, power grids, emergency services, and transportation systems - from foreign adversaries. The bill prohibits companies and government entities from entering agreements that allow foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations) to access or control critical infrastructure, and bans the use of adversary cameras and laser sensors in Louisiana transportation systems. Companies must certify their access, conduct background checks on employees with infrastructure access, store data outside foreign adversary countries, and report cyber incidents to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, with exceptions only for unavoidable needs approved by that office. This directly affects businesses and government agencies operating critical infrastructure in Louisiana.