HB 1012 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides relative to access to personal information of a victim of a sex offense

This bill modifies how victims of sex offenses can access their personal information in public records by requiring them to submit supporting documentation when making a request. Specifically, it mandates that victims include a police report, protective order, or final judgment proving their status as a victim or alleged victim of a sex offense along with their access request. The legislative changes renumber certain subsections within the public records law to accommodate this new documentation requirement. This measure directly affects victims of sex offenses seeking to control the public availability of their identifying information. The bill passed the House with unanimous approval and was sent to the Senate for further consideration.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 26, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1012 Original → HB1012 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands privacy protections to include victims of sex offenses, treating them the same as judges and other protected individuals. It requires public bodies to acknowledge removal requests within five days and remove published information within 72 hours, which is faster than the previous 10-day rule. Violations now carry stricter penalties, including up to 18 months in prison or a $5,000 fine.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from protecting specific public officials (like judges and legislators) to also include victims of sex offenses.

ELIGIBILITY

Added victims of sex offenses to the list of individuals whose personal information is protected from public publication.

TIMELINE

Reduced the time for public bodies to acknowledge removal requests from 10 days to 5 days and to remove information from 72 hours.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased criminal penalties for unauthorized publication to include up to 18 months in prison or a $5,000 fine.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that a victim's request for removal must include a police report, protective order, or final judgment proving their status.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 12, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 843 reported by the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs (12-0).

lower

1 primary · 27 co-sponsors