HB 12 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS: Extends surviving spouse benefits for a reserve officer killed in the line of duty (EN +$250,000 GF EX See Note)

This bill extends surviving spouse benefits to reserve and auxiliary law enforcement officers in Louisiana who die while on duty. It modifies existing law to include these officers under the same eligibility rules as commissioned officers, specifically when they die while: (1) traveling to or from a public safety emergency, or (2) commuting between their residence and work area in a law enforcement vehicle provided by their agency. The policy change directly affects the spouses of reserve and auxiliary officers who qualify under these two scenarios. It expands access to financial security payments previously limited to commissioned officers.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB12 Original → HB12 Act 608 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill extends survivor benefits to the spouses or children of reserve or auxiliary law enforcement officers who are killed in the line of duty. Previously, these benefits were only available to commissioned officers; now, certified reserve and auxiliary officers are included if they die while responding to emergencies or traveling to/from work in an authorized vehicle.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of eligibility from only commissioned law enforcement officers to include reserve and auxiliary officers who are certified by the Council on Peace Officers Standards and Training.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for surviving spouses or children of reserve or auxiliary law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Modified the list of sponsors to include Representatives Adams, Bacala, Boudreaux, Braud, Butler, Wilford Carter, Chassion, DeWitt, Dickerson, Domangue, Echols, Fisher, Freeman, Freiberg, Green, Hilferty, Horton, Illg, Jackson, Mike Johnson, Knox, Lacombe, Marcelle, Martinez, Murray, Phelps, Schlegel, Taylor, Wiley, and Wyble.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill status from 'ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED' and updated the Act number to 608.

Floor votes · Senate May 25, 2026 · House Apr 27, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

May 25, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 19, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 102, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (15-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

1 primary · 30 co-sponsors