EVIDENCE: Provides relative to expert witness fees
HB 437 modifies Louisiana law to require detailed disclosures from expert witnesses in civil cases. It prohibits experts with a financial stake in the case outcome (like prior payment for similar testimony) from testifying, defining "pecuniary interest" broadly. The bill mandates written reports including compensation details, past cases where the expert had financial ties, qualifications, and testimony history to ensure transparency. This directly affects parties, attorneys, and expert witnesses in civil litigation by standardizing disclosure requirements.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2026
Last action May 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB437 Reengrossed
→
HB437 Engrossed
·
4 edits
·
May 5, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for expert witnesses in civil cases, specifically clarifying when a witness has a 'pecuniary interest' that would disqualify them. It removes the ban on experts who own small amounts of stock or provide healthcare services to parties, while adding a new exception for experts who are current or former employees of the party they are testifying for.
Scope change
The bill narrows the scope of disqualification by removing restrictions on small business owners and treating physicians, but adds a specific prohibition for experts who work for the party they are testifying for.
ELIGIBILITY
Removed the ban on experts who own one percent or less of an entity with a financial interest in the case.
Removed the ban on experts who are treating physicians for a party in the case.
Added a new rule that disqualifies any expert who is, or has been, an employee of the party they are testifying for.
DEFINITION
Refined the definition of 'pecuniary interest' to focus on compensation related to damages, settlements, or testimony fees, while explicitly excluding employment relationships.
Floor votes · House May 5, 2026
How they voted
78–19
Passed · 10 other
Total votes 107
May 5, 2026
D
Democratic33
51% Nay
R
Republican74
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 77, nays 18. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (6-1-1).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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