SB 161 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CIVIL SERVICE: Removes certain employment eligibility requirements for certain unclassified state employees relative to the registration of motor vehicles. (8/1/26)

SB 161 repeals Louisiana's R.S. 42:31, which previously required certain unclassified state employees to have a registered motor vehicle or valid driver's license as part of their employment eligibility. This change removes that specific requirement for the affected employees. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed May 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB161 Original → SB161 Act 408 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill repeals a specific state law that required high-earning unclassified state employees to prove they hold a Louisiana driver's license and register their vehicles in Louisiana. The change removes this employment eligibility requirement entirely, meaning the state will no longer enforce these specific registration and licensing conditions for these workers.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from maintaining a specific employment condition to completely eliminating that condition.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for unclassified state employees earning $100,000 or more to provide proof of a Louisiana driver's license and vehicle registration.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the provision allowing the state to remove and terminate employees who failed to meet the vehicle registration and licensing requirements.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header to reflect that the bill has been enacted as Act No. 408 and included signatures from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and the Governor.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026 · House May 7, 2026

How they voted

29–7

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Mar 31, 2026

D Democratic12

4 Yea 7 Nay 1

58% Nay

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 2. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 7 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors