SB 163 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS: Provides relative to the licensing and regulation of virtual currency businesses. (8/1/26)

SB 163 repeals Section 2 of Act No. 700 (2024), which previously established licensing and regulatory requirements for virtual currency businesses in Louisiana. The bill replaces this section with new provisions defining the Office of Financial Institutions' authority, functions, and duties regarding virtual currency regulation. This directly affects virtual currency businesses operating in Louisiana by altering their regulatory framework. The specific new mechanisms are not detailed in the provided bill text, and the bill is currently in prefiling status under the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed Jun 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB163 Original → SB163 Act 923 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill repeals the sunset date for Louisiana's Virtual Currency Business Act, ensuring that regulations for virtual currency businesses remain in effect indefinitely rather than expiring on July 1, 2027. It also clarifies that any federal laws preempting state virtual currency regulations will automatically invalidate the relevant state provisions once the federal law takes effect.

Scope change

The bill extends the applicability of the Virtual Currency Business Act by removing its expiration date, thereby maintaining regulatory oversight for virtual currency businesses in Louisiana.

TIMELINE

Removed the sunset provision that would have caused the Virtual Currency Business Act to expire on July 1, 2027.

Added a provision stating that if federal law preempts state virtual currency regulations, the conflicting state provisions become null and void on the last day of the calendar year the federal law becomes effective.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's title and introductory text to reflect the new act number (Act No. 923) and session details.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House May 20, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 39

Mar 23, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

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 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 12, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 11, 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors