SB 288 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

IDENTITY DATA: Provides relative to background checks. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 288 amends Louisiana law to update background check procedures for security licensing, employment, and college hiring. It requires fingerprinting and FBI national criminal history checks for applicants seeking security licenses, jobs, or college positions, allowing the State Board of Private Security Examiners, employers (with written consent), and colleges to access criminal history records from the state bureau. The bill also restricts the release of expunged criminal records, prohibiting private entities from receiving them while permitting public organizations (like schools or nonprofits) to access them only when providing strong evidence they protect vulnerable groups like children or the elderly. These changes clarify who can request checks, how records are shared, and limit access to expunged information.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB288 Original → SB288 Act 483 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Louisiana's background check laws to clarify procedures for private security applicants and postsecondary institutions. It mandates that private security applicants be fingerprinted for federal criminal history checks and allows employers to obtain conviction records directly from the state bureau with applicant consent. Additionally, it expands the information postsecondary institutions can receive regarding prior arrests for specific serious offenses, even if those records were expunged, to better protect vulnerable populations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal history information available to postsecondary institutions and clarifies the requirements for private security licensing applicants.

REQUIREMENT

Private security applicants must now be fingerprinted and submitted for a national criminal history record check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Employers may directly obtain conviction records from the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information if the applicant signs a consent form.

The state bureau may provide expunged criminal history records to public entities serving children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities if there is strong evidence it is in their best interest.

ELIGIBILITY

Postsecondary institutions are now provided with prior arrest records for sex offenses, aggravated offenses, and crimes of violence, including those dismissed or expunged, when requesting background checks.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Apr 7, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% 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

Amendments

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Recalled from Committee.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

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

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors