SB 98 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Adds certain school employees to the definition of "educator" relative to prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. (8/1/26)

SB 98 amends Louisiana law to expand the definition of "educator" to include school resource officers and security guards, in addition to existing roles like teachers and coaches. This change means the prohibition on sexual conduct between an educator and a student will now apply to these additional school staff members. The bill directly affects school security personnel and resource officers by bringing them under this legal protection, while extending coverage to students who interact with them. The amendment will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Education

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 20, 2026 Signed May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB98 Original → SB98 Act · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill expands the legal definition of 'educator' to include school resource officers and security guards. Consequently, these individuals are now subject to the same prohibitions against sexual conduct with students as other school employees. This change broadens the scope of the law to cover all personnel with access to students in a school setting.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from applying only to traditional school employees to also include law enforcement officers and security personnel working within schools.

DEFINITION

Added school resource officers and security guards to the legal definition of 'educator'.

ENFORCEMENT

Extended existing prohibitions against sexual conduct between an educator and a student to cover the newly included groups.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2026 · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 17, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% 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

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 5, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 10, 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 Judiciary C.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors