HB 37 requires online platforms to exercise a duty of care when entering binding contracts with minors. This means platforms must take reasonable steps to protect minors during these agreements, such as ensuring terms are understandable and avoiding exploitative practices. The bill directly affects companies offering digital services, apps, or content that contract with users under 18. It recently passed a committee with amendments (11-0) and now has an effective date set for June 1, 2026, after a deadline change from March 1, 2026.
HB 199 changes how incarcerated individuals pay court filing fees. It requires correctional facilities to forward money from a prisoner's account to the court whenever the balance exceeds $10, continuing until all fees are covered. This directly affects prisoners seeking to file lawsuits or court documents by making fee payments more manageable through regular, smaller transfers instead of requiring large upfront payments. The bill modifies existing procedures to streamline the payment process for in forma pauperis (fee-free) proceedings.
HB 178 adds Article 3721 to the Code of Civil Procedure, specifically addressing mortgage enforcement. It clarifies how conventional mortgages are enforced through ordinary or executory proceedings, allowing judgments to include accrued amounts (like interest, taxes, fees, and attorney costs) until property sale. The bill requires creditors to file a verified payoff amount before a sheriff's sale and establishes a process for interested parties (like other lienholders) to challenge this amount before funds are disbursed. This directly affects mortgage lenders, homeowners facing foreclosure, and courts handling civil foreclosure cases by standardizing procedures and reducing disputes over final payoff figures. The bill is currently pending passage after passing committee review and second reading.
HB 412 amends Louisiana law to require the state to maintain a directory of alternative nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. This directly affects manufacturers and retailers of these products by mandating they be listed in the state's updated directory. The key provision replaces previous statutory language with a specific requirement for a centralized product directory under Revised Statute 26:926.1. The bill focuses on improving transparency around these products through this administrative change, without altering product safety standards or pricing.
HB 409 is a technical amendment to state law governing court commissioners in the 19th Judicial District Court. It updates legal references by adding a new provision and removing an outdated one in the existing code (specifically modifying sections related to commissioner appointments and duties). The bill does not change commissioner responsibilities or create new policies - it only adjusts how these rules are cited in legal documents. This procedural change affects court commissioners within the 19th Judicial District and has no direct impact on the public or other court processes.
HB 303 creates a statewide Fugitive Apprehension Unit within Louisiana's Attorney General's office, staffed by state-certified peace officers. The unit will coordinate with local, state, and federal law enforcement to apprehend fugitives, with priority given to violent offenders like those charged with murder or rape. It will also assist agencies pursuing fugitives who violate electronic monitoring and target individuals who harbor fugitives. The bill establishes this unit as a formal part of the Department of Justice without altering existing legal authority.
HB 116 establishes the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund to provide annual grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving veterans and their families. The bill allows the fund to issue up to $10,000 per grant (with a total annual limit of $100,000) for projects specifically addressing education, mental health, or housing needs. Organizations must submit detailed proposals, use funds strictly for approved purposes (not for general operations or debt), and submit final reports with financial records for four years. Grants not used as intended must be repaid within 30 days, and grantees face audits to ensure compliance.
HB 64 modifies state law regarding settlement agreements involving the Attorney General. It prohibits future settlement terms that require continuing federal court oversight beyond 60 days, making such terms unenforceable against the state government or successor officials. The bill specifically targets agreements creating binding future obligations exceeding this timeframe without requiring consent from the Attorney General or Governor. This change aims to limit long-term federal judicial oversight in state settlements. The bill was reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee with a 15-0 vote.
SB 18 authorizes the city of Lafayette's governing authority to name City Park in honor of Ernest Nabers Jr., a deceased individual. The bill directly affects the city's management of its public park by providing a legal mechanism for this specific naming designation. It is a procedural bill with no substantive policy changes, simply enabling a commemorative name for an existing public space. The bill passed unanimously in the Louisiana Senate on April 29, 2025.
SB 3 authorizes St. Martin Parish Hospital District No. 2 to name its medical office building at 220 Champagne Boulevard in honor of Burton D. Dupuis, a living individual who has served the parish for over fifty years. The bill specifically allows the district to name the building after Dupuis, bypassing standard naming restrictions under Louisiana law. This is a ceremonial measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting the hospital district's naming authority for this specific building. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is now moving to the House for consideration.
HB 644 increases court filing fees for both civil and criminal cases from $1 to $2 per filing. This change directly affects individuals and businesses submitting legal documents to courts, as they will pay an additional $1 per case. The bill implements this fee increase through two specific amendments to the current fee structure. The legislation is currently scheduled for floor debate in the upcoming session.
HB 318 requires manufactured and modular homes in flood-prone areas to comply with FEMA’s installation manual for foundations. It allows local governments to adopt stricter elevation requirements (called "freeboard") than FEMA’s minimums, as long as these higher standards are uniformly applied based on current flood maps. The bill mandates that all building permits must include the site’s Base Flood Elevation and required finished floor elevation, including any extra freeboard. This directly affects home installers, local building departments, and homeowners in flood zones by standardizing flood safety requirements.
