This bill allows microbreweries in Louisiana to sell their beer at special events by authorizing up to twelve permits for each licensed microbrewery. It requires microbreweries to already hold both a microbrewer's permit and a Class A retail permit to participate in these events. The permits must be issued under the same name as the microbrewery's existing license and follow specific administrative regulations. This change expands the ability of microbreweries to sell their products at events beyond their regular retail locations.
This bill updates Louisiana laws governing the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority to establish a formal regulatory framework for addiction counseling professionals. It creates new categories of credentials including peer support specialists and peer support specialist associates, defining their roles, training requirements, and supervision needs. The legislation also introduces criminal background checks, renewal procedures, and fee structures for the board, while expanding definitions to include gambling addiction and co-occurring disorders. These changes aim to standardize how addiction counseling services are licensed and supervised in the state.
This bill allows the city of Shreveport to sue property owners who have been ordered to demolish condemned commercial buildings. The law gives the city the authority to file a lawsuit compelling owners to tear down the property after they have been given a set time to do so voluntarily and pay any outstanding liens. If the owner fails to comply, the city can recover court costs, attorney fees, and expenses related to locating the owner and enforcing liens. The specific time limits for demolition and lien payment will be established by a city ordinance.
This bill updates Louisiana's vehicle inspection laws by clarifying requirements for safety checks, windshield standards, and emission control programs. It directly affects vehicle owners, drivers, and inspection station operators by establishing specific rules for when inspections are needed and what conditions must be met for a vehicle to pass. Key provisions include setting detailed windshield damage limits for passenger and commercial vehicles, allowing out-of-state inspection certificates under certain conditions, and requiring periodic inspections for commercial trucks and student transportation vehicles. The legislation also creates a new program for regulating emission control devices and adjusts how citations are issued for inspection violations.
This bill requires towing and storage companies in Louisiana to keep a staff member available for vehicle release during at least six hours on both Saturdays and Sundays. It also gives the state Public Service Commission authority to set administrative and mailing fees for filing official reports about stored vehicles. These changes directly affect towing businesses by mandating weekend availability and regulate how they charge for certain filing services. The legislation aims to ensure vehicles can be retrieved more consistently on weekends while standardizing fee structures for official notifications.
This bill creates a new specialty license plate called "Homeschool Proud" for vehicles in Louisiana. The plate can be issued to any Louisiana citizen who applies, provided at least 1,000 people request it. The design will feature the words "Homeschool Proud" at the bottom, a Homeschool Louisiana symbol on the left, and five alphanumeric digits in the center. Each plate costs an additional $25 annual fee that goes to Homeschool Louisiana, plus a $3.50 administrative fee kept by the state. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections will manage the plate program and update their systems to issue the plates.
HB 1092 renames the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities within the Louisiana Department of Health to the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Supports. This change updates the official name of the agency across multiple state laws and statutes to reflect its current focus on intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill also makes technical adjustments to ensure the new name is consistently used in legal documents related to disability benefits, voting assistance, and service administration. Directly affected parties include the Louisiana Department of Health, state agencies, and individuals who receive services through this office. The legislation does not alter existing programs or funding but primarily updates terminology to align with modern naming conventions.
This bill prohibits health insurance companies and Medicaid managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization for certain generic medications when prescribed by board-certified physicians. The law defines a board-certified physician as a doctor certified by a recognized medical specialty board and a generic medication as a drug chemically equivalent to a brand-name drug approved by the FDA. Under this legislation, insurers must cover these specific generic prescriptions without needing additional approval from the insurance company before dispensing or reimbursing them. The restrictions apply to new insurance policies and contracts starting January 1, 2027, with existing plans required to comply by January 1, 2028.
This bill creates a new retirement option for certain Louisiana state judges who are scheduled to lose their positions when they retire. It allows eligible judges to voluntarily retire early to save state money, in exchange for a special benefit structure that excludes the early retirement period from their service credit calculation. Judges participating in this program must not seek re-election to another judicial office and can only use this option once. The program includes specific rules about how benefits are calculated, contribution requirements, and a maximum benefit period of up to 36 months.
SB 29 requires Louisiana coroners to perform autopsies on infants under one year and children under fifteen who die unexpectedly without explanation. The autopsies must include toxicology, microscopic exams, and review of immunization records from the state registry, with coroners documenting recent immunizations in the report. Coroner findings of sudden infant death (SIDS) or similar causes must be reported to local health units within 48 hours and to the CDC/NIH registry. Parents may object in writing to an autopsy, but coroners may override this if public health or safety requires it. The bill directly affects coroners, health departments, and the state immunization registry.
HB 66 modifies administrative procedures for handling certain violations in Alexandria, Louisiana. It expands the definition of "housing violation" to include building codes, zoning, vegetation, nuisance ordinances, and sewer/drainage regulations. The bill allows Alexandria to use administrative hearings (instead of court) for these violations, as well as for licensing/permit issues and other violations approved by the city council. This change directly affects residents and businesses in Alexandria facing these specific ordinance violations. The bill does not alter penalties or create new requirements, only changing the process for resolving certain violations.
HB 79 removes legal limits on compensatory damages for noneconomic losses (like pain and suffering) in lawsuits related to carbon capture and storage operations in Louisiana. It eliminates previous caps of $250,000 per person (or $500,000 for severe injuries like permanent disability) and a $1 million fallback, allowing full recovery for such damages. The bill directly affects individuals harmed by carbon dioxide storage facilities, pipelines, or CO2 generators, shifting liability risk to operators. Key provisions amend Section 1109(B) to remove these damage thresholds while maintaining other technical requirements for site restoration and federal compliance.
