HB 456 amends Louisiana's workers' compensation laws to clarify the requirements for filing claims and disputing benefits. It specifies that a claim petition must include the parties' names, injury details, specific benefits sought, and a request for relief. Employers may only file a disputed claim against an employee, dependent, or beneficiary if alleging fraud under R.S. 23:1208 or appealing a medical director's decision under R.S. 23:1203.1(K). The bill directly affects workers filing claims and employers disputing those claims, streamlining the process while limiting disputes to specific legal grounds.
HB 430, known as the "MJ 911 Act," mandates that Lafayette Parish employers provide lifelong health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children (including step- or adopted children) of law enforcement officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. Specifically, it requires employers to pay for health insurance for surviving spouses for life and for children until age 18 (or until 23 if enrolled in school or disabled). The law applies retroactively to January 1, 2017, for all qualifying families and ensures coverage matches what active members receive. It does not require families to accept the coverage, allowing them to decline it if desired.
SB 379 renames Louisiana's "Department of Energy and Natural Resources" to the "Department of Conservation and Energy" and updates all references to this department throughout state law. The bill makes technical corrections to statutes (including definitions of "gas," pipeline regulations, and waste disposal rules) to reflect the new name but does not create new policies or affect specific groups. It solely addresses administrative naming and cross-referencing in existing statutes, with no substantive changes to regulations or responsibilities. The bill is currently prefilled and pending committee referral.
HB 540 requires clear disclosures in digital political ads during elections. It applies to candidates, their committees, and groups paying for online election content. The bill mandates specific wording based on authorization: if paid by a candidate's committee, it must state "paid for by [full committee name]"; if paid by others but authorized, it must name the payer and authorizer; if unaffiliated, it must list the payer's full name, physical address, phone, and website. These rules mirror existing print disclosure requirements but extend them to digital platforms.
HB 326 requires the police chief of Tickfaw, Louisiana, to reside within the village's corporate limits and have lived there for at least one year prior to running for office. It amends local law to mandate this residency requirement for candidates seeking the position, overriding any previous qualifications. The bill directly affects individuals running for police chief in Tickfaw by adding these location-based eligibility rules. This is a procedural change specific to Tickfaw's local government structure.
SB 353 requires the Louisiana State University (LSU) Board of Supervisors to make student identification cards available as digital credentials in LA Wallet by August 1, 2027. This bill directly affects LSU students, enabling them to use a digital version of their physical student ID through Louisiana's official digital wallet system. The key provision mandates that LSU must implement this digital ID option by the specified deadline, aligning with existing state rules for LA Wallet. The bill does not change student ID requirements but provides a digital alternative for campus access and official purposes.
HB 313 moves $144 million in one-time surplus funds from Louisiana's State General Fund (using FY2024-2025 budget surplus) to the Budget Stabilization Fund. This is a routine budget adjustment that reallocates existing state treasury funds without creating new programs or affecting specific groups. The bill authorizes the state treasurer to make this transfer and specifies it becomes effective after gubernatorial action or legislative override. It directly affects state financial management but does not change laws or services for citizens.
HB 394 proposes changes to Louisiana's parole process for inmates requiring rehabilitative programs before release. It creates "conditional parole" allowing prisoners to be released pending completion of specific reentry programs - such as regional reentry initiatives or workforce development programs at Louisiana State Penitentiary or the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women - within a 24-month window. If approved, prisoners must complete the program and then appear before the parole board for a final release decision. The bill directly affects inmates in Louisiana state prisons who need such programs to ensure public safety and successful reintegration. The bill is currently pending in the Legislature's Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice (prefiled February 2026).
HB 818 limits the time Louisiana public school students spend on standardized tests to no more than 2% of annual instructional time starting in 2027-2028, excluding college exams, accommodations for students with disabilities, and teacher-selected classroom assessments. It requires schools and the state education department to publish annual, publicly accessible schedules of all required tests online by specific deadlines, listing details like test names, grade levels, administration dates, and time estimates. The bill mandates that these schedules exclude locally developed tests not required by federal or state law and must be updated within 10 business days of any changes. This directly affects Louisiana public school students, teachers, and school districts by standardizing test transparency and restricting testing time.
HB 289 sets a minimum three-day waiting period between a felony conviction and sentencing in Louisiana courts. It requires courts to delay sentencing for at least 24 hours after denying a motion for a new trial or arrest of judgment. Defendants may waive this waiting period by pleading guilty or expressly agreeing to immediate sentencing. The bill directly affects felony defendants in Louisiana criminal cases by standardizing timing between conviction and sentencing. It does not change sentencing guidelines or penalties, only the procedural timeline.
HB 726 increases penalties for abandoning boats or vessels in Louisiana by doubling the fines for this specific violation. The bill directly affects boat owners who intentionally leave vessels on public property, private land without permission, or in state waters. It amends existing law to explicitly double the criminal penalties for abandoning boats or boating accessories, as outlined in Section 2531.1(A)(2). This change applies to all vessels covered under the littering statute, including boats and related equipment. The law focuses on strengthening enforcement against vessel abandonment as a form of illegal disposal.
HB 548 updates Louisiana's rules for certifying and regulating certified public accountants (CPAs), directly affecting current license holders, applicants seeking licensure, and out-of-state CPAs wanting to practice in Louisiana. It sets new education requirements (150 semester hours including an accounting concentration) and experience rules (1-2 years depending on education), while creating a "substantial equivalency" system to recognize other states' licensing standards. The bill expands the State Board's authority to investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and adopt rules governing CPAs, and establishes clear pathways for out-of-state CPAs to practice without reapplying if their credentials match Louisiana's standards. These changes aim to standardize licensing and simplify cross-state practice for qualified professionals.
