SB 132 requires Louisiana public school districts to install secure, wall-mounted exterior key boxes at every public school by January 1, 2027. These boxes must contain copies of all building keys and printed campus maps to enable rapid access for law enforcement and first responders during emergencies. The bill mandates collaboration between school boards and local law enforcement to determine optimal box locations and specifies that boxes must meet anti-theft safety standards. This directly affects all Louisiana public school districts, requiring them to implement this safety measure using state-appropriated funds.
SB 149 amends Louisiana law governing the issuance and sale of state general obligation bonds. It updates bid requirements, mandating that winning bidders (excluding federal/state entities) must submit a deposit of two percent of the bond value via wire transfer, certified check, or surety bond. The bill also clarifies that bond maturity dates and sinking fund payments can be set flexibly at annual or semiannual intervals, without requiring equal amounts each period. This procedural change directly affects state agencies issuing bonds and their bidders.
SB 155 requires Louisiana health insurers to cover medically necessary dental procedures directly related to cancer treatment, such as infection prevention/treatment or addressing tooth decay caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or biological therapy. It specifically covers procedures within 30 days before treatment, during treatment, or as a result of treatment (including obturators for oral cavity defects), but excludes routine preventive care like cleanings. The law applies to all new health insurance plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, with existing plans required to comply by January 1, 2028. It does not apply to short-term policies, limited-benefit plans, or excepted benefits.
SB 157 would require Louisiana public school districts to provide eligible educators with six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay for qualifying events like birth, adoption, foster placement, or pregnancy loss. This applies to full- or part-time school employees with at least one year of service, covering both parents who are eligible. Schools must adopt written policies, provide advance notice to employees about their rights, and prohibit counting this leave as an absence that could lead to disciplinary action. The bill does not override existing better benefits in union contracts or other laws but mandates this new standard for public school employees.
SB 202 increases compensation for Louisiana parish election board members during presidential and congressional elections. It raises the maximum number of compensated days from six to eight for these elections, while adding $50 per day for non-public official members who testify in court as subpoenaed witnesses related to election duties. The bill affects all parish election boards in Louisiana overseeing presidential or congressional elections, without limiting the change to specific parishes. This amendment updates existing compensation rules to provide greater financial support for board members during high-stakes election cycles.
SB 228 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Louisiana local governments to use public funds to identify, inventory, remove, and replace drinking water pipes made of hazardous materials (like lead, copper, or galvanized steel) on private property owned by utility customers. It directly affects residents with older pipes who currently bear the full cost of replacement. The key mechanism adds a new provision to the state constitution permitting this public funding for hazardous pipe replacement, subject to voter approval. If passed, it would shift the financial responsibility for replacing unsafe pipes from homeowners to local governments. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 election.
SB 250 requires Louisiana's Office of Group Benefits to contract with healthcare providers to offer comprehensive weight management services to plan participants. These services include FDA-approved medications, medically appropriate compounded treatments, medical evaluations, prescribing oversight, and follow-up care. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in group health benefit plans covered under Louisiana's state programs. It establishes a formal mechanism for the Office of Group Benefits to provide these specific health services through qualified external partners. The bill is currently under review by the Finance Committee after being prefilled on February 26, 2026.
SB 254 would ban Louisiana retailers from charging extra fees (surcharges) when customers use debit cards instead of cash, credit cards, or checks. It directly affects retail businesses that currently impose such fees and protects consumers from these charges. Retailers violating the law could face civil penalties up to $500 per violation and be liable for customer damages, including attorney fees. The bill also establishes a consumer complaint system for reporting illegal surcharges to the Attorney General. (Note: The bill is pending, with no recent legislative action beyond prefiling.)
SB 251 establishes the "Louisiana Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2026" to safeguard critical infrastructure - including gas/oil systems, water delivery, telecommunications, power grids, emergency services, and transportation systems - from foreign adversaries. The bill prohibits companies and government entities from entering agreements that allow foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations) to access or control critical infrastructure, and bans the use of adversary cameras and laser sensors in Louisiana transportation systems. Companies must certify their access, conduct background checks on employees with infrastructure access, store data outside foreign adversary countries, and report cyber incidents to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, with exceptions only for unavoidable needs approved by that office. This directly affects businesses and government agencies operating critical infrastructure in Louisiana.
SB 279 updates Louisiana law to allow state-chartered banks and their holding companies to issue shares without physical certificates, using electronic systems like book-entry records. It requires a bank's board of directors to approve this transition via majority vote and clarifies that shareholder rights remain unchanged regardless of certificate status. The bill specifically amends existing statutes (R.S. 6:255, 12:1-625) to apply these provisions to financial institutions, aligning them with modern electronic share management practices. It does not create new financial products or alter shareholder obligations. This procedural change directly affects Louisiana state-chartered banks and their holding companies.
SB 295 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover medically necessary treatments for people with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke or trauma survivors. It prohibits lifetime or unreasonable annual limits on treatment days/sessions, ensures ABI care isn’t subject to higher deductibles/copays than other benefits, and bans coverage denials based solely on treatment location (e.g., home vs. facility) if clinically appropriate. The bill defines covered services to include cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, and community reintegration support, and mandates peer-reviewed appeals for denied claims. The bill is pending in the Insurance Committee after being prefilled in February 2026.
SB 300 updates Louisiana's procurement code specifically for information technology (IT) systems, services, and related contracts. It establishes new definitions (like "Invitation to negotiate" for IT procurement) and sets rules for rental contracts (max 12-month renewals without bidding, price limits), multiyear IT contracts (requiring written approval for over 3 years), and master agreements (needing procurement team review). The bill directly affects state agencies and IT vendors by clarifying how IT procurement must be conducted, including requiring procurement support team reviews for certain contracts. It does not change overall procurement law but specifies IT procurement procedures to supersede conflicting statutes for IT-related purchases.
