Louisiana Bills

HB 567 limits the Twenty-Third Judicial District Court's Division F to handle only "family matters" starting August 1, 2026, including cases like child custody, domestic abuse, divorce, and child support enforcement. It defines "family matters" to cover specific areas under Louisiana law, such as adoptions, domestic violence cases, and support collections. Other divisions of the same court retain full jurisdiction over family matters and will handle cases from Division F if a judge recuses or is unavailable. This bill adjusts court structure without creating new laws for citizens, focusing solely on judicial district organization.

This bill asks the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to review the rules for licensing water well drillers in Louisiana. The study focuses on whether current requirements, such as having two years of drilling experience and two professional references, create unnecessary barriers for new applicants. The committee is asked to evaluate if these rules can be adjusted to reduce burdens while still ensuring qualified professionals are licensed. The final report must be submitted to the House before the 2027 legislative session begins. Although the bill was withdrawn from the House files, it was originally intended to assess potential changes to the licensing process.

HB 176 clarifies who controls the burial of military service members who died while serving. It states that if a service member completed a DD Form 93 (military emergency data form) before death, the person designated on that form - called the PADD - has the authority to direct burial, overriding any family wishes stated in a will or other document. Cemeteries, funeral homes, and their staff are protected from liability when following the PADD instructions or the DD Form. The bill also specifies that if a service member has both a DD Form 93 and a will, the latest document (whether the form or the will) determines burial arrangements.

HCR 1 is a concurrent resolution asking Louisiana's U.S. congressional delegation to investigate and pursue prosecution of individuals named in the Epstein files, including those allegedly involved in child sex trafficking, blackmail, and bribery. It references the Epstein Files Transparency Act (2025), which mandated public disclosure of unclassified DOJ documents revealing high-profile connections to Epstein's network. The resolution requests that Louisiana's representatives ensure all implicated individuals face full legal accountability through available processes. This is a non-binding request to federal lawmakers, not a new law.

HB 397 creates a new crime for recklessly throwing objects from parade floats during events like Mardi Gras, directly affecting parade participants and spectators. It prohibits knowingly or carelessly throwing items that could foreseeably cause injury, with penalties ranging from a $500 fine for the basic offense to up to 3 years in prison for causing serious bodily injury. The bill includes exceptions allowing the responsible tossing of permitted items, such as candy or small trinkets, as long as they don't violate other laws. This law aims to enhance public safety at large public gatherings by holding float operators accountable for dangerous actions.

HB 832 requires the mayor-president of Baton Rouge to evaluate the city's police chief every three years after initial appointment, then annually. After each evaluation, the mayor-president may reconfirm the chief for one year or demote them to their previous position without disciplinary action or appeal rights. The bill directly affects the Baton Rouge police chief and mayor-president, establishing a new evaluation process for the role (pending introduction as of February 2026).

SB 15 requires Louisiana's state and statewide retirement systems to submit electronic quarterly and annual reports starting in 2026. These reports must include detailed investment data (amounts, returns, fees, and administrative costs), asset allocation targets, and actual portfolio holdings. The bill terminates older reporting requirements for retirement systems that were previously mandated by legislative resolutions adopted before December 31, 2025. It applies directly to all state retirement systems, including those managing public employee pensions. The changes take effect on June 30, 2026.

SB 193 prohibits Louisiana's fisheries commission from modifying commercial menhaden fishing buffer zones before August 1, 2028. The bill establishes a statewide rule freeze on these buffer areas, which define protected zones for the menhaden fishery. This directly affects commercial menhaden fishermen operating in Louisiana waters by maintaining current buffer boundaries until 2028.

SB 225 designates a 10-mile stretch of Louisiana Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish (from Wyman Road to Destination Point Lane) as the "Desert Shield-Desert Storm Memorial Highway" to honor veterans of those conflicts. The bill requires the state transportation department to install and maintain signs for the memorial highway only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation, capped at $750 per sign. This is a procedural memorial designation with no new funding, infrastructure changes, or policy impacts beyond signage requirements. The bill is currently prefiled and awaiting committee referral.