This bill allows hunters to use pre-charged pneumatic devices during special primitive firearm seasons for deer hunting in Louisiana. The law specifies that these devices must fire projectiles of at least .30 caliber, 150 grains, or produce a minimum muzzle energy of 215 foot pounds. Hunters using these weapons must still follow standard licensing requirements and can only use still hunting methods in designated areas. The bill also permits the use of magnified scopes on authorized weapons during these specific seasons.
This bill creates the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, to provide restricted-use food purchase cards through qualified nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits must be IRS 501(c)(3) entities that operate food assistance programs and agree to follow reporting requirements, with the program initially launched as a pilot in one region before expanding statewide. The program allows individuals to fund cards directly or for others, prohibits cash withdrawals, and operates separately from SNAP while matching its eligible food items. The department will generate annual transaction reports but will not audit charitable spending or access donor or recipient records, with a final evaluation report due by March 1, 2028.
This bill modifies how Louisiana's Department of Transportation and Development manages its highway projects and contract limits. It requires the department to report annually on changes made to previous year's projects and aims to ensure at least 90% of planned projects progress as scheduled. The legislation also increases the maximum contract value for highway construction to $3 million and mandates that projects excluded from the final construction program be reported to legislative committees by October 1st with written justification. These changes affect state transportation officials, legislative committees, and contractors working on public infrastructure projects.
This bill amends Louisiana law to impose stricter penalties on individuals who help sex offenders avoid arrest or punishment after a crime has occurred. It directly affects people who harbor, conceal, or assist sex offenders with the intent to help them escape legal consequences. Under the new provisions, anyone convicted of being an accessory to a sex offense must receive a mandatory minimum sentence equal to at least half of the minimum sentence the principal offender would face, with no parole or probation allowed for cases involving life imprisonment. The law also clarifies that accessories can be prosecuted even if the original offender has not yet been caught or tried.
This bill modifies Louisiana's civil procedure rules by extending the deadline for filing oppositions to motions for summary judgment. It requires parties to submit their oppositions and supporting documents at least 15 days before a hearing, up from the previous 10-day requirement. The change applies to most civil cases in the state and aims to provide more time for defendants to prepare their responses. This adjustment affects attorneys and litigants involved in civil lawsuits who may need to file summary judgment motions or respond to them. The bill does not alter the underlying legal standards for summary judgment, only the timeline for submitting related documents.
This bill requires Louisiana parish tax collectors to submit annual reports to the state Tax Commission detailing ad valorem tax collections for the previous year. The reports must list the actual tax amounts collected on all taxable property within each parish, broken down by property categories. The Tax Commission will then include this data in its regular reports, providing total collection amounts by parish for each property type. This change affects parish tax collectors who must file the reports by January 31 and the Tax Commission which will incorporate the data into its existing reporting. The bill aims to improve transparency in how property taxes are collected across Louisiana parishes.
This bill modifies Louisiana law to establish a legal process for removing certain elected public officials from office through court action. It applies to public officers who are convicted of felonies or found guilty of malfeasance or gross misconduct while in office, excluding those specifically exempted by the state constitution. The legislation creates two main removal pathways: one triggered automatically by felony conviction or misconduct findings, which suspends the official without pay until appeals are exhausted, and another allowing the attorney general or legislature to file a civil lawsuit for removal. If the legislature initiates a removal suit, it requires a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House, and the case would be heard by a special judge appointed by the Supreme Court. During suspension periods, a replacement official is appointed to perform the duties of the suspended position.
This bill establishes a process for law enforcement agencies to use written certificates to authenticate video footage from unmanned aircraft systems in criminal, juvenile, and certain civil forfeiture cases. Under the new rules, agencies must provide notice of intent to use this certificate method at least 45 days before trial, with a shorter five-day notice required for juvenile court cases. Defendants have the right to request the testimony of the person who operated the aircraft within 30 days of receiving notice, and if they do so, the footage cannot be admitted solely based on the certificate. The legislation defines key terms like "footage" and "unmanned aircraft system" and allows law enforcement to use electronic signatures for certificates.
This bill updates Louisiana law to clarify how parishes and municipalities can contract for garbage collection and disposal services. It allows local governments to sign contracts for trash pickup that last up to ten years, with a possible five-year extension, and for waste disposal services that can last up to twenty-five years, also with a five-year extension option. The changes directly affect local governments and the private companies that provide waste management services in these areas. By specifying contract lengths, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for long-term waste management agreements without changing existing authority.
This bill updates Louisiana's Anatomical Gift Act to clarify procedures and methods for making, amending, or revoking donations of human body parts for transplantation, therapy, research, or education. It directly affects donors, their agents, healthcare providers, and organizations involved in organ recovery by establishing standardized definitions and requirements for consent and authorization. Key provisions include formalizing how anatomical gifts can be recorded on driver's licenses and other identification documents, defining roles for witnesses and agents, and specifying rules for donation after brain death or circulatory death. The legislation also creates a state registry to track anatomical gift decisions and ensures consistency in how these gifts are executed and documented.
This bill updates Louisiana's newborn hearing screening laws to modernize terminology and strengthen protections for infants with hearing loss. It establishes a formal Bill of Rights for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, ensuring they have access to adult role models and meaningful involvement in programs affecting their education. The legislation creates or updates an advisory council to oversee screening procedures, define hearing loss categories, and guide early intervention services. By clarifying definitions and expanding the legal framework, the bill aims to improve early detection and support for infants at risk of hearing disabilities.
This bill establishes the Louisiana Commission on Fatherhood Engagement within the governor's office to promote responsible fatherhood and support fathers across the state. The commission will consist of 16 members representing various state agencies, elected officials, community organizations, and faith groups, who will serve two-year terms without pay. Its main duties include raising awareness about fatherhood challenges, coordinating programs that help fathers build parenting skills and access employment services, organizing a state summit every four years, and submitting annual reports to the legislature with funding requests. The commission will focus on improving father involvement in child custody proceedings, supporting incarcerated fathers, and collecting better data on fatherhood engagement across state agencies. The law will remain in effect until January 1, 2031.
