HB 738 proposes changes to disciplinary procedures at Louisiana public colleges and universities for student misconduct. It requires institutions to provide detailed written notices of charges - including specific policy violations and evidence - to students facing suspension (10+ days) or expulsion, and grants accused students and alleged victims the right to be represented by an attorney or advocate at their own expense. The bill sets evidence standards (clear and convincing evidence for most cases, preponderance of evidence only for serious injury/death cases with documented proof), mandates access to disciplinary files 7+ business days before hearings, and requires written appeal decisions. Sanctions cannot take effect until all appeals are resolved, with a 14-day window to file an appeal after a decision. The bill applies to all students and student organizations at public postsecondary institutions in Louisiana.
HB 575 establishes a priority for youth in Louisiana's extended foster care program to purchase surplus state vehicles. It directly affects young adults aged 18-21 who are eligible for and participating in the extended foster care program under state law (R.S. 46:288.1 et seq.). The bill amends state property law to give these foster youth first preference over other buyers when the state disposes of surplus vehicles, ensuring they have priority access to vehicles that would otherwise be sold publicly. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 533 requires St. Tammany Parish’s governing authority to transfer any surplus funds from its special court fund to the 22nd Judicial District Court’s criminal court fund annually. Surplus is defined as money remaining after paying witness fees to off-duty law enforcement officers for court appearances that year. The transferred funds can be used for any purpose allowed under the criminal court fund’s existing rules. This bill directly affects St. Tammany Parish’s budget management and the 22nd Judicial District Court’s funding.
HB 310 modifies Louisiana criminal procedure for defendants who waive jury trials. It requires that such cases be randomly reassigned to another judge handling criminal matters if filed in a court with three or more criminal judges. The district attorney may request to prevent this reassignment within 10 days of the waiver being accepted, and courts must approve such requests. The bill directly affects defendants waiving jury trials and courts with multiple criminal judges.
HB 677 allows the Tensas Parish School Board to sell or exchange school lands in Tensas Parish that are no longer needed for educational purposes. The bill requires the school board to obtain a public appraisal from a certified appraiser before any transaction and mandates that exchanged land must be of equal or greater value. It also requires the school board to reserve all mineral rights for the state during any sale or exchange. This bill directly affects the Tensas Parish School Board and state property management in Tensas Parish.
HB 886 requires commercial menhaden fishing operations to submit harvest data to Louisiana's legislature. It removes confidentiality for these reports when received by a legislative committee, overriding existing privacy rules. This means committee members and the public can access the data, which tracks commercial fishing activity. The bill directly affects commercial menhaden fishermen and legislative committees handling the data. It changes how fishing data is shared with lawmakers but does not alter fishing practices or quotas.
This bill changes the official name of the state maritime academy from the "Universities of Louisiana Maritime Academy" to the "University of Louisiana Maritime Academy at Nicholls State University." The change clarifies the institution's affiliation with Nicholls State University while maintaining its role in training merchant marine officers and coordinating maritime programs. The legislation updates the relevant state code to reflect this new naming convention without altering the academy's core functions or educational pathways. This is primarily a procedural update to ensure accurate identification of the institution within Louisiana's higher education system.
HB 406 requires Louisiana's Department of Education to study creating a new governance model for high school athletics, replacing the current system run by the private Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). The study must examine how a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit corporation could ensure transparency, fairness, and compliance with public laws (like Open Meetings and Public Records) while aligning athletics with academic priorities. The report, due by March 1, 2027, must include potential nonprofits, implementation plans for the 2028-2029 school year, funding details, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects all public and private high schools receiving state funds in Louisiana.
HB 546 amends Louisiana law to clarify when peace officers can take individuals into protective custody for immediate medical evaluation. It requires officers to have reasonable grounds based on personal observation or credible third-party information that a person is either a danger to themselves/others, gravely disabled, or at substantial risk of serious harm without immediate intervention. The bill specifies that officers must transport such individuals only to designated treatment facilities, following existing department procedures. This directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals experiencing acute mental health crises requiring urgent care.
HB 916 adds a $5 fee for recording certain legal documents (like property deeds) with Louisiana clerks of court, effective January 1, 2027. The fee is collected by clerks and sent monthly to the Court Modernization and Technology Fund, which funds court technology upgrades and integration with a statewide electronic filing system. This directly affects individuals and businesses filing documents with local courts, as they will pay the additional fee. The funds specifically support modernizing court technology and creating a unified digital filing platform across all Louisiana courts.
HB 283, the "Teacher's Shield Act," requires immediate suspension of students accused of assaulting or battering school employees (including teachers, substitutes, bus operators, or volunteers) on or off school property. If found guilty by a court or school hearing, students face mandatory expulsion for at least two full school semesters, with placement in an alternative school and required anger management, and cannot return to the school where the incident occurred. The bill also expands sick leave for school employees to cover medical, psychological, and rehabilitation treatment following such incidents. These changes aim to protect school staff and establish clear disciplinary consequences for student violence against employees.
HB 405 amends Louisiana law to establish licensure requirements for acupuncturists. It requires practitioners to hold active certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and pass its certification exam, including the Biomedicine portion. The bill updates the legal reference to the certifying organization's name to match its current official title. This directly affects individuals seeking to practice acupuncture in Louisiana by setting standardized certification criteria. The bill is currently in committee referral and has not yet been enacted.
