HB 371 would require Louisiana's attorney general to provide free legal defense to elected state officials (including legislators, statewide officeholders, and local officials) in civil, administrative, or quasi-judicial cases arising from their official duties. It also mandates that the attorney general defend all state legislative acts challenged in court for constitutionality or validity. If the attorney general declines representation, officials may hire private lawyers at state expense, with fees capped at rates the attorney general typically pays for similar legal work. The bill establishes procedures for written declination notices, alternative representation authorization, and cost reimbursement, while excluding criminal cases and instances of misconduct outside official duties.
HB 479, the Fiscal Truth in Sentencing Act, requires Louisiana district clerks of court to provide quarterly reports to the legislative auditor containing sentencing data, including the number of sentences and total confinement years per judge, excluding traffic cases. It specifically mandates reporting on juvenile cases sentenced to incarceration (20+ years) starting in 2026. The legislative auditor uses this data, combined with annual budget figures from criminal justice agencies, to create annual reports projecting five-year incarceration costs and average per-person costs. This law aims to improve budget transparency for the criminal justice system by standardizing data collection and reporting.
HB 714 requires railroad companies operating in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, to remove or fix blighted or abandoned railroad crossings and associated structures within one year of the law's effective date or after a local authority declares them blighted. It also mandates that owners maintain underpasses by regularly painting and removing rust to prevent deterioration. The bill specifically targets railroad infrastructure in Caddo Parish, applying to both existing abandoned crossings and any that are later deemed blighted by local officials. It does not apply statewide or to other types of rail infrastructure.
HB 502 amends Louisiana law to clarify the approval process for the Caddo Parish Port Commission's use of a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes program. It requires Caddo Parish's Sheriff, Parish Commission, and School Board to independently evaluate and document property tax abatements before approving the program for their respective portions. The bill ensures each entity can approve or deny the tax break for their area without affecting other entities' decisions. If some entities approve while others deny, the project may proceed only for the approved portions. This is a procedural bill affecting local tax approval procedures, not a substantive tax change.
HB 871 increases the Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners from seven to nine members, specifying parish representation: four from Orleans Parish, two from Jefferson, one from St. Bernard, and two from St. Tammany. It creates a new nominating organization for St. Tammany Parish seats, requiring local business groups (like the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation) to submit nominees for the governor’s appointment. Vacancies are filled sequentially based on designated positions, with St. Tammany vacancies requiring nominations from its specific local organizations. This directly affects the Port’s governance structure and residents of St. Tammany Parish who will influence board appointments.
HB 794 establishes the Louisiana First-Generation Homebuyer Assistance Program to help first-time homebuyers who haven’t owned a home before (or whose parents didn’t own one during their childhood) and who meet income limits (up to 120% of area median income, with 50% of funds reserved for those at 80% AMI or below). It provides up to $25,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance as a zero-interest, forgivable loan, fully forgiven if the buyer lives in the home for five years - otherwise, repayment is prorated based on occupancy time. The program prioritizes homes in census tracts with low homeownership rates and requires participating lenders to offer fair lending practices, report demographic data, and provide homebuyer education. Administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation, it’s funded through state capital outlay, repayments, federal grants, and private contributions.
HB 353 would establish a new state minimum wage in Louisiana, starting at $12 per hour on January 1, 2027, increasing to $15 per hour on January 1, 2029, and then adjusting annually based on the regional Consumer Price Index after 2031. It requires all Louisiana employers (excluding state and university student employees) to pay at least the established rate for all hours worked. If the federal minimum wage rises above the state rate, Louisiana's rate would automatically match it. The bill also includes penalties for violations, such as fines of $500-$1,000 per employee and back pay, enforced by Louisiana Works.
HB 946 requires Louisiana hospitals to comply with federal pricing transparency rules (45 CFR Part 180) by publishing standardized pricing information. It mandates the state health department to verify compliance annually and publicly list non-compliant hospitals starting January 1, 2027. Hospitals failing to meet these requirements cannot pursue debt collection for services provided after that date, and patients may sue if collection actions occur. If found non-compliant, hospitals must refund payments, pay penalties, dismiss legal actions, or remove credit reports related to the debt. The bill directly affects hospitals, patients, and healthcare billing practices, focusing on enforcing federal transparency rules with clear consequences for noncompliance.
HB 674 requires local governments (parishes or municipalities) to share negotiation records with Louisiana Economic Development when discussing economic development projects that meet specific job or investment thresholds. It directly affects local governments negotiating with businesses for projects involving at least 15 permanent jobs (manufacturing/distribution) or 25 jobs (digital/media/tech), or $5 million in capital improvements. The bill mandates that legislators whose districts overlap with the negotiation area be given the opportunity to participate. It defines "active negotiation" as ongoing talks not yet concluded, ending when a project is abandoned or a proposal is submitted to a public meeting. The law does not apply to hazardous waste permits or related records.
HB 644 prohibits Louisiana public and nonpublic schools receiving state funds from joining or competing through any intrastate athletic association that doesn't follow specific student eligibility rules. It directly affects all Louisiana high schools (grades 7-12) that receive state funding and their athletic associations. The bill requires associations to ensure new students are immediately eligible upon enrollment and allows transfers to a student's "home school" (based on attendance zone) without delay, or to other member schools once before 11th grade with time limits. Schools violating this would be barred from participating in competitions sponsored by non-compliant associations.
HB 771 requires health insurers to treat Medicare as the primary payer for retirees who return to work and receive employer-sponsored health coverage, meaning Medicare covers costs first rather than secondary. It applies specifically to Medicare-eligible retirees who previously retired but are now reemployed under an employer health plan regulated under state law. The bill mandates insurers coordinate payments this way unless federal law (like 42 CFR §411.32) requires otherwise, without changing existing coverage benefits. This clarifies payment order between Medicare and employer plans for affected retirees.
HB 443 reorganizes the election structure for judges in Louisiana's First Circuit Court of Appeal's Second District (which covers East Baton Rouge Parish) by dividing the parish into two election sections. It specifies how judges are elected from each section (e.g., two judges from Section One, two from Section Two) and clarifies that judges must reside in the Second District but not necessarily in the specific election section they represent. The bill does not change substantive judicial qualifications or court functions, only the geographic boundaries used for selecting judges. This procedural change affects how judges are chosen for the Second District of the First Circuit Court of Appeal.
