SB 356 requires specific industrial facilities - such as petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturers with annual toxic air pollutant emissions exceeding 50 pounds - to install continuous real-time air monitoring systems at their property boundaries. These systems must track 17 listed toxic pollutants (like benzene, chlorine, and formaldehyde) and automatically alert the public and authorities if levels exceed safety thresholds (e.g., benzene above 27 micrograms per cubic meter). Facilities must report data quarterly, maintain records for five years, and publicly share real-time air quality data via a website. The bill applies only to facilities meeting the defined emission and industry criteria, with implementation pending final legislative approval.
HB 840 requires the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy to hold public hearings and provide notice to affected parishes before issuing permits or certificates for carbon dioxide sequestration projects. Specifically, it mandates that the department notify parish governing authorities (via email) and conduct public hearings in every parish where CO2 pipelines or storage facilities are planned. The law also requires the department to give "substantial consideration" to local government comments during decision-making. This applies to all permits, certificates of public convenience, and injection operations related to CO2 storage or transport, ensuring community input precedes regulatory approvals. The bill does not change project standards but adds procedural requirements for transparency.
HB 415 requires mayors and municipal council members in Louisiana cities with populations under 15,000 (based on the latest federal census) to complete 16 hours of annual training on municipal governance topics. The training must cover specific areas like ethics, budgeting, emergency preparedness, public records laws, and procurement, including existing state-mandated trainings such as ethics and harassment prevention. Mayors must report compliance to the Louisiana Municipal Association by January 31 each year, with the association certifying compliance by March 31 and making records public. The requirement applies to mayors elected on or after January 1, 2027.
HB 558, the "Teacher Pay Modernization Act," requires Louisiana school districts and charter schools to gradually increase teacher salaries to close the gap between their average pay and the Southern Regional Education Board's average. School districts must reduce their salary gap by 25% by 2027-2028, 50% by 2028-2029, 75% by 2029-2030, and fully align with the regional average by 2030-2031. The bill mandates annual reports tracking district salaries, statewide averages, and regional comparisons, and specifies that state funds allocated for this purpose must be used solely for permanent base salary increases - not benefits, bonuses, or operating costs. It directly affects all public school governing authorities (including charter schools) and requires them to adjust salary schedules to meet these phased targets.
SB 395 would require Louisiana to take property owned by China, the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese corporations, or Chinese citizens. This mandatory expropriation would apply to all such properties, deemed necessary for public purpose under Louisiana law. The bill directly affects property owners meeting these specific criteria. Currently a proposed bill (prefiled February 2026), it has not yet been voted on by the legislature.
HB 279 changes Louisiana's criminal procedure by requiring jury trials for certain misdemeanors. It mandates that defendants charged with offenses punishable by a fine exceeding $2,500 or imprisonment over six months must be tried by a jury of six jurors. This directly affects individuals facing misdemeanor charges where the potential penalties meet either threshold. The law applies immediately to all pending cases, both before and after its effective date.
HB 416 modifies how funds in the East Baton Rouge Parish Community Improvement Fund are allocated. It requires that 50% of the fund's annual balance be used for urban mass transit in East Baton Rouge Parish (without replacing existing transit funding) and the remaining 50% must support the Research Park Corporation. Any unspent funds at year-end stay in the fund, and all invested earnings go to the state general fund. The bill directly affects East Baton Rouge Parish by directing specific funding streams for transit and economic development.
This bill changes time limits for paternity disputes in Louisiana. It sets a one-year deadline for husbands to disavow paternity (starting from the child's birth or when they knew they might not be the biological father), but no later than when the child turns 12. For men seeking to establish paternity, it allows actions at any time but requires filing within one year of birth or 12 years (whichever comes first), with exceptions if the mother deceived them about paternity. These provisions directly affect husbands, fathers, and children involved in paternity cases under Louisiana law.
HB 419 limits civil liability for oil and gas companies regarding greenhouse gas emissions that comply with state and federal laws. It directly affects covered entities like oil producers, refiners, and pipeline operators by blocking lawsuits alleging contributions to climate change ("climate change claims"). Key provisions state these entities cannot be held liable for such claims if emissions follow applicable regulations, while preserving liability for personal injury, property damage, environmental violations, or gross negligence. The bill does not apply to carbon capture projects and explicitly aims to prevent courts from establishing climate policy instead of legislative or regulatory processes.
HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act (LAIFA), establishes rules for insurers using AI in underwriting, pricing, and claims decisions. It directly affects Louisiana insurance companies (covered insurers) that use AI systems for homeowners, auto, commercial property, health, or life insurance, particularly protecting Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, low-income, and historically redlined communities from biased algorithmic decisions. Key provisions require annual audits to detect discriminatory outcomes, ban the use of "proxy variables" (like zip codes) that correlate with protected classes, mandate clear explanations for AI-driven adverse decisions, and create a private right to sue for affected consumers. The law does not ban AI use but ensures it is transparent, fair, and accountable, aligning with existing anti-discrimination protections.
HB 601 sets a cap on monthly water and wastewater charges for essential residential use in Louisiana cities with high poverty or low median income. It limits the total cost for basic service (up to 4,000 gallons of water per month) to 4.5% of the municipality’s median household income. The rule applies only to qualifying cities (poverty rate >30% or median income <50% of state average) and does not affect rates for usage beyond essential needs. Municipalities must also provide free meter testing after rate hikes over 10% and establish review processes for billing disputes.
HB 583 clarifies rules for transfer-on-death (TOD) registration of securities in Louisiana. It applies directly to financial institutions (referred to as "registering entities") and individuals who own securities. The bill states that institutions are not required to offer TOD registration, but if they do offer it, the owner must accept the legal protections provided to the institution under this law. This is a procedural update to existing securities law with no new financial obligations for owners.
