HB 233 updates Louisiana's jury duty compensation by setting a minimum mileage reimbursement rate of 16 cents per mile for jurors traveling to court, while aligning the maximum rate with the current rate paid to state officials. This change directly affects jurors in Louisiana courts, ensuring they receive consistent travel reimbursement for attending trials. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 13:3049(B)(1)(b)) to clarify that mileage allowances must be at least 16 cents per mile but cannot exceed the state officials' rate. It does not alter daily pay ($25 per day) or other compensation terms.
HB 245 amends Louisiana law to establish specific procedures for medical parole and medical treatment furloughs. It requires the parole committee to notify the district attorney and attorney general at least 90 days before a parole hearing and 30 days before a medical parole hearing, allowing them to review offender records and present testimony. The bill also mandates that victims or their next of kin receive written notice at least 90 days before parole hearings and 30 days before medical parole hearings, explaining their rights. Additionally, it adds provisions for medical parole eligibility for permanently disabled or terminally ill offenders, while updating parole ineligibility rules for offenses committed after August 1, 2024. These changes primarily affect incarcerated individuals seeking medical parole, prosecutors, and crime victims.
HB 246 amends Louisiana law to update membership on two advisory groups. It adds a representative from the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition to the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board and specifies new roles for the Council on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, including a kinship care subsidy program representative, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) representative, and a representative from LouisianaChildren.org. The bill also removes outdated membership provisions from previous law. These changes directly affect the composition of these advisory boards, which provide input on child welfare and family support programs.
SB 81 requires written consent from the district attorney for defendants to waive a jury trial in noncapital felony cases. It changes Louisiana law to mandate that courts deny such waiver requests without the prosecutor's written approval, effective within 45 days before trial. The bill's implementation depends on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment (Article 1, Section 17(A)). This directly affects defendants in noncapital felony cases and prosecutors who must now provide written consent for jury waivers. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage (prefiled February 20, 2026) and not yet enacted.
HB 202 requires Louisiana state agencies to include salary ranges in all job advertisements for unclassified civil service positions. It also mandates that applicants who are rejected for such positions must receive written notice of the rejection. The bill directly affects state agencies posting these vacancies and job applicants seeking unclassified roles. These provisions aim to increase transparency in hiring processes for non-competitive state positions.
HB 220 requires "covered platforms" (like social media, video games, and messaging apps that host user-generated content) to implement a clear, easy-to-use reporting mechanism for suspected child exploitation content. Platforms must provide plain-language labels like "Report Child Sexual Exploitation," allow anonymous reporting without account registration, and confirm receipt of reports. Non-compliant platforms face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day, with funds directed to child cybercrime investigations. The law excludes email services, government sites, educational tools, and non-user-generated content platforms from its requirements.
HB 195 prohibits public Louisiana colleges and universities from banning students from carrying self-defense chemical spray on campus, defining it as a compact device (max 2 ounces) carried on the person solely for self-defense. Exceptions allow institutions to restrict possession in buildings with armed security or at events where contracts already prohibit such items. The bill directly affects students at public postsecondary institutions by expanding their permitted campus safety tools, while maintaining institutional authority over specific high-security areas. It does not change existing campus weapon policies beyond this specific provision.
SB 100 requires drivers for transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) in Louisiana to carry proof of insurance at all times while working for the service. If an accident occurs, drivers must provide this insurance information to police, insurers, and involved parties, and disclose whether they were logged into the company's app or on a prearranged ride at the time. The bill mandates these disclosures to clarify coverage responsibility after accidents and imposes penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects drivers of ride-hailing services operating in Louisiana.
HB 193 restructures the membership of Louisiana's Sickle Cell Commission by specifying who serves on it. The bill requires the governor to appoint 13 members (with Senate confirmation), including key health officials like the Louisiana Department of Health secretary and Medicaid director, plus executive directors from seven regional sickle cell associations across the state. It repeals previous membership provisions that listed additional, less-specific roles. This is a procedural change affecting only the commission's composition, not sickle cell treatment or funding.
HB 177 (Louisiana) modifies state law to allow retired court reporters in judicial districts or city courts to be immediately rehired without waiting the standard two-year period after retirement or termination. The bill specifically adds a provision (R.S. 42:1121(K)) stating retired court reporters can be hired on a contractual basis or reemployed with the same court at any time after leaving public service. It directly affects court reporters who previously faced a mandatory waiting period before returning to court employment. The change removes this barrier, enabling immediate rehiring without requiring a two-year gap.
SB 99 allows Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to use electronic communication, such as email, for official notices about permits, violations, and reports, with electronic notices having the same legal effect as physical mail. It requires the DEQ to send these notices to affected parishes, public interest groups, and individuals who have requested electronic alerts, and to maintain electronic mailing lists for public updates. The bill streamlines DEQ communication processes without changing environmental regulations or requirements. This directly affects the DEQ's operations and the public, particularly those who have signed up for email notifications.
HB 217 allows Louisiana parishes to optionally offer property tax exemptions for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated. If a parish adopts this exemption, it would provide up to 75% tax relief on residential properties for up to 20 years, or up to 25% relief on adjacent unimproved land for up to 10 years, subject to specific rehabilitation standards. Parishes must establish application processes, approval criteria, and revocation rules for property owners who hold title to qualifying rehabilitated properties. The exemption applies only to properties meeting the bill's definitions of "blighted" (court-declared public nuisance) or "derelict" (structurally unsafe, fire hazards, or dangerous conditions). The policy would take effect for tax years starting January 1, 2027, pending a constitutional amendment approval.
