HB 941 invalidates certain indemnity clauses in oil and gas industry contracts that would shield operators from liability for injuries caused by their own negligence. It specifically targets agreements covering well operations, drilling, and related services, making provisions that require operators to pay for their own negligence unenforceable. The bill establishes a clear process for obtaining "additional insured" coverage: contractors must request a written premium quote directly from the operator's insurer, pay the quoted group rate, and receive written notice of renewal terms. Crucially, it limits contractors' liability for deductibles to $100,000 per incident, requiring operators to cover any excess costs, while invalidating agreements that force operators to pay the first $100,000. This directly affects oil and gas contractors, operators, and insurers engaged in Louisiana's mineral exploration and production activities.
HB 635 creates new Louisiana laws to protect residents from foreign agents who attempt to control their behavior using foreign laws or threats. It defines "agents of foreign adversaries" (like government-linked entities) and "transnational repression" (such as coercion or retaliation for exercising free speech, religion, or assembly rights). The bill makes it a crime for these agents to coerce people into actions violating constitutional rights or retaliate for such actions, imposing enhanced penalties on top of the underlying offense. It also declares that courts cannot enforce foreign law decisions that deny constitutional rights protected under U.S. or Louisiana law.
HB 462 reorganizes the governance structure of Louisiana's Capital Area Road and Bridge District by specifying how its seven-member board of commissioners is appointed. The bill requires the Department of Transportation secretary, each parish president in the district (or their designee), a governor-appointed resident, and appointments from both House and Senate members representing the district's parishes. It mandates that the House speaker and Senate president appoint representatives "as practicable" from each parish within the district. This bill directly affects how the district's transportation infrastructure management is overseen, without changing funding or construction policies. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on board composition and appointment rules.
This bill designates two specific segments of Louisiana Highway 182 as memorial highways: the portion in Jeanerette between Hubertville Road and Canal Street as the "Berwick 'BJ' LeJeune, Jr. Memorial Highway," and the segment between Jeanerette and Sorrel (from LA 671 to LA 318) as the "Ret. Judge Richard T. 'Dickey' Haik, Sr. Memorial Highway." It requires the Department of Transportation to install signage for these designations, funded entirely by local or private contributions covering costs up to $750 per sign. The bill has no substantive policy changes beyond naming these highway sections and establishing a cost-recovery mechanism for signage.
HB 815 amends Louisiana law to explicitly allow federally insured banks and credit unions (or their authorized agents) to receive death certificates from the state registry. This change directly affects these financial institutions by granting them a new, specific legal right to access death certificates, which they previously could not formally request under the existing disclosure rules. The bill adds this provision to the state's vital records disclosure statute (R.S. 40:41(C)(1)(k)), clarifying that such entities are now authorized recipients alongside existing groups like family members or funeral homes. It does not alter how death certificates are issued to the public or create new requirements for financial institutions.
HB 322 prohibits Louisiana state agencies from charging fees or costs to victims, spouses of victims, next of kin of deceased victims, or legal guardians who request copies of testimony from private hearings of the Board of Pardons and parole committee. The bill specifically amends state law to remove financial barriers for these individuals seeking testimony records related to parole or pardon proceedings. It does not affect other requesters or prevent law enforcement from sharing information as required by law. The policy change directly impacts those with direct connections to cases reviewed by these boards.
HB 296 repeals Louisiana’s Reentry Advisory Council and the Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (specifically R.S. 15:1199.1-1199.16 and R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a)). This bill removes legal requirements for the advisory council, data collection on inmate workforce programs, and references to the Reentry Advisory Council in statutes governing work release programs (e.g., R.S. 15:827, 1113) and the Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit (R.S. 47:287.750). It directly affects correctional workforce development programs, state agencies managing inmate work programs, and businesses participating in work release initiatives. The repeal eliminates the council’s role and related administrative criteria, though work release programs themselves remain referenced under other statutes.
HB 676 prohibits paying or receiving money for referring patients to substance abuse, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment facilities, defining this practice as "body brokering." It bans kickbacks tied to referral volume, treatment duration, or service type, but allows fixed payments unrelated to these factors. Violators face up to 5 years in prison, $50,000 fines, license suspension, or civil penalties. The law directly affects health care providers, facilities, and entities involved in patient referrals for substance use disorder treatment.
This bill establishes governance standards for risk retention groups licensed in the state, requiring them to maintain rules similar to those set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The change directly affects insurance companies operating as risk retention groups within the state by setting clear regulatory expectations for their internal management and oversight. By aligning state requirements with national industry standards, the legislation aims to ensure consistent governance practices across the insurance sector. This provision does not alter licensing procedures or financial requirements, focusing solely on governance compliance for these specific types of insurance entities.
HB 568 increases penalties for drug offenses near schools in Louisiana. It directly affects individuals who sell, use, or vape drugs on school property, within 2,000 feet of school grounds, or on school buses. Key provisions include doubling fines, adding mandatory prison time (up to 1 year) without parole or probation for certain violations, and requiring fines up to $1,000. The bill modifies existing drug laws to strengthen enforcement in school zones.
HB 825 requires Louisiana's insurance commissioner to create a dedicated section on the department's website with information about stated value homeowner's insurance policies. The bill mandates that this information be distributed directly to homeowners at least once every two years via mail, email, or other appropriate methods. It directly affects Louisiana homeowners who purchase or hold stated value homeowner's insurance policies by ensuring they receive regular, clear information about these policies. The bill focuses on improving transparency and consumer access to policy-related information, without changing the insurance policy terms themselves.
HB 721 modifies Louisiana's commercial shrimp harvesting rules by allowing licensed shrimpers to begin trawling in Vermilion Bay, East Cote Blanche Bay, and West Cote Blanche Bay at 5:30 a.m. during open seasons, instead of the previous nighttime ban. This change specifically affects commercial shrimp harvesters operating in those three bays, removing the prohibition on night shrimping that previously restricted operations from sunset to sunrise. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 56:499.4) to create this exception, while maintaining other nighttime restrictions in different areas like Atchafalaya Bay. The proposal is currently pending in the Natural Resources and Environment Committee after being prefied on February 27, 2026.
