SB 273 establishes new requirements for hospice care provided in non-hospice inpatient facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers in Louisiana. It mandates written care plans for hospice patients detailing providers, care responsibilities, and family contacts; requires facilities to notify hospice providers and families during transfers; and creates patient logs tracking hydration/nutrition decisions and family communication. The bill directly affects hospice patients, their families, and facility staff by clarifying accountability and communication protocols during care. The Louisiana Department of Health will oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and enforce penalties for violations of these provisions.
SB 280 requires contractors to hold specific licenses for certain well-related work starting July 1, 2026. It directly affects contractors who advertise, bid, or perform construction, repair, or maintenance on water wells (for drinkable or non-drinkable water) or environmental wells (for sampling/assessment), if the project is valued at $1 or more. The bill defines "well drilling" to include both environmental and water well work, and mandates that licensed contractors must hold the appropriate classification for these projects. This creates a new licensing requirement for these specific services, replacing previous standards for well-related contracting.
SB 303 allows Louisiana state and local government agencies (like schools, hospitals, and departments) to purchase information technology systems through cooperative agreements. Instead of each agency running its own separate bidding process, agencies can join group contracts with other public entities or access existing IT systems from external providers without full competitive bidding. This applies specifically to systems originally acquired through competitive procurement by another entity, with the purchasing agency paying a share of the costs. The bill directly changes how public agencies buy IT services, aiming to streamline procurement while maintaining competitive origins for the underlying systems.
SB 307 would authorize the display of the Ten Commandments as a historical monument on Louisiana State Capitol grounds, alongside other documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence. The bill requires that such displays include context documents explaining their historical significance to the legal and cultural heritage of Louisiana and the U.S., and mandates that private donations fund the monument without state cost. It references Supreme Court rulings (Van Orden v. Perry and American Legion v. American Humanists Association) that permit religious historical displays on government property when privately funded. The commissioner of administration would oversee the installation, with the bill explicitly prohibiting state funding for the monument.
SB 304 establishes new rules for accrediting Louisiana's public colleges and universities, giving the Board of Regents authority to set accreditation policies. It directly affects all public postsecondary institutions and their management boards (like those for LSU, Southern University, and community colleges). Key provisions require institutions to get management board approval before switching accreditors, mandate that new accreditors must prioritize student success, educational quality, affordability, and financial stability, and prohibit any accreditor from conditioning accreditation on legal violations. The bill also requires institutions to publicly post accreditation status updates on their websites.
SB 288 amends Louisiana law to update background check procedures for security licensing, employment, and college hiring. It requires fingerprinting and FBI national criminal history checks for applicants seeking security licenses, jobs, or college positions, allowing the State Board of Private Security Examiners, employers (with written consent), and colleges to access criminal history records from the state bureau. The bill also restricts the release of expunged criminal records, prohibiting private entities from receiving them while permitting public organizations (like schools or nonprofits) to access them only when providing strong evidence they protect vulnerable groups like children or the elderly. These changes clarify who can request checks, how records are shared, and limit access to expunged information.
SB 291 updates Louisiana's architecture licensing laws by creating the State Board of Architectural Examiners to regulate the profession. It directly affects individual architects and architectural firms practicing in Louisiana, requiring them to obtain a license before offering services like building design, construction planning, or space coordination. Key provisions include defining the "practice of architecture" (covering design, drawings, and construction oversight), establishing licensing requirements for individuals and firms, setting up the Board's composition and authority, and outlining enforcement for violations. The bill also clarifies that nonlicensed individuals may perform certain services like feasibility studies without affecting the core regulatory framework.
SB 287 regulates virtual currency kiosks in Louisiana by requiring operators to: (1) process cancellation/refund requests within 10 business days and complete refunds within 90 days; (2) provide live toll-free phone support during operating hours; (3) disclose transaction terms, including a 72-hour cancellation window before irreversible transactions; and (4) issue detailed receipts showing refund policies, fees, and complaint contacts. It directly affects kiosk operators and customers using virtual currency services. The bill mandates quarterly reports to the financial institutions commissioner tracking all customer cancellation requests. These provisions aim to enhance consumer transparency and recourse for virtual currency transactions.
SB 339 requires background checks for individuals applying to work in Louisiana's horse racing and charitable gaming industries. It mandates that applicants submit fingerprints to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification for state and national criminal history checks, including records that were expunged or dismissed. The bill specifies that license applicants (for the Racing Commission or Office of Charitable Gaming) must cover the costs of these checks, and the Louisiana Department of Justice will review the results during licensing. These checks apply to all applicants seeking licenses for gaming operations, ensuring criminal history is reviewed as part of the licensing process.
SB 321 modifies Louisiana's criminal procedure code to regulate electronic bonds for bail. It requires sheriffs to have approved software before offering electronic bonds, restricts execution to sheriff-approved agents (not all bail producers), and mandates location tracking within 10 miles of jail plus face recognition verification. The bill ensures parishes using electronic bonds must also allow in-person bail options. It directly affects sheriffs, approved bail agents, and defendants using electronic bail systems. The bill is currently prefilled and pending referral to the Judiciary Committee.
SB 345 requires Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Senate Judiciary B Committee and the legislative research library. The report must detail prevention programs, diversion program development, access to education/health resources for juveniles in custody, and specific statistics on juvenile custody numbers, complaints, investigations, and lawsuits. This bill increases transparency in the juvenile justice system by mandating regular, standardized reporting on key operational metrics. It directly affects the Office of Juvenile Justice, which must now collect and submit this data annually.
SB 346 prohibits K-12 schools and staff from creating or sharing deepfake audio or video content intended to coerce, harass, intimidate, or maliciously distribute against students. It defines "deepfake" as digitally altered media falsely appearing authentic (excluding political satire, news commentary, or clearly disclosed parodies), and requires the State Board of Education to develop implementation rules. The law directly affects all Louisiana public and private K-12 students and school employees, banning the use of manipulated media for harmful purposes. Key provisions include clear prohibitions on malicious deepfakes while preserving protected speech like satire, with enforcement through state education rules. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee.
