HB 149 designates a specific segment of United States Highway 190 Business East in Slidell, Louisiana (from Beech Avenue/Interstate 10 Service Road to Military Road) as the "Senior Police Officer Trevor Abney Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the costs (up to $2,250 per sign). This is a purely ceremonial bill with no substantive policy changes, solely honoring a police officer through road naming.
HB 117 re-creates Louisiana's Department of State and all state agencies legally part of it, effective June 30, 2026. It sets a fixed expiration date of July 1, 2033, for all statutory authority governing these entities, meaning they must cease operations by that date unless re-created earlier under specific procedures. The bill repeals conflicting existing provisions and updates the sunset schedule to reflect this 7-year term for the department and its associated agencies.
HB 124 amends Louisiana's Domestic Violence Prevention Commission membership requirements. It removes the position for "the president of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police" and adds a requirement for "one representative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives or his designee" to serve on the commission. The bill also adjusts the total membership count and specifies that two district court judges (one with criminal law experience, one with family law experience) will be appointed by the Louisiana District Court Judges Association. This is a procedural change to the commission's composition, directly affecting who serves on the Domestic Violence Prevention Commission. The bill does not alter domestic violence prevention services or victim protections.
HB 135 increases Louisiana's exemption for motor vehicles from debt collection. It raises the equity value exemption for one standard vehicle per household from $7,500 to $15,000 (based on NADA retail value), and adds a second vehicle exemption up to $15,000 if the debtor is married or has a child who is a licensed driver. The bill also creates a new $20,000 exemption for vehicles modified for a disability and adds health savings accounts (up to IRS annual limits) to the list of property exempt from debt collection. These changes directly affect Louisiana debtors owning vehicles or holding qualifying health savings accounts.
HB 131 modifies Louisiana's post-conviction relief process by adding two new restrictions on appeals. It denies relief if a petitioner knew about a claim but failed to raise it during trial (Article 930.4(B)) or raised it in trial but didn’t pursue it on appeal (Article 930.4(C)). The bill also changes custody rules: if relief is granted, the person cannot be released on bail until Louisiana’s Supreme Court finishes reviewing the case (Article 930.5(C)). This directly affects individuals convicted of crimes seeking to overturn their convictions through post-conviction appeals. The law aims to reduce repetitive or incomplete appeals while clarifying custody procedures during appeals.
HB 148 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 5 in Logansport (between US Highway 84 and LA Highway 3015 in DeSoto Parish) as the "Eugene Washington Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain appropriate signage for this designation, but only if local or private funds cover the department's costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming a highway segment and implementing signage, with no broader policy changes. It directly affects the local community in Logansport through the highway naming and signage.
HB 120 creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Improvement District in a specific area of New Orleans bounded by Iowa Street, Amazon Street, Delaware Street, Memorial Park Drive, Kansas Street, and Hudson Street. It establishes a local governing board (seven members, including homeowners association leaders and resident appointees) to manage district funds collected through an annual property fee (up to $315 per parcel) approved by voters. The district’s funds must be used exclusively for security patrols, improved lighting, signage, beautification, and other quality-of-life initiatives within its boundaries, supplementing but not replacing city police services. Property owners in the district are directly affected, as they will pay the fee and vote on its continuation. The fee requires voter approval and expires after five years unless renewed by a majority vote.
HB 232 updates Louisiana's process for minors (under 18) to obtain employment certificates. It replaces school-based requirements with a standardized digital form, requiring minors to provide parent/guardian consent and age verification (like a birth certificate) through the state department. Employers must keep the certificate for 14 days after a minor’s job ends, and the state can revoke certificates for improper issuance or illegal employment. The bill removes all obligations from schools and school boards regarding these certificates. It takes effect on August 2, 2026.
SB 76 establishes clear legal standards for modifying child custody arrangements in Louisiana. It requires courts to use a higher evidentiary standard (clear and convincing evidence) within five years of a court-reviewed custody decision ("considered decree") to change custody, unless the current arrangement is harming the child. For other cases - including after five years, consent decrees (where parties agreed without court evidence), or "hybrid" proceedings - modifications need a significant change in circumstances affecting the child's welfare, in the child's best interest. The bill clarifies that minor schedule adjustments, like shifting visitation days, do not qualify for modification under these rules.
HB 179 sets new rules for how court reporters must handle recordings and notes in Louisiana courts. For criminal cases, reporters must retain all notes and recordings indefinitely (unless all defendants are acquitted), while for civil cases, they must keep them for at least five years after trial. The bill clarifies that all recordings remain the property of the court, not the reporter, and must stay under the court's custody even if a reporter retires or leaves. This directly affects court reporters by defining their retention duties and ownership responsibilities.
HB 171 clarifies Louisiana's bail procedures for personal sureties (individuals guaranteeing a defendant's court appearance). It distinguishes between "secured" sureties, who must mortgage property in Louisiana, and "unsecured" sureties, who must reside in the state but do not need to pledge property. The bill amends specific sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure to define these requirements more precisely. This affects defendants seeking release on bail and the courts overseeing those releases in Louisiana. The bill is procedural, focusing on defining existing bail mechanisms rather than creating new policies.
SB 114 would create a special "Foundation for Moral Law" prestige license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, requiring at least 1,000 applicants to activate. It allows the plate on passenger cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans, with design mandated to include the foundation's name and costing the standard registration fee. The Department of Public Safety would manage design, issuance, and rules under this provision. This is a procedural bill creating a new plate option, not a substantive policy change affecting broader legislation or funding.
