HB 360 requires Louisiana's state treasurer to designate which credit/debit cards and electronic payment methods state agencies can accept for fees (e.g., permits, licenses), publishing this list at least biannually. It authorizes the treasurer to negotiate contracts with payment providers for up to five years, aiming for uniformity across state entities to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The bill directly affects state agencies collecting payments, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles or tax offices, by standardizing their electronic payment options. Key provisions include allowing agencies to recommend specific payment methods for approval and requiring the treasurer to seek standard terms in contracts to avoid fragmented systems.
HB 444 imposes a $3 per metric ton tax on carbon dioxide injected into underground storage wells (Class VI) for geologic sequestration. It directly affects companies operating CO2 storage facilities, requiring them to report monthly injection volumes to the Department of Revenue and pay the tax electronically. Revenue collected flows directly to the parishes where storage occurs - allocated based on surface area above the storage site - and can be used for any local purpose. The bill establishes clear reporting requirements, certification processes, and revenue distribution without specifying how parishes must spend the funds.
HB 614 requires Louisiana high school students to achieve a minimum ACT score set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to graduate, replacing state-administered end-of-course exams. The bill prohibits all state-level high school end-of-course assessments and mandates that the State Board establish the ACT score threshold through rulemaking, with the specific requirement that it not reduce the state's high school graduation rate. This directly affects all Louisiana public high school students seeking graduation, shifting the primary assessment requirement from subject-specific state tests to a standardized national test. The policy change simplifies graduation requirements by eliminating multiple state exams and centralizing the benchmark on a single national test score.
HB 390 adds a new tax of 1.65 cents per cigarette in Louisiana, effective July 1, 2025. This tax applies to all cigarette purchases by retail and wholesale dealers after that date, directly affecting these businesses. The bill requires dealers to submit an inventory report of all cigarettes on hand before July 1, 2025, by August 1, 2025, and excludes pre-existing stamped products from the new tax. It does not change existing tobacco tax rates but adds this specific per-cigarette levy.
HB 235 increases the excise tax on consumable hemp products sold in Louisiana to 3.2% of the retail price, to be collected by retailers and paid monthly. This tax applies in addition to existing sales taxes and directly affects retailers selling these products. The bill creates the Consumable Hemp Testing and Regulation Fund, which will receive 25% of the tax revenue to support laboratory testing or state regulation of hemp products. The remaining 75% is dedicated to other existing funds: 15% to Early Childhood Education, 30% to Criminal Justice, and 30% to Drug Abuse Education. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 128 allows Louisiana courts to deviate from standard sentencing ranges for certain offenses when two conditions are met: the offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence, and significant aggravating or mitigating circumstances exist that distinguish the case from typical situations. It directly affects judges, prosecutors, and defendants facing mandatory minimum sentences, requiring courts to explicitly state reasons for deviation based on specific listed factors (e.g., victim vulnerability, offender remorse, or use of weapons). Key provisions mandate that any deviation must be proportional to the offense's seriousness and the offender's history, with detailed written justifications for the court's decision. This bill does not change sentencing ranges but provides a structured framework for judicial discretion in exceptional cases.
HB 139 requires real estate agents to obtain a written agreement from a client before submitting an offer to purchase property on their behalf. This procedural amendment directly affects real estate agents and their clients by clarifying a specific step in the transaction process. The bill makes a minor technical change to existing rules, replacing a line in the statute to explicitly state the agreement requirement. It does not create new policy or impact broader housing markets. The bill is currently under review by the Committee on Commerce.
SB 223 establishes the Retail Service Worker Health and Safety Act, requiring retail employers with 10 or more workers to implement workplace violence prevention measures. It mandates risk assessments for high-risk scenarios (like late-night shifts or cash handling), written safety programs, and annual employee training on de-escalation tactics and emergency procedures. Employers with 50+ workers must install panic buttons for immediate law enforcement dispatch, and all employers must document violence incidents and review safety protocols yearly. The Louisiana Workforce Commission will enforce these requirements through regulations.
HB 182 amends Louisiana's DWI (Driving While Impaired) penalties to require offenders to use either a functioning vehicle ignition interlock device or an electronic alcohol monitoring device during probation and license suspension periods. For first-time offenders, this requirement lasts at least six months; for second offenses, it extends to four years during license suspension. The bill allows restricted driving privileges if offenders comply with these device requirements, replacing previous rules about ignition interlock use. It specifically affects individuals convicted of DWI, directly changing how license restrictions are applied through device mandates rather than solely through license suspension.
SB 213 revises Louisiana's workers' compensation reimbursement system for healthcare providers. It establishes a new formula to calculate payments for medical services when standard billing codes (RVUs) aren't available, including a fixed $55 rate for certain anesthesia services. The bill requires the assistant secretary to survey at least 30 Louisiana providers to determine average charges (excluding top/bottom quartiles) for setting reimbursement rates, with strict confidentiality for collected data. It also creates a 30-day expedited process for resolving payment disputes between providers and payors, with conditional cost recovery and limited appeals. This directly affects healthcare providers, employers, and insurers by changing how medical service payments are calculated and disputes are resolved.
SB 83 creates a sales and use tax exemption for Miles Perret Cancer Services in Louisiana, specifically for purchases of medical supplies, supportive care items, nutritional supplements, personal care products, mobility aids, and hygiene supplies. This exemption directly affects Miles Perret Cancer Services by eliminating state and local sales tax on these essential items for their operations. The exemption becomes effective July 1, 2025, applying to purchases made on or after that date. The bill does not change broader tax policy but provides targeted relief for this specific organization.
HB 185 requires Louisiana's State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to count students for school funding using average daily attendance (total student attendance days divided by school session days) instead of current methods. This change directly affects public schools receiving state funding through the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula. The bill mandates the State Board to develop and adopt specific rules for implementing this new counting method. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee after being referred in March 2025.
