This bill expands the authority of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction to independently manage federal-aid highway projects and control the State Highway Improvement Fund without requiring prior approval from the Department of Transportation and Development. Key provisions grant the office emergency procurement powers, allowing it to issue emergency declarations and sign contracts for immediate infrastructure repairs, particularly for bridges in poor condition, while also enabling it to access various funding sources including state general fund allocations and interagency transfers. The legislation requires the office to submit annual reports detailing project status, scope, and funding to the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, and extends emergency procurement authority until December 31, 2027.
This bill allows Louisiana public university and college systems to charge tuition and fees for distance education courses that are comparable to traditional in-person classes. It applies to undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs offered entirely online and gives the institution's board of supervisors the authority to set these charges. The law also permits schools to charge proportional fees for part-time students and during summer sessions or other academic periods. This change affects students enrolled in online programs at Louisiana State University, Southern University, the University of Louisiana System, and Community and Technical Colleges.
This bill updates Louisiana's boat registration rules to clarify how owners must re-register boats when ownership changes or when registration has expired. It requires new applications with a five-dollar fee and a three-year registration certificate whenever a motorboat, houseboat, or sailboat changes hands. For boats with expired registrations lasting five years or more, the bill allows current owners to apply for new certificates by submitting proof of possession and certified mail notices to previous owners. The changes apply to boat owners and the state commission that issues registration documents.
This bill requires Louisiana municipal and parish fire departments, along with contracted nonprofit fire service employees, to provide free cancer and precancer screenings for their staff. The screenings must begin no later than three years after employment starts, with precancer tests for esophageal cancer available every ten years and continuing until age sixty. Employers must cover all costs without requiring copayments, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket expenses from the firefighters or employees. Retired firefighters and those who leave due to disability are also entitled to these screenings under the same schedule, while those who resign or are terminated are excluded. Participation in the screenings remains voluntary for all eligible employees.
This bill updates Louisiana laws governing how domestic insurance companies can invest their money, specifically focusing on equity and preferred stock holdings. It sets limits on how much of an insurer's assets can be invested in stocks from a single company, requiring that such investments stay below three percent of admitted assets, while also capping total preferred stock holdings at twenty-five percent of admitted assets. The legislation distinguishes between life insurers and other types of insurers, imposing stricter rules on life insurers regarding unlisted equity investments and prohibiting short selling without owning the underlying assets. Additionally, it gives insurance regulators the authority to require insurers to treat investments in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds as direct ownership of underlying assets for evaluation purposes. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for maintaining insurer solvency while allowing regulated investment flexibility.
This bill ensures that laboratory schools run by public universities in Louisiana, including those under the University of Louisiana System, receive state funding through the Minimum Foundation Program. It updates existing state law to classify these schools as public elementary or secondary schools, making them eligible for annual funding allocations based on a standardized formula. The change directly affects university-operated schools like those at Louisiana State University, Southern University, and institutions such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Monroe. By including these schools in the funding formula, the legislation aims to provide consistent financial support for their operations without altering their university affiliation.
SB 30 prohibits Louisiana state agencies and licensing boards from banning telehealth services for evaluating, diagnosing, or treating obesity and related metabolic conditions. It directly affects licensed healthcare providers who use telehealth to deliver these services. The bill requires that providers may prescribe FDA-approved or compounded noncontrolled medications via telehealth while operating within their license scope and standard of care. This policy change removes regulatory barriers to telehealth for these specific conditions, without altering existing licensure requirements.
SB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.
SB 41 requires local governments (such as cities, school boards, and parish police juries) to publish meeting minutes within 45 days after a meeting, extending the current 20-day deadline. This change directly affects public bodies responsible for maintaining open meeting records under Louisiana law. The bill updates penalties for missing the deadline, including fines up to $500 or jail time, now tied to the new 45-day window instead of the previous 20 days. It does not alter the types of records required to be published.
HB 155 amends Louisiana law to prohibit the intentional use of drones (unmanned aircraft systems) over specific sensitive locations without permission. It bans drone flights above the state capitol building, governor's mansion, or correctional facilities (including those holding juveniles or adults in custody) without written consent from the facility's manager. This bill updates existing criminal law by adding these locations to the list of prohibited areas for drone use, requiring explicit authorization for any drone activity there. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process (prefiled and referred to a committee as of February 2026).
HB 106 prohibits child day care centers in Louisiana from providing melatonin (a nonprescription sleep aid) to children without written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The law directly affects day care centers and parents/guardians, requiring centers to obtain explicit permission before administering melatonin. Violations carry penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, six months in jail, or both. The bill specifically targets melatonin use in day care settings, not all nonprescription medications. It is currently pending before the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
HB 136 modifies hiring rules for the Harahan Police Department by requiring that vacant positions be filled by selecting from the top three candidates with the highest departmental seniority on the promotional list, rather than using other methods like reinstatement. This directly affects the city of Harahan's police department and candidates on its promotional lists for police positions. The bill changes the appointment process to prioritize seniority within the existing promotional list structure.
