HB 556 is a technical correction bill that updates outdated legal references in Louisiana law regarding the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). It revises specific statute citations (such as R.S. 48:23, 76(C), 92, and 94) to align with current code sections, ensuring DOTD's operational procedures reference the correct laws. This procedural bill does not change DOTD's duties, funding, or public-facing policies - it only corrects statutory language for administrative accuracy. The bill affects the DOTD's internal operations by ensuring its legal framework matches current state statutes. (Note: This is a technical amendment, not a substantive policy change.)
HB 559 updates appointment requirements for members of human services districts and boards. It requires appointees to both live in the district they serve and be registered voters in that district for at least one year prior to appointment. These changes apply specifically to individuals seeking board positions within human services districts. The bill modifies existing eligibility rules without altering service delivery or funding.
HB 690 is a procedural bill that amends Louisiana law to include specific state boards in the process for administering Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) medical activities. It directs the Surgeon General to draft rules involving the Louisiana State Law Institute, State Board of Medical Examiners, Board of Pharmacy, and State Board of Nursing. The bill does not create new policy but clarifies which entities must be consulted when implementing EUA protocols for healthcare providers. It directly affects these four state boards by designating their role in EUA rulemaking. The bill passed the Senate with strong support (73-22) in May 2025.
HB 649 amends the legal framework governing East Baton Rouge Parish's Recreation and Park Commission and the Capital Area Transit System by changing their status from "enacted" to "amended and reenacted" in state law. This is a procedural update to clarify the commission's governing authority, not a policy change affecting residents or services. The bill modifies existing administrative language without altering operational responsibilities or funding. It is currently scheduled for floor debate in the Louisiana legislature.
HB 323 amends the election date for municipal officers and school board members in the state, changing the date from July 28, 2026, to July 1, 2026. This technical adjustment directly affects local election schedules for these positions. The bill's sole provision is the specific date change in the relevant statute, with no additional policy provisions or budgetary impact. It is a procedural update to align with existing election timing requirements.
HB 502 requires registrars of voters in Louisiana parishes to report to their local parish governing authority upon request and to appear before that authority when asked. This bill directly affects local election officials responsible for voter registration. The key provision adds a new duty (under R.S. 18:58(E)) for registrars to provide information and appear before parish governing bodies, clarifying their reporting obligations. The bill does not change compensation, evaluation, or removal procedures for registrars. As a procedural update to election official duties, it has no budgetary impact.
HB 684 restricts the use of seclusion and physical restraint for students with disabilities in schools, requiring staff to first implement behavioral interventions. The bill clarifies that such interventions must address the student's behavior before restraint is considered, with a minor technical amendment correcting wording from "Behavior" to "Behavioral" in the text. This is a procedural adjustment with no new costs or policy changes, as noted by "EN NO IMPACT," and it directly affects school staff and students with disabilities in public education settings. The bill passed the House unanimously (99-0) and is now pending in the Senate.
HB 475 extends the expiration date of a tax credit for domestic insurers that pay retaliatory taxes imposed by other states. The bill specifically changes the sunset date from 2034 to 2031, meaning the credit will remain available until the end of 2031 instead of 2034. This directly affects domestic insurers operating in the state who face retaliatory tax policies from other jurisdictions. The key provision is a simple modification to the credit's expiration timeline, providing continued tax relief for these insurers for three additional years.
HB 264 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug manufacturers to increase transparency around drug pricing and compensation practices. It prohibits PBMs from charging pharmacies fees for claims (Amendment 7) and mandates drug manufacturers to notify the state commissioner of significant price increases (over 15% for brand drugs or "specialty" drugs) with explanations (Amendment 16). The bill also creates a fund for enforcement (Amendment 3) and requires PBMs to notify pharmacies of payment errors and allow claim corrections (Amendment 10). These provisions directly affect pharmacies, PBMs, and drug manufacturers by altering how drug costs and rebates are disclosed and managed.
HB 442 is a procedural amendment to correct a reference in the bill's text, changing "(iii)(vii)" to "(iii)(vi)" on page 3, line 3. It does not alter practice standards for audiology or speech-language pathology, nor does it affect practitioners or patients. The amendment solely fixes a clerical error within the bill itself. The bill passed committee and is now moving toward final approval.
HB 686 appears to be a technical amendment to lobbying disclosure requirements related to foreign adversaries, based on the bill title and amendment details. The bill primarily corrects references in existing law, such as changing "Part 7.4" to "Part 791.4" in federal regulations and updating bill numbers from "24:53.1" to "24:51." It does not introduce new policy requirements but adjusts existing statutory language for accuracy. This bill directly affects lobbying entities required to disclose foreign adversary connections under current law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, scheduled for floor debate.
HB 466 requires Louisiana public school systems to provide a permanent salary increase for teachers and other school employees using savings from the state's payment of certain pension liabilities. It directly affects all public school systems and their covered personnel, including teachers (certificated) and support staff (noncertificated) as defined by specific job codes. The bill mandates schools incorporate this increase into salary schedules and extend it to employees on approved leave (e.g., medical, military, maternity/adoptive leave), with schools required to report implementation to the state Department of Education by December 31. Charter schools participating in the Teachers' Retirement System must comply with this provision, though they remain exempt from most other public school mandates.
