Key Wins for Equity and Justice

Thanks to our collective advocacy, organizing, and partnerships, several meaningful bills advanced that directly align with Power Coalition’s mission:

• HB 100 – Surveillance Reform: Prohibits bail bond agents from using cellular tracking devices.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 405 – Voting Rights Transparency: Requires the Secretary of State to publicly share changes in election law.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 457 – Solitary Confinement Reform: Advances protections for incarcerated individuals regarding the use of solitary.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 454 – Doula Medicaid Coverage: Requires Medicaid coverage for certain doula services, supporting maternal health equity.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 514 – Doula Registry Board Reform: Restructures the Louisiana Doula Registry Board and provides needed regulatory clarity to improve support for doulas.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 584 – Back on Track Youth Pilot: Launches a youth development initiative focused on alternatives to incarceration.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• SB 87 – Cash Bond Notification: Requires notification to those who posted cash bonds when arrest warrants are issued.
  Status: Signed by the President
• SB 182 – Medicaid Emergency Protections: Ensures continuous Medicaid access during declared emergencies.
  Status: Signed by the President

Setbacks and Losses to Monitor

Despite our advocacy, several harmful bills advanced. These signal areas of concern that we’ll need to address in our ongoing work:

• HB 208 – Parole Restrictions: Further limits early release options, disproportionately affecting incarcerated Black Louisianans.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 260 – Expands Second Degree Murder: Adds resisting arrest with force to the list, raising serious due process concerns.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 153 – Unemployment Work Search Requirement: Increases weekly job search requirements for unemployment claimants.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 64 – AG Sovereignty Powers: Grants the Attorney General sweeping authority over legal matters involving the federal government.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• SB 156 – Embryo Personhood: Recognizes legal rights for in vitro embryos, threatening reproductive freedoms.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• SB 127 – Nuclear Energy Fast-Track Permitting: Weakens oversight for nuclear energy development.
  Status: Sent to Governor
• HB 303 – Fugitive Apprehension Unit: Opens door to over-surveillance and targeting of immigrant communities.
  Status: Sent to Governor

Emerging Threats and Opportunities

While these bills passed, we’re watching closely to ensure their implementation doesn’t further harm or disenfranchise our communities:

• HB 206 – Legislative authorization before any changes can be made to election procedures that deviate from the current Election Code
• HB 274 – Transfers the state’s emergency office to the Military Department.
• HB 425 – Introduces coerced abortion crime definitions and mandatory reporting.
• SB 4 – Allows political signage at public school sports facilities.
• HB 281 – Prohibits campaign apparel at polling places.
• HB 625 – Statewide Constitutional Amendment Election: Calls for a special statewide election on April 18, 2026, for constitutional amendments.

All currently: Sent to the Governor

Bills Signed by the Governor:

• HB 148 – Rep. Jeffery Wiley 
  Requires insurers to provide prior premium amounts with renewals of certain insurance policies
  Act 11
• HB 436 – Rep. Gabe Firment 
  Prohibits an award of general damages and past and future wages for unauthorized aliens in an automobile accident
  Act 17
• HB 532 – Rep. Dustin Miller 
  Provides relative to sales and use tax elections in certain municipalities
  Act 6

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Bills Sent to the Governor:

• HB 122 – Rep. Stephanie Berault 
  Creates the Louisiana Roof Registry
• HB 214 – Rep. Debbie Villio 
  Provides relative to revocation of probation
• HB 281 – Rep. John Wyble 
  Prohibits wearing campaign apparel at polling places during early voting or on election day
• HB 292 – Rep. Alonzo Knox 
  Modifies jury polling rules and handling of polling slips
• HB 316 – Rep. Rhonda Butler 
  Modifies membership and language of the Drug Policy Board
• HB 351 – Rep. Mike Johnson 
  Penalties for attesting to false information in a notice of candidacy
• HB 420 – Rep. Beth Billings
  Addresses political party qualifications and recognition
• HB 438 – Rep. Gabe Firment 
  Restricts use of advertising expenses in setting insurance rates
• HB 80 – Rep. Jason Dewitt 
  Adds “lineman” to the state’s definition of first responder during weather emergencies

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Legislation to Watch This Week:

SB 70 – Pending House Final Passage
Provides relative to remote patient monitoring services.

Monday, June 2, 2025

• SB 134 – Pending House Floor Final Passage | Oppose | Narrows definitions of “health care,” “health care provider,” and “malpractice,” limiting liability and potentially weakening legal protections for patients.
• HB 692 – Subject to Call – House Final Passage | Oppose | Establishes state policy regarding affordable, reliable energy and grid resilience.
• HB 513 – Senate Floor Final Passage  | Oppose | Enacts the Louisiana Consumer Alternative Installment Loan Act – allowing licensed lenders to offer installment loans of up to $5,500 with interest rates as high as 59% annually, while setting certain borrower protections and limiting how lenders can collect payments.
• HB 582 – Senate Floor Final Passage  | Oppose | Double the size of the  payday loan from $350 to $700, removes the $45 cap on fees, and stops lenders from reporting missed payments to credit bureaus. It also allows the loan limit to adjust yearly based on inflation.
• HB 368 – Senate Final final passage | Oppose | Regulating the earned wage access services where you can get your pay early. 
• HB 575 – Senate Floor Final Passage | Oppose | Provides liability provisions for the unlawful termination of a pregnancy.
• SB 235 – House Ways & Means – 9:30am in Rm 6 | Support | Creates an income tax credit for homeowner’s insurance premium payments.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

• HB 307 – Senate Judiciary B – 1:30pm in Rm E | Oppose | Requires reporting of non-citizen public assistance applicants to ICE.
• HB 303 – Senate Judiciary C – 12:30pm in Rm F | Oppose | Creates the Fugitive Apprehension Unit within the office of the attorney general

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

• HB 690 – Senate Health & Welfare – 9:30am in Hainkel Rm. | Oppose | Directs Surgeon General to draft rules for administering medical actions under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
• HB 514 – Senate Health & Welfare 9:30am in Hainkel Rm |Oppose | Modifies Louisiana Doula Registry Board and regulatory authority.

Other Activity 

SB 100 – Passed Senate on 6/1/25 (25-11) / Pending House introduction
Provides for data collection on the legal status of individuals receiving state services.

Key Bill Updates From May 19-23

• SB 218 Failed in the Senate
  Despite bipartisan support and strong public opinion (65% of likely voters support retrials for non-unanimous convictions), the Senate failed to pass SB 218 (Sen. Duplessis). This bill would have created a legal pathway for those convicted by unconstitutional non-unanimous juries to seek a new trial.
• HB 617 Passed the House
  Reorganizes the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), moving child protection and family services under DCFS and transferring all other programs (like SNAP) to the new “Louisiana Works” Department under HB 624. SNAP eligibility moves to LDH.
• SB 74 Defeated
  Would have allowed youth to be tried in adult courts. We OPPOSED and are glad to report its defeat.
• HB 685 Passed the House 
  This harmful anti-DEI bill would ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts across state government and restrict classroom discussions on race and gender. We strongly oppose and are urging the Senate to reject it.
• HB 405 Passed the House 
  A key voter protection bill that now heads to the Senate.
• SB 109 and HB 590 are companion bills. SB 109 passed House and Government Affairs and HB 590 will be heard on the Senate Floor on Tuesday, May 27. This bill is misleading in its intent and dangerous in its impact. It claims to protect elections from foreign interference—but in reality, it criminalizes trusted local support for voter access and civic engagement.
• Redistricting Bills (HB 487 & HB 488)
  Scheduled for committee hearing on Wednesday, May 28 at 9:30 AM. These are critical measures for equitable representation.

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This Week’s Scheduled Hearings & Legislation to Watch (Week of May 26-30) 

Tuesday, May 27

Appropriations – 9:00 AM

• HB 124 (Oppose) – Election section changes in 19th Judicial District.
• HB 692 (Oppose) – Redefines “green energy” to include hydrocarbons and nuclear.

Ways & Means – 10:00 AM

• HB 535 (Support) – Requires Legislative Auditor to evaluate tax incentives.

Wednesday, May 28

Natural Resources – 9:00 AM

• SB 244 (Watching) – 213-page reorg of LDENR.
• HCR 61 (Supportive) – Long-term data center water needs.

• HR 36, HCR 64, SB 36 (Watching)

Health & Welfare – 9:30 AM

• SB 2 (Oppose) – Limits public water fluoridation.

Governmental Affairs – 9:30 AM

• HB 487 & HB 488 (Support) – Redistricting bills.

Criminal Justice – 10:00 AM

• SB 15 (Oppose) – Criminalizing Local Cooperation with Immigrant Communities
• HB 650 (Support) – Mobile sports betting tax allocation.
• HB 419 (Monitor) – Criminalizes exposure to self-spreading pathogens.

Insurance – 9:30 AM

• SB 61 (Support) – Transparency on insurance scores.

Thursday, May 29

• Senate Transportation will hear HB 554. Please contact Patrick Williamson at pwilliamson@fairelectionscenter.org to sign on to the letter. If you’d like to sign on, please let me know and provide your signature block information and org. logo by COB Tuesday (5/27). 

Additional Bills: 

Oppose HB 690
Replaces HB 377 (Rep. Owen)

• Allows individuals to refuse EUA treatments.
• Now mandates the Surgeon General to regulate EUA-related medical practices.
• This bill politicizes medicine and undermines provider-patient trust.

Oppose HB 555 & HB 629 – “Medical Freedom” Bills

• Threaten core public health protections by blocking vaccine requirements.
• Open the door to widespread litigation with $5,000+ penalties.
• Currently deferred or not yet scheduled—stay alert for rescheduling.

🟣 4th Annual Day of Action for Vaccines – May 28th
Louisiana Families for Vaccines still have a few table slots left in the Capitol Rotunda. Let us know ASAP if you plan to attend or would like a table.

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Redistricting Legal Updates

Legislative (Nairne v. Landry): Awaiting a ruling from the 5th Circuit. Remedial maps are due today.

Congressional (LA v. Callais): SCOTUS heard arguments on March 24. Decision expected by late June.