Legislation Session

The 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature is currently underway. As of now, over 600 bills have been introduced, covering a wide range of topics. While the full list is extensive, here are a few notable bills that may be of interest:​

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Freedom Fighters: Your Voice is Needed!

 

The Louisiana Legislative Session continues, and critical decisions are being made that impact our communities. This week, our focus sharpens on key Election, Voting Rights, and Criminal Justice Reform bills.

Review the updates below, understand the issues, and prepare to make your voice heard!

This Week's Priority Areas:

• Voting Rights & Elections: Protecting access to the ballot (HB332) and ensuring transparency (HB405).

• Criminal Justice Reform: Opposing harmful sentencing mandates (HB11), discriminatory criminalization (HB76), and barriers to reentry.

• Economic Justice: Supporting measures like the EITC expansion (HB133, HB337) and opposing its repeal (HB642).

• URGENT - Public Health & Safety: Opposing the dangerous STI criminalization bill (HB76) and anti-public health measures (HB555, HB377).

Recap: Week of April 28th

Thanks to your advocacy during Reclaiming Justice Lobby Day and throughout the week:

• SB218 (Post-Conviction Relief/Non-Unanimous Juries): Moved out of committee, pending Senate final passage.

• HB467 (Health Insurance Coverage/Formulas): Reported favorable, pending House Appropriations.

• HB344 (School Disciplinary Records Transfer - Oppose): Was deferred; sponsors lacked answers. This bill negatively impacts youth.

• SB74 (Juvenile Court Jurisdiction): Was amended significantly, addressing some concerns regarding criminal court jurisdiction over juveniles.

• HB554 (Immigrant ID Restriction Codes - Oppose): Moved out of committee.

• SB100 (Immigration Data - Oppose): Was deferred due to fiscal concerns.

• HB307 (Anti-Benefit Enforcement - Oppose): Moved out of committee.

Your calls and emails make a difference!

Week 4: Hearings & Key Bills

House Criminal Justice – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: HB15, HB76, HB93, HB103, HB156, HB163, HB182, HB261, HB268, SB9, HB11, HB220, HB393, HB407, HB425, SB101

HB76 (Rep. Pat Moore) MAJOR ALERT - OPPOSE

Creates dangerous new crimes of felony and misdemeanor intentional exposure to a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

WHY WE MUST OPPOSE HB76 (INFO VIA THE CENTER FOR HIV LAW & POLICY - CHLP):

• Harms Public Health: Discourages testing, increases stigma, undermines prevention/treatment.

• Worsens Disparities: Disproportionately impacts Black & brown people, LGBTQ+ folks, working-class individuals, & women. Existing LA HIV law enforcement already shows racial bias (63% of suspects Black vs. 32% of population).

• Chills Disclosure & Trust: Increases fear, making open conversations about sexual health less likely.

• Criminalizes Survivors & Empowers Abusers: Fails survivors of violence and gives abusers another tool for control.

• Wrong Approach: Ignores high STI rates. Focus must be on education, testing, & treatment access, not criminalization.

ACTION: Contact House Criminal Justice members IMMEDIATELY (Before Wed!). Urge them to VOTE NO on HB76. Testify against this harmful bill if possible!

HB11 (Rep. Chad Boyer) OPPOSE

“The Segus Jolivette Act,” requires harsher sentences for repeat offenses, institutes minimum sentencing, and allows juries to consider prior convictions in verdicts.

HB407 (Rep. Ventrella) OPPOSE

Provides relative to individuals who may obtain a concealed handgun permit in La.

House & Governmental Affairs – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: HR2, HCR1, HCR15, HCR16, HB160, HB332, HB355, HB405, HB511, HB596

HB332 (Rep. Larvadain) SUPPORT

Reduces the campaign-free zone around polling places from 600 feet to 100 feet, enhancing voter access.

HB405 (Rep. Willard) SUPPORT

Improves transparency and public education around changes to election laws.

House Ways & Means – Monday, May 5

Bills Scheduled: HB133, HB184, HB186, HB194, HB195 HB198, HB211, HB230, HB236, HB238, HB325, HB337, HB414, HB444, HB475, HB477, HB485, HB490, HB495, HB518, HB533, HB552, HB600, HB642, HB653, HB654, HB665, HB668, HB669, HB671

HB133 (Rep. Matthew Willard) SUPPORT

Would double the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 5% to 10% of the federal credit, bringing $64 million annually to low-income workers and families.

HB337 (Rep. Matthew Willard) SUPPORT

Establishes a refundable Child Tax Credit of $500 per child under age 6 for low-income families.

HB642 (Rep. Rodger Wilder) OPPOSE

Would repeal the state EITC, removing $64 million annually from working families and jeopardizing TANF funding.

EITC Background: Louisiana was the first Southern state to enact a refundable EITC (2007). In 2023, 439,761 households claimed it. Fact sheets available: Download

House Education – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: HCR13, HB202, HB225, HB237, HB243, HB344, HB354, HB486

HB225 (Rep. Chad Brown) OPPOSE

Authorizes public school personnel to conduct weapon screenings of students upon entry onto a school campus.

HB344 (Rep. Stephanie Berault) OPPOSE

Provides for the transfer of school disciplinary records and for school personnel's access to certain juvenile court records. This negatively impacts youth privacy and futures.

House Health & Welfare – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: HB112, HB137, HB138, HB150, HB265, HB377, HB422, HB514, HB555, HB607, HB338, HB354, HB423, HB541, HB559, HB565, HB595, HB619, HB655, HB658, HB661

HB265 (Rep. Mena) SUPPORT

Provides with respect to prohibitions regarding the employment of ambulance drivers convicted of certain offenses.

HB619 (Rep. Knox) OPPOSE

Provides relative to group and community homes.

HB555 – “Medical Freedom Act” OPPOSE

Would prohibit entities from requiring vaccinations or other medical interventions, undermining basic public health protections.

Key Concerns: Threatens protections against diseases like measles/polio, imposes $5k penalty inviting litigation, undermines ability to protect children/workers/public.

HB377 – Medical Treatment Refusal During EUA OPPOSE

Prevents public health responses during emergencies by banning mandates on EUA treatments, criminalizing providers.

Key Concerns: Weakens emergency response, criminalizes doctors using approved tools, erodes trust, dangerous precedent.

Judiciary A – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: SB39, SB225, SB226

SB39 OPPOSE

Provides for limitation of liability of public entities for false imprisonment. (Note: VOTE submitted amendments).

Senate Finance – Tuesday, May 6

Bills Scheduled: SB25, SB91, SB184

SB25 OPPOSE

Constitutional amendment to grant the St. George community school system parish-like authority.

Senate Health & Welfare – Wednesday, May 7

Bills Scheduled: SB96, SB102, SB120, SB130, SB153, SB174

SB130 OPPOSE

Provides relative to Medicaid.

Other Committee Hearings This Week:

Stay aware of bills moving in these committees:

• Appropriations (Tues): HB466, HB579, HB599

• House Transportation (Mon): HCR 3, HB94, HB297, HB350, HB474, HB480, HB504, HB510, HB580, HB588, HB613, HB616, HB633, HB651, HB660

• House Insurance (Wed): HB224, HB258, HB264, HB356, HB357, HB574, HB662

• House Natural Resources (Wed): HB75, HB304, HB396, HB548, HB585, HB632

• Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs (Tues): SB44, SB69, SB112, SB115, SB162, SB235, SB240, SB241, SB243

• Civil Law & Procedure (Mon): MEETING CANCELLED

• Commerce (Mon): HB125, HB570, HB670, HCR11

Take Action, Freedom Fighters!

Your engagement is power. Here’s how you can make a difference this week:

• Contact Legislators: Especially members of the House Criminal Justice Committee regarding HB76. Use the tool below to find your representatives.

• Testify: Share your story and perspective on these bills. Contact us for support and guidance on testifying.

• Spread the Word: Share this update with fellow Freedom Fighters, allies, and community members.

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For a comprehensive list of all bills introduced in the 2025 Regular Session, you can visit the Louisiana Legislature's Bill Search page. This resource allows you to filter bills by topic, author, and status. ​Louisiana Legislature+1Louisiana Legislature+1