Week 3 Legislative Update – 2026 Regular Session

March 27, 2026



The Louisiana Legislature wrapped up its work for the week on Wednesday evening following a jam-packed slate of committee and floor agendas in both chambers. Action this week included the passage of a controversial proposal (HB691) on voter citizenship verification in the House & Governmental Affairs Committee, testimony on pharmaceutical pricing transparency (SB401) in the Senate Insurance Committee, and the advancement of a bill (SB123) giving lawmakers more authority over the judiciary. With major policy initiatives taking shape, next week looks to bring even more action as committee hearings and floor debates continue.

Energy & CCS Bills

Most key energy bills still await a hearing in their respective committees. Over 30 bills related to CCS have been filed, and there will likely be more on the way.

HB 621 from Rep. Kim Coates requires recycling of decommissioned renewable energy infrastructure, while HB 637 from Rep. Jacob Landry establishes reduced rates for oilfield site restoration fees. Rep. Geymann’s HB 804 creates the “Louisiana Energy Protection Act” and establishes procedures and limitation of a liability for claims brought for damages related to climate change for emissions of greenhouse gases. HB 419 from Rep. Gabe Firment follows a similar vein.

In the CCS arena, Sen. Bill Wheat has brought several bills taking aim at CCS and pipeline projects, including the “Louisiana Landowners Protection Act” (SB 60), legislation for local authorization of CCS projects (SB 61), and two instruments related to limiting construction of pipelines in certain areas (SB 62 and SB 63). Repeats of previous anti-CCS legislation will also appear, including local authorization requirements for CCS projects in St. Helena, Grant, Vernon, Beauregard, Sabine, and Allen parishes. Other bills include Rep. Danny McCormick’s HB 327, which declares that “carbon dioxide sequestration is illegal without a property owner’s consent.” Rep. Robby Carter has filed House bills 79, which removes the “damage threshold for carbon capture release,” and 80, which “establishes strict liability for damages caused from carbon storage and transportation.” HB 509 requires a public hearing in the parish where a Class V or Class VI well is proposed, and HB 507 repeals liability limits related to carbon dioxide sequestration and transmission. Further legislation which provides for compensation for pore space owners (HB 499) has also been filed. Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn has added a bill that prohibits the importation of captured carbon dioxide into Louisiana for sequestration.

In a similar vein, Rep. Chuck Owen’s HB 566 prohibits use of state funds in support of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions policies. Most CCS-related bills will be debated on specific days to come during the Session.

Notable AI Bills

A few bills on artificial intelligence include HB 119, which addresses the unlawful possession, dissemination, or sale of images of another created by artificial intelligence under certain circumstances. This bill is awaiting House floor action. HB 157 establishes a cause of action for misuse of artificial intelligence. Rep. Kyle Green’s HB 295 is a public safety bill that prohibits the development of artificial intelligence systems with certain capabilities involving interactions with minors. Rep. Edmond Jordan’s HB 880 creates the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, while Rep. Josh Carlson’s HB 734 creates a consumer bill of rights regarding artificial intelligence.

On the Senate side, Sen. Hensgens has SB 5, which provides for the regulation of mental health chatbots that use artificial intelligence technology. Sen. Edmonds’ SB 42 prohibits using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials. This bill is scheduled for Senate final passage on Monday.

In all, over 20 bills in both the House and the Senate aim to regulate artificial intelligence to provide greater public safety laws in general and provide ethics restraints in multiple industries.

Insurance Bills

Notable insurance bills include HB 95, which provides relative to recovery of damages in an automobile accident when a claimant does not use available health insurance. Other tort reform and legal limit bills include HB 526, which establishes a cap on the award of general damages, and HB 118, which similarly provides a limitation on recovery of general damages in certain circumstances. HB 197 establishes authorized uses, prohibited uses, and penalties for the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence by healthcare providers. Since the Session is still at the early stages, most of these bills await hearings in their respective committees.

Rep. Firment’s HB 234 re-creates the Department of Insurance for four years, changing the termination date from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2031. It awaits House floor action. HB 736 from Rep. Green provides for the transparency of setting rates. Rep. Edmond Jordan’s HB 794 creates the Louisiana First-Generation Homebuyer Assistance Act.

On the Senate side, SB 100 from Sen. Sam Jenkins provides for proof of insurance of transportation network companies involved in an accident—it is pending Senate floor action. Sen. Jay Luneau’s SB 246 establishes requirements for insurers using artificial intelligence, and it is scheduled for a final vote on Monday.

Other Key Education Bills

As the ’26 Session rolls ahead, several more key education bills will be debated in the coming weeks. School choice and parental rights have featured prominently in the bills up for consideration. Rep. Michael Melerine’s HB 186 creates the crime of theft of funds from the LA GATOR Scholarship Program. HB 485 is a proposed constitutional amendment that “adds the fundamental right of parents to decide the nurturing, education, care, custody, and control of their children.” Rep. Ken Brass’s HB 649, awaiting a House vote, would require the establishment and administration of a statewide application process for dual enrollment programs. 

A couple key bills on teacher pay and workforce include Rep. Mike Echols’s HB 558 provides for the adjustment of teacher salary schedules as necessary to reach certain levels relative to the Southern regional average. SB 157 creates the “Parental Leave for Educators Act.”

In the arena of school operations and accountability, SB 27 by Sen. Patrick McMath expands tutoring access for students in elementary and middle school. Sen. Beth Mizell’s SB 82 requires five-day public-school weeks for grades one through 12. Additionally, Rep. Mike Johnson has brought HB 578, the Restoring Biological Truth Act. In an alignment with federal efforts, Rep. Kim Carver has authored a resolution (HCR 14) which expresses support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. In the area of public funds usage, Rep. John Wyble’s HB 229 prohibits the use of public funds for certain postsecondary degree programs.

We will continue to monitor these issues and provide timely updates throughout the session. Please reach out to your SSG team with any questions.