HB608 is a blatantly anti-trans bill that seeks to regulate gender by rigidly defining "sex" in state law by a person's sex assigned at birth. The bill specifies that this definition would be used for public & charter school restrooms, domestic violence shelters, and adult and juvenile correctional facilities. This bill is part of a nationwide effort to force trans people out of public life by using the government's power to mandate discrimination toward us.

STATUS: Passed. The law will go into effect on August 1st, 2024.

HB122 would ban the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. This Don’t Say Queer/Gay/Trans bill would restrict all school employees from being able to discuss their sexual orientation or gender identity, even outside of classroom time. This would also ban teacher from sharing their own identities.

STATUS: Passed. The law will go into effect on August 1st, 2024.

HB121 would force school officials to use the name and pronouns that correlate with students’ birth certificates unless a parent provides explicit written consent for them to do otherwise. This bill explicitly codifies that public school officials and fellow students will not be reprimanded or suffer any consequence if they disrespect trans or queer students by calling them names or pronouns that are incorrect or if they refuse to identify their own pronouns. In the event that a parent gives explicit directions about their kid’s pronouns, public school officials can still not respect that request for any reason without consequence. Amendments incorporated by the House additionally add rigid definitions of "sex" and demeaning definitions of "female" and "male" that intend to discriminate against trans students.

STATUS: Passed. The law will go into effect on August 1st, 2024.

HB975 (previously HB256) got an attempted amendment by the bill sponsor to be a purely anti-trans bill that would’ve required parental consent for minors questioning their gender to receive mental healthcare. Notably, mental healthcare was omitted from the healthcare ban for trans minors passed in 2023.

Without the amendment, the bill was more general and would’ve disallowed all minors the ability to consent to any medical procedures. Parental consent would’ve needed to be acquired before treatment.

STATUS: It did not get a vote on the House Floor, so the bill was defeated. It can be filed again next year.

SB262 forbids schools to teach that students are either oppressors or oppressed due to their race. This is obviously a new attempt at a Critical Race Theory kind of bill.

STATUS: Passed. The law will go into effect on August 1st, 2024.

HB545 removes public schools from their current exemption from the crime of obscenity law, potentially criminalizing public school staff for any content deemed obscene. These people have been dangerously expanding the definition of “obscenity" to things such as black history, reproductive and sexual health educational resources, content about LGBTQ+ folks, and more. This is what they seek to criminalize with this bill.

This bill does not remove private or charter schools from the same exemption, so that they will be unaffected.

Currently, exemptions to the crime of obscenity laws are in place for libraries, schools, hospitals, and many other establishments. It’s there to stop the censorship of information.

STATUS: It failed to pass. It can be filed again next year.

HB414 changes the crime of obscenity to include content found in public libraries. These people have been dangerously expanding the definition of "obscenity" to things such as black history, reproductive and sexual health educational resources, content about LGBTQ+ folks, and more. This is what they seek to criminalize with this bill.

Currently, the exemption in place for libraries and many other establishments is there to stop censorship of information.

STATUS: It failed to pass. It can be filed again next year.

HB640 authorizes the governing authority of any parish or municipality to remove any member of its respective library board of control at any time, with or without cause.

STATUS: It failed to pass. It can be filed again next year.

HB946 authorizes the governing authority of any parish or municipality to remove any member of its respective library board of control at any time, with or without cause.

STATUS: Involuntarily Deferred in the House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee on May 1st. Bill defeated for this session.

HB436 is a bill that seeks to modernize our HIV criminalization laws. The bill better defines “Contact that poses a substantial risk of transmission,” “intent” to transmit, and more. These definitions will better align the law with its intention of stopping people from intentionally spreading HIV. Currently, it’s so vague that it criminalizes folks far beyond that scenario.

STATUS: Voluntarily deferred in committee by the bill sponsor. Not expected to get another hearing.

HB579 would allow pharmacists to be able to prescribe the life-saving HIV drugs PrEP and PEP, which protect from contracting HIV preventatively or immediately after a potential exposure. Both of these drugs are proven to drastically decrease the risk of contracting HIV.

STATUS: Passed. The law will go into effect on August 1st, 2024.

SB283 would entirely repeal the crime against nature by solicitation law. This law, known as CANS, has been used disproportionately against black trans women in New Orleans, with its harsh punishments that include being put on the sex offender registry.

STATUS: Failed to pass a vote on the Senate floor, but will be amended and called for another vote.

SB150 would create a path for individuals criminalized under the crime against nature by solicitation law to vacate the conviction entirely. This is vital to allow them to live their lives fully as folks convicted were added to the sex offender registry.

STATUS: It failed to pass. It can be filed again next year.

HB234 provides employment discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. As of now, Louisiana has no employment protections for LGBTQ+ people.

STATUS: Was heard in House Labor and Industrial Relations and failed to move forward.

HB98 would amend our state constitution to make its language regarding marriage more inclusive. Currently, it says marriage is between “a man and a woman.” This amendment would amend it to say “two persons.” This bill would also ensure the state of Louisiana recognizes same-sex marriages from other states.

STATUS: The bill was heard in the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee and was voluntarily deferred. The legislature is discussing having a constitutional convention, and since this bill was a constitutional amendment, the author was asked to raise this concern during that convention. 

HB126 would ensure that Louisiana recognizes same-sex marriages that were performed in other states.

STATUS: Voluntarily deferred in committee. It’s possible the bill may receive another hearing, or it may not.

HB631 would allow for a second look at cases of currently incarcerated survivors of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. It could also reduce sentencing for survivors of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault who act in self-defense or are coerced into a crime.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB395 would ensure that everyone has the right to contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and contraceptive-related information.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

SB225 would ensure that everyone has the right to contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and contraceptive-related information.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB707 legalized weed and creates rules to recreationalize it. It even allows the plant to grow personally.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB164 would include exemptions to Louisiana’s abortion laws for cases of rape and incest.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB63 proposes modifications to existing definitions related to the crime of abortion. It clarifies that surgical or treatment methods for ectopic pregnancies are not considered abortions. The bill also expands the medical conditions that would be exempt under the definition of abortion, including cancer and blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and 13 hemophilia.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB56 replaces vague and confusing language in Louisiana’s abortion bans related to miscarriage management, ensuring that patients experiencing a miscarriage or other serious pregnancy complications can access timely and appropriate health care.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB245 is a constitutional amendment that would ensure every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own decisions about their reproductive healthcare.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB293 would clarify the requirements for prosecution under the criminal abortion bans. It clarifies the definition of "abortion" as the performance of any act with the specific intent to terminate a clinically diagnosable pregnancy and cause the death of the unborn child by one or more of the means.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB630 would ensure that no pregnant or postpartum person is criminalized or otherwise punished for a negative pregnancy outcome.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

SB124 will create the Sexual Assault Survivor's Bill of Rights.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB800 would call for a constitutional convention to rewrite the state constitution. Advocates are calling this “Con Con.” In our current political climate, many Louisiana voices will not be represented at the proposed Constitutional Convention, and critical state programs risk losing funding and protections. Check out the Power Coalition’s action page to take action against HB800.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

SB134 repeals the right to vote for people previously convicted of a felony. A HUGE step backward.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB320 repeals student instruction requirements and teacher training requirements and authorizes BESE to adopt policies removing topics in such instruction and training.

Topics currently required in student instruction are things like CPR, child assault, dating violence, eating disorders, internet and cell phone safety, litter, mental health, parenthood, substance abuse, and more.

Topics currently required in teacher training are things like adverse childhood experiences and trauma-informed education, classroom management, bullying, first aid, suicide prevention, and more.

This bill allows BESE to start from scratch with these requirements and to create their own.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

SB123 authorizes school boards to allow religious chaplains to serve in public schools on a volunteer basis.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB334 authorizes school boards to allow religious chaplains to serve in public schools as employees or on a volunteer basis.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB71 requires public schools and colleges to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB721 provides for the carrying of a concealed weapon by a certified teacher or school administrator on a school campus

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB572 would ban government agencies from recognizing unions their employees form.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

HB571 would prohibit the use of public funds for the purposes of labor organizing and bar public agencies from negotiating with unions. It would also prevent existing unions from negotiating new contracts.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info

SB122 would allow the state Attorney General to pursue crimes local DAs chose not to prosecute.

STATUS: Click the bill number link for more info