Seeks to establish the "Right to Refuse Emergency Use Authorization Drugs Act."

This bill ensures individuals are fully informed of their right to decline medical devices, tests, pharmaceuticals, drugs, vaccines, or biological products that have received only Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under this bill, healthcare providers would be required to provide both written and verbal notice to patients regarding their right to refuse such treatments. The notice must include:

·       A statement that the product is authorized under EUA and has not undergone full FDA approval.

·       An assurance that refusal will not result in discrimination, retaliation, or loss of services.

·       Information on known risks, benefits, and alternatives to the product, including non-intervention and other treatments.

·       A summary of known risks associated with refusing the product.

Healthcare providers are required to obtain the patient's signature or electronic acknowledgment confirming receipt of this information, though this acknowledgment does not constitute consent to treatment. The bill prohibits providers from coercing or pressuring individuals into accepting EUA products and ensures refusal does not lead to negative consequences such as denial of treatment, loss of employment, or denial of benefits or services. Providers must document the patient's decision to refuse in their medical records. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary actions, including revocation or suspension of licensure, fines, or other penalties as determined by the provider's licensing authority.

Proposes amendments to Louisiana law (specifically enacting R.S. 30:1104(G) and 1104.3) to grant parish governing authorities and citizens the ability to determine whether Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells (used for carbon sequestration) may be permitted within their parish.

1. Local Control Over Class VI Wells:

• Parishes can prohibit Class VI injection wells despite the Department of Energy and Natural Resources' statewide permitting authority (R.S. 30:1104(G)).
• This local control is exercised through resolutions, ordinances, or parish-wide elections (R.S. 30:1104.3).

1. Parish Governing Authority Action (Subsection B):

• A parish governing authority may independently pass a resolution or ordinance to allow or prohibit Class VI wells within its jurisdiction.
• The authority must notify the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of any such decision.

1. Local Option Elections (Subsection C):

• Initiation: An election can be called by the parish governing authority on its own or must be called if a petition signed by at least 15% of qualified electors (certified by the parish registrar of voters) requests it.
• Process: Elections follow the Louisiana Election Code for proposition/question elections.
• Outcome:
• If a majority votes "yes," Class VI wells may be permitted as per state law.
• If a majority votes "no," no permits will be issued, and such wells are prohibited in the parish.
• Frequency Limit: Elections on this issue can occur only once every five years.
• Notification: Results must be promulgated by the parish governing authority via resolution or ordinance and reported to the department.

1. Conflict Resolution (Subsection D):

• If a parish governing authority’s resolution/ordinance conflicts with an election result, the election outcome prevails.
• The election result cannot be overridden by the governing authority for five years from the election date.

1. Effective Date (Section 2):

• The Act takes effect upon the governor’s signature, or if unsigned, upon the constitutional deadline for bills to become law without a signature. If vetoed and overridden, it becomes effective the day after legislative approval.

HB4 shifts some control over Class VI injection well permitting from the state (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) to individual parishes, allowing local governments and citizens to decide based on local preferences. It balances this autonomy with procedural safeguards like election frequency limits and clear conflict resolution rules.

SENATE floor amendment set 3123 [LINK] correct agency names and add the Louisiana State Board of Nursing to the list of groups the surgeon general must coordinate with when developing protocols. They also renumber the list accordingly.

SENATE floor amendment set 3063 [LINK] require the surgeon general to coordinate with specific agencies and organizations when developing protocols. These include the attorney general’s office, the Law Institute, and several medical associations. The surgeon general may also include other groups as needed.

SENATE floor amendment set 2961 [LINK] replaces all references to "rules" with "protocols." They remove the requirement for the protocols to be adopted under the Administrative Procedure Act and instead require them to be submitted to the House and Senate health and welfare committees for review and approval.

SENATE committee amendments technical

HOUSE floor amendments technical

Directs the surgeon general to adopt rules governing the administration of medical activities authorized by federal Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Louisiana's healthcare community. These rules must cover safe administration, informed consent, adverse event monitoring, provider training, equitable access (particularly for rural and underserved populations), transparency, and compliance measures. The rules will apply consistently during declared health emergencies and routine healthcare operations, supplementing but not superseding federal EUA guidelines. The surgeon general must begin the rulemaking process within six months of enactment. Effective upon signature by the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

HOUSE floor amendment technical

This resolution urges the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to study how the state can adopt principles from the federal PRIME Act to help small meat processors. It seeks recommendations on allowing local meat sales without requiring costly federal inspections, while still ensuring state-level safety. The goal is to support small processors, cut costs, improve local food supply, and reduce dependence on large meat corporations. A report with findings and legislative suggestions is due to the Legislature by March 1, 2026.

SENATE floor amendment sets all technical

SENATE committee amendments [LINK] require lobbyists for foreign corporations from countries listed as U.S. adversaries to file disclosures with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Disclosures must include the corporation’s name, location, business type, and lobbying issues. Entities on the federal SAM.gov registry are exempt. The board must post disclosures online, flag noncompliance, and share data with other states. Updates must be filed within 10 days of any changes.

HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] add an exception stating that entities subject to a qualified divestiture under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act are not considered foreign adversaries. They update required information to include mailing addresses and the names and addresses of individuals who own at least 5% of the foreign entity. The amendments require the Board of Ethics to publicly post a list of those who fail to file disclosures. They also require current lobbyists for foreign adversaries to file a disclosure within 30 days of the law taking effect.

Requires lobbyists representing foreign adversaries to disclose detailed information to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Mandates public access to these disclosures through a searchable online database.

KEY PROVISIONS:

• Defines "foreign adversary" as individuals, corporations, or governments identified by the U.S. Treasury Department as adversaries.
• Requires lobbyists working for foreign adversaries to disclose:
• Personal identification and addresses.
• Identity, ownership details, and business activities of the foreign adversary.
• Specific lobbying matters being represented.
• Establishes penalties up to $50,000 per violation for failure to comply.
• Directs the Ethics Board to create a publicly accessible web database for these disclosures.
• Authorizes data-sharing between Louisiana and other states to enhance compliance.

Effective December 1, 2025.

Grants the governing authority of Vernon Parish the power to decide on the permitting of Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells within the parish.

Current law:

The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources currently holds the authority to permit Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells throughout the state.

Proposed changes:

HB 251 seeks to introduce an exception to this statewide permitting authority by allowing the governing body of Vernon Parish to determine, through a resolution or ordinance, whether such wells can be permitted within their jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the parish governing authority is required to notify the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of any resolution or ordinance enacted regarding this matter.

Implications:

·       Local control: The bill emphasizes local governance by enabling Vernon Parish to make decisions tailored to its specific environmental and community needs concerning carbon dioxide injection wells.

·       Regulatory coordination: By mandating communication between the parish and the state department, the bill ensures that local decisions are integrated into the broader state regulatory framework.

Effective date:

The act is designed to become effective immediately upon the governor's signature or, if not signed, upon the expiration of the time frame for bills to become law without the governor's signature, as outlined in Article III, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution.

Grants the governing authority of Beauregard Parish the power to decide on the permitting of Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells within the parish.

Current law:

The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources currently holds the authority to permit Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells throughout the state.

Proposed changes:

HB 251 seeks to introduce an exception to this statewide permitting authority by allowing the governing body of Beauregard Parish to determine, through a resolution or ordinance, whether such wells can be permitted within their jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the parish governing authority is required to notify the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of any resolution or ordinance enacted regarding this matter.

Implications:

·       Local control: The bill emphasizes local governance by enabling Beauregard Parish to make decisions tailored to its specific environmental and community needs concerning carbon dioxide injection wells.

·       Regulatory coordination: By mandating communication between the parish and the state department, the bill ensures that local decisions are integrated into the broader state regulatory framework.

Effective date:

The act is designed to become effective immediately upon the governor's signature or, if not signed, upon the expiration of the time frame for bills to become law without the governor's signature, as outlined in Article III, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution.

Requires individuals working for or representing foreign adversaries to register with the Louisiana Board of Ethics before starting any activity in the state. Registration must include personal, corporate, and lobbying information. Lobbyists representing foreign adversaries must complete an additional registration. The Board must maintain a public online database and may share information with other states. Violations can result in a $50,000 fine. Effective December 1, 2025.

The PRIME Act has long been a goal of conservatives at Congress. It gives states more food autonomy.

Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the PRIME Act, which would allow states to exempt local custom meat processors from federal inspection requirements for intrastate sales.

Key Provisions:

• Calls for reforms to federal meat inspection laws to allow Louisiana to regulate local meat processing.
• Supports local control to reduce burdens on small farmers and expand in-state meat production.
• Argues the change would improve economic resilience, food security, and rural job growth.
• Cites bipartisan congressional backing and emphasizes the importance of federalism.

Creates a special task force to assess whether a reliable method exists for modeling the behavior of carbon dioxide injected underground in Louisiana. If no such method exists, the task force must develop a plan for creating and testing one. Requires an initial report to the legislature by July 1, 2025.