Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 23 R · 2 D cosponsors

HB 39 — LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS: Requires peace officers to be citizens of the United States

Last action — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 283.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on May 22, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 26 sponsors

    1 primary, 25 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (23 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    3 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill requires peace officers to be U.S. citizens.

This legislation mandates that all peace officers in the jurisdiction must be citizens of the United States. It aims to ensure that those serving in law enforcement have a specific national affiliation.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 47 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill now clearly states that all peace officers in Louisiana must be United States citizens, reflecting a change made to strengthen the qualifications for these roles. It also includes a definition of "United States citizen" that aligns with federal law, giving clarity to the requirement. This matters because it sets a specific standard for law enforcement eligibility, potentially impacting future hiring practices and ensuring that those in positions of public safety share a common legal status. Additionally, current peace officers who are permanent residents have until August 1, 2031, to obtain citizenship, easing the transition for some existing personnel.

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HLS 26RS-331 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
39 BY REPRESENTATIVES FIRMENT, EDMONSTON, GALLE, HEBERT, MACK, ORGERON,OWEN,VENTRELLA,ANDZERINGUEANDSENATORCARTER LAW ENFORCE/OFFICERS:
39 BY REPRESENTATIVES FIRMENT, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BUTLER, EDMONSTON, GALLE, HEBERT, HORTON, MIKE JOHNSON, MACK, ORGERON, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN,VENTRELLA,WILDER,ANDZERINGUEANDSENATORS BASS, CARTER, CLOUD, EDMONDS, FESI, HODGES, MIGUEZ, MORRIS, PRESSLY, AND SEABAUGH AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
Requires peace officers to be citizens of the United States AN ACT To enact R.S.
40:2402(3) and to enact R.S.
40:2402(5) and 2404.4, relative to the qualification of peace officers in Louisiana;
40:2402(5), relative to the qualificationofpeaceofficersinLouisiana;toprovidefordefinitions;toprovidethat peace officers shall be United States citizens;
to provide for definitions;
to provide that peace officers shall be United States citizens;
40:2402(5) and 2404.4 are herebyenacted to read as follows:
40:2402(3) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
40:2402(5) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
* * * (5) "United States citizen" shall have the same meaning as "United States citizen" in 42 U.S.C.
* * * (3)(a) (i) "Peace officer" means any employee of the state, a municipality, a sheriff,or other public agency, whose permanentduties actuallyinclude the making of arrests, the performing of searches and seizures, or the execution of criminal warrants, and is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime or for the enforcementofthepenal,traffic,orhighwaylawsofthisstate,but not includingany elected or appointed head of a law enforcement department.
9102(18).
(b)(ii)"Peaceofficer"shallalsoincludethosesheriff'sdeputieswhoseduties include the care, custody, and control of inmates.
* * * §2404.4.
(c) (iii) "Peace officer" shall also include military police officers within the Military Department, state of Louisiana.
Peace officers;
United States citizens In addition to all training requirements and qualifications for employment provided in this Chapter and any other provision of law, in order to be certified as a law enforcement peace officer in Louisiana, the person shall be a United States citizen.
Section2.
Theprovisionsofthis Actdonotapplytoapeaceofficerwhoiscurrently employed and who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States as described in 8 U.S.C.
1101(a), provided that the peace officer becomes a United States citizen no later than August 1, 2031.
HLS 26RS-331 ENGROSSED HB NO.
HB NO.
39 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
39 ENROLLED (d)(iv)"Peaceofficer"shallalsoincludesecuritypersonnelemployedbythe Supreme Court of the state of Louisiana.
It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.
(e) (v) "Peace officer" shall also include security personnel employed by a court of appeal of the state of Louisiana.
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
(f) (vi) "Peace officer" shall also include the director of capitol security and security officers employed by the legislature upon recommendation of the director as provided by R.S.
[R.S.
24:681 et seq.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 39 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Firment Abstract:
(b) A peace officer as described in Items (i), (ii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Paragraph shall be a United States citizen as defined in this Section.
Requires peace officers to be U.S.
* * * (5) "United States citizen" means any individual who is a citizen of the United States either by law, birth, or naturalization.
citizens.
* * * Section2.
Presentlawprovidesforqualifications,requirements,andtrainingrequirementsforallpeace officers in the state of La.
Theprovisionsofthis Actdonotapplytoapeaceofficerwhoiscurrently employed and who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States as described in 8 U.S.C.
Present federal law defines "United States citizen" as any individual who is a citizen of the U.S.
1101(a), provided that the peace officer becomes a United States citizen no later than August 1, 2031.
by law, birth, or naturalization.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
ProposedlawrequiresanypersonseekingtobeapeaceofficerinthestateofLa.tobeaU.S.
citizen as defined in federal law.
Proposed law excludes current peace officers who are lawfully admitted for permanent residencein theU.S.
from proposed lawifsuchpeaceofficersbecomecitizensnolaterthan Aug.
1, 2031.
(Adds R.S.
40:2402(5) and 2404.4) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House TheCommitteeAmendmentsProposedbyHouseCommitteeonJudiciarytotheoriginal bill:
1.
Exclude current peace officers from the requirement to becurrent U.S.
citizens if they are lawful permanent residents of the U.S.
who become citizens no later than Aug.
1, 2031.
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Amendments

5 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 283.

  2. Effective date: See Act.

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  5. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  6. Read by title, roll called, yeas 74, nays 22, Senate amendments concurred in.

  7. Received from the Senate with amendments.

  8. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/13/2026.

  9. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 29 yeas and 7 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  11. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  12. Reported with amendments.

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

  14. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  15. Called from the calendar.

  16. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 65, nays 24. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  17. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  18. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/15/2026.

  19. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  20. Reported with amendments (12-0).

  21. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  22. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 1/23/2026.

  23. Prefiled.

  24. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 25 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 32 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (25)

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1227)

Passed 74 Yea · 22 Nay · 9 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5101
Republican 62105
Democrat 72003
Total 742209
% of votes cast 70%21%0%9%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Not Voting
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Nay
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Nay
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Nay
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Not Voting
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Nay
Candace N. Newell Democrat Nay
Chasity Martinez Democrat Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Nay
Delisha Boyd Democrat Nay
Ed Murray Democrat Nay
Edmond Jordan Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Nay
Joy Walters Democrat Not Voting
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Nay
Ken Brass Democrat Nay
Mandie Landry Democrat Nay
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Nay
Pat Moore Democrat Nay
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Yea
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Nay
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Nay
Steven Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Nay
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Nay
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Nay
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Nay
Annie Spell Republican Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Yea
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Not Voting
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Nay
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Not Voting
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Not Voting
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Yea
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Yea
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Not Voting
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Not Voting
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Yea
Polly Thomas Republican Yea
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Yea
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#725)

Passed 29 Yea · 7 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 26001
Democrat 2702
Total 29703
% of votes cast 74%18%0%8%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Nay
Gary Carter Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Nay
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Nay
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Yea
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Nay
Royce Duplessis Democrat Nay
Sam Jenkins Democrat Nay
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Not Voting
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Yea
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Yea
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Yea
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Yea
Franklin J. Foil Republican Yea
Glen Womack Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Yea
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Yea
Kirk Talbot Republican Yea
Mark Abraham Republican Yea
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Not Voting
Patrick Connick Republican Yea
Patrick McMath Republican Yea
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Robert Allain Republican Yea
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Yea
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

CO-AUTHORS (#726)

Failed 9 Yea · 0 Nay · 30 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 90018
Unaffiliated 0001
Democrat 00011
Total 90030
% of votes cast 23%0%0%77%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Not Voting
Edward J. Price Democrat Not Voting
Gary Carter Democrat Not Voting
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Not Voting
Jay Luneau Democrat Not Voting
Jimmy Harris Democrat Not Voting
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Not Voting
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Not Voting
Royce Duplessis Democrat Not Voting
Sam Jenkins Democrat Not Voting
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Not Voting
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Not Voting
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Not Voting
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Not Voting
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Not Voting
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Not Voting
Franklin J. Foil Republican Not Voting
Glen Womack Republican Not Voting
Gregory A. Miller Republican Not Voting
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Not Voting
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Not Voting
Kirk Talbot Republican Not Voting
Mark Abraham Republican Not Voting
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Not Voting
Patrick Connick Republican Not Voting
Patrick McMath Republican Not Voting
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Not Voting
Robert Allain Republican Not Voting
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Not Voting
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#553)

Passed 65 Yea · 24 Nay · 16 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5101
Republican 58109
Democrat 22206
Total 6524016
% of votes cast 62%23%0%15%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Yea
Johnson, T. — Not Voting
Landry, T. — Nay
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Nay
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Nay
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Nay
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Nay
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Nay
Candace N. Newell Democrat Nay
Chasity Martinez Democrat Not Voting
Dana Henry Democrat Nay
Delisha Boyd Democrat Nay
Ed Murray Democrat Nay
Edmond Jordan Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Not Voting
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Nay
Joy Walters Democrat Nay
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Nay
Ken Brass Democrat Nay
Mandie Landry Democrat Nay
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Nay
Pat Moore Democrat Nay
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Not Voting
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Nay
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Nay
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Not Voting
Steven Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Nay
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Not Voting
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Nay
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Nay
Annie Spell Republican Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Yea
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Not Voting
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Yea
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Not Voting
Francis C. Thompson Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Nay
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Not Voting
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Not Voting
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Not Voting
John E. Wyble Republican Not Voting
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Yea
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Not Voting
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Not Voting
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Yea
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Yea
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Yea
Polly Thomas Republican Yea
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Not Voting
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 39?
HB 39 is sponsored by Alan Seabaugh (Republican), Thomas A. Pressly (Republican), John C. "Jay" Morris (Republican), Blake Miguez (Republican), Valarie Hodges (Republican), Michael "Big Mike" Fesi, Rick Edmonds (Republican), Heather Cloud (Republican), Gary Carter (Democrat), Adam Bass (Republican), Jerome Zeringue (Republican), III, Roger William Wilder (Republican), Lauren Ventrella (Republican), Rodney Schamerhorn (Republican), Charles Owen (Republican), Joseph A. Orgeron (Republican), Shane Mack (Republican), Mike Johnson (Republican), Dodie Horton (Republican), Troy Jude Hebert (Republican), Jr., Jack "Jay" William Gallé (Republican), Kathy Edmonston (Republican), Rhonda Gaye Butler (Republican), Beryl Amedée (Republican), Roy Daryl Adams (Democrat), and Michael "Gabe" Firment (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 39?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 39?
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