BATON ROUGE — A new year is here along with new laws in the state. Starting in 2025, Louisiana residents and businesses will experience a wide range of changes as dozens of new state laws take effect. From tightening voting regulations to reforming tax policies, enhancing consumer protections, and reshaping education and workforce requirements, these measures aim to address diverse aspects of daily life. While most laws will be implemented on January 1, 2025, others are staggered throughout the year, reflecting a phased approach to policy implementation.
Here is a detailed look at some of the key changes and their potential impact.
Voting Regulations
Several new laws impacting Louisiana’s elections, financial disclosures, and voter registration are set to take effect in 2025. Stricter voting regulations are among the most notable changes. These laws include updated voter identification requirements, a ban on unsolicited absentee ballot applications and allowing emergency absentee ballots during disasters.
- Act 282: This law revises financial disclosure requirements for Louisiana elected officials and certain public servants. It increases the reporting threshold for property, investments, and sales from $2,000 to $5,000 and provides clearer exemptions for reporting mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and specific insurance products. These updates will take effect on January 1, 2025.
- Act 317: Effective January 1, 2025, this legislation revises voter assistance rules, prohibits unsolicited absentee ballot applications, and permits emergency absentee ballot applications during disasters.
- Act 500: Starting Jan. 1, 2025, proof of U.S. citizenship is required to register to vote in Louisiana, alongside updates to the voter registration form.
- Act 521: Effective July 1, 2025, this law mandates transparency in absentee ballot rejections and provides processes for correcting errors.
Consumer Protections
New consumer protection laws aim to strengthen safeguards against predatory lending practices, data breaches, and deceptive advertising. One notable law is focusing on medical marijuana and hemp regulations.
- Act 693: Louisiana’s medical marijuana program undergoes a major overhaul starting January 1, 2025. The Louisiana Department of Health will assume regulatory authority from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, with new rules for retail permits and licensing designed to ensure ongoing access for medical marijuana patients.
Lawmakers are also cracking down on online advertising targeting minors in House Bill 577.
- Act 656: Effective July 1, 2025, prohibits social media companies with over one million users from collecting data for targeted advertising to minors. This measure aims to protect children’s online privacy by restricting the use of their data for personalized advertisements. The act reflects growing concerns about the impact of targeted advertising on minors and aligns with legislative efforts to enhance digital privacy for younger users. Violations of this law may result in civil fines and are enforceable by the attorney general.
With attention on the seafood industry lately, lawmakers have added new regulations for seafood importation. The ultimate goal is more transparency.
- Act 148: Beginning January 1, 2025, this law prohibits misleading labels on imported seafood and requires state institutions to serve domestic crawfish and shrimp.
MORE FROM UWK: Multiple restaurants found mislabeling Gulf shrimp | So why do they remain anonymous
Education and Workforce Development
Education and workforce initiatives are set to reshape opportunities for Louisiana’s residents. These include expanded access to early childhood education, increased funding for vocational training programs, and new graduation requirements emphasizing career readiness. By aligning educational outcomes with workforce needs, these measures aim to reduce skills gaps and promote economic mobility.
- Act 91: Starting July 1, 2025, school counselors will be required to align students’ course selections with their graduation plans and to update course catalogs annually.
- Act 412: Effective January 1, 2025, unemployment benefits in Louisiana will be available for 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the state’s unemployment rate. Extended benefits will be provided to individuals participating in approved job training programs once regular benefits are exhausted.
- Act 655: Beginning January 1, 2025, state agencies are banned from mandating a bachelor’s degree for most job positions, unless it is essential for specific skills required for the role.
Healthcare and Public Safety
Healthcare and public safety are also areas of focus. Starting in 2025, two significant laws in Louisiana will impact both dental insurance and child support.
- Act 357: Effective January 1, 2025, this law mandates dental insurers to disclose how premiums are allocated, with an emphasis on patient care. It limits spending on care improvements to 5% of revenue, excluding Medicaid and CHIP plans. The reports will be publicly accessible starting March 2025.
- Act 86: This law revises Louisiana’s child support guidelines by updating the schedule of basic child support obligations based on combined monthly income. The new schedule establishes updated amounts for calculating child support and will take effect on January 1, 2025.
- Act 273: Starting January 1, 2025, this law imposes restrictions on non-compete clauses for doctors, with separate guidelines for family physicians and specialists. However, it exempts health workers in rural hospitals and health centers from these limitations.
State employment requirements
Under Act 655 / HB566, which takes effect on January 1, 2025, applicants for most state positions in Louisiana will no longer be required to hold a bachelor’s degree or possess more than three years of relevant experience, unless the role is senior-level or requires specialized expertise. This change aims to expand job opportunities and focus on relevant skills and experience rather than formal educational requirements, reflecting a shift towards a more inclusive and practical hiring approach.
Utility protection and homeowner insurance
Two new laws set to take effect in Louisiana on January 1, 2025, will bring significant changes to utility protection and homeowner insurance. Act 75 introduces new regulations aimed at preventing damage to underground utilities, while Act 175 extends a crucial benefit to surviving spouses. These measures are designed to enhance safety and support for Louisiana residents in key areas.
- Act 75: Effective January 1, 2025, this law introduces new regulations to prevent damage to underground utilities. It defines large and routine excavations, establishes guidelines for large projects, permits agreements between utilities and excavators, and revises timelines for marking utility locations and handling emergency work.
- Act 175: Starting January 1, 2025, this law grants surviving spouses in Louisiana an additional 60 days to pay a homeowner’s insurance premium following the death of their spouse. To qualify, they must submit a written request along with proof of the spouse’s death.
Hot Button Law: Governor Landry’s Ten Commandments law
One of the most controversial laws set to go into effect is Governor Jeff Landry’s Ten Commandments law. Signed into legislation in June 2024, this law mandates that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms.
The law specifically requires that it “be displayed on a poster or framed document that is at least eleven inches by fourteen inches.” The legislation also stipulates that “the text of the Ten Commandments shall be the central focus of the poster or framed document and shall be printed in a large, easily readable font.
MORE FROM UWK: Murrill and Landry fight back against lawsuit challenging Ten Commandments display
However, the law has faced significant legal challenges. Several civil rights groups sued to block its implementation, and a federal judge temporarily halted the law in November 2024 as the case continues in court. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill noted that she would be issuing guidance for schools on the law, given the ongoing litigation. She added that “the injunction does not bind schools who are not parties to that litigation” and expressed her intent to work with schools to bring them into compliance with the law.
MORE FROM UWK: Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law temporarily halted by federal court. Here’s what happens next.
All of the new laws can be found on the Louisiana State Legislature website. The 2025 regular Legislative session in Louisiana will begin at noon on Monday, April 14, 2025.
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