LouisianaLouisiana coordinates psychedelic therapy studies and drug development
Louisiana’s health department coordinates psychedelic-assisted therapy studies, and participating health centers follow study safety rules and may work with drug developers.
What it does
The health department coordinates studies of psychedelic-assisted therapy for opioid use and certain hard-to-treat conditions. The therapy combines medication with preparation and follow-up counseling.
Participating centers document safeguards for studies, including consent, safety plans, and qualified staff. They report progress to the health department each year.
A health center may team up with a drug developer to study ibogaine and other psychedelic medicines. The state receives at least a 2.5% royalty on net sales from covered trial-related rights.
Argument forEligible patients may get a chance to join closely monitored studies of treatments for opioid use and certain hard-to-treat conditions.
Argument againstThe required safety, staffing, and reporting plans could make it harder for some health centers to take part in studies.
More detail
The Louisiana Department of Health establishes an initiative to coordinate psychedelic-assisted therapy studies. The initiative focuses on studies for opioid use disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant neurological or mental health conditions. The therapy uses medication in a controlled clinical setting, with trauma-informed preparation and follow-up psychotherapy from a qualified therapist.
Participating academic health centers document study safeguards and submit yearly progress reports. These duties apply to academic health centers participating in the program. Studies must follow a federally authorized pathway and take place at an affiliated hospital, clinic, or research unit, with required insurance and approvals. Plans must cover participant consent and privacy, screening and emergency response, drug handling, and staff training and qualifications. Centers submit progress reports by January 1 each year. The health department sends a combined report to the legislature by March 1.
An academic health center may form a drug-development group with a drug developer and pursue federal review of treatments. The provision covers groups formed by an academic health center and a drug developer to study ibogaine and other listed psychedelic medicines. The group may apply for federal trial approval, seek breakthrough therapy status, and coordinate trials with groups in other states. For covered trial-related intellectual property and commercial rights, the state receives at least a 2.5% royalty on net sales; members divide the rest under a written agreement. The royalty applies while the trials are funded and during any later period of commercialization.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 23Becomes Act No. 956 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 23Effective date 8/1/2026.
- Jun 1Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.To Governor
- Jun 1Signed by the Speaker of the House.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.Minor
- May 31Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1793). Result: pass.Lower
- May 31Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- May 29Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1565). Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- May 29Scheduled for floor debate on 05/31/2026.
- May 27Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2026.
- May 26Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
- May 25Conference committee report received.
- May 25Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 21Senate conference committee members appointed: McMath, Luneau, and Owen.
- May 19House conferees appointed: Riser, Miller, and Egan.
- May 19Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 18Amendments proposed by the House read and rejected by a vote of 34 yeas and 1 nays.
- Vote recorded REJECT (#892). Result: pass.Upper
- May 18Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.
- May 11Received from the House with amendments.Minor
- May 7Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#997). Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Scheduled for floor debate on 05/07/2026.
- May 5Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 29Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
- Apr 28Reported with amendments (9-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.Minor
- Apr 21Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Apr 20Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
- Apr 15Called from the Calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#357). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CO-AUTHORS (#358). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Apr 8Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- Apr 7Rules suspended. Recalled from Committee.
- Apr 7Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- Mar 30Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
- Mar 25Reported with amendments.Minor
- Mar 9Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 12Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Introduced
HealthcareMental Health