LouisianaMotorists could pause vehicle penalties for urgent medical care
People with life-threatening conditions could temporarily pause certain driving penalties, while non-plugin hybrids would have their road-use fee suspended through July 31, 2027.
What it does
Drivers facing a life-threatening condition could receive a temporary pause on certain driving-record penalties when needed to reach life-sustaining medicine or treatment.
Non-plugin hybrid owners would not owe the stated road-use fee during the suspension period, and unpaid amounts could not be collected as debt through August 1, 2027.
Argument forPeople with life-threatening conditions may reach medicine or treatment sooner if the commissioner temporarily pauses a driving penalty or license suspension.
Argument againstThe 30-day limit and required medical paperwork may not fit longer emergencies or people who cannot quickly obtain the required verification.
More detail
The motor-vehicle commissioner or a designee may temporarily pause or hold certain fines, fees, penalties, or license suspensions. The authority applies to any person’s driving record when immediate access to life-sustaining medicine or medical treatment is at issue. The commissioner must determine that the pause is necessary for immediate access to the medicine or treatment. The person or a representative must provide documentation from a licensed physician, hospital, hospice, or home health provider verifying the life-threatening condition. The pause may last no more than 30 days. The pause applies for the period approved by the commissioner, up to 30 days; the act’s general effective-date rule controls when this authority begins.
The text suspends the hybrid vehicle road-use fee for non-plugin hybrid vehicles. The suspension covers the fee charged to non-plugin hybrids and does not state that it covers plug-in hybrids. A person’s failure to pay the suspended fee may not be treated as collectible debt under this section or another collection authority. The fee is suspended through July 31, 2027, with the act’s general effective-date rule controlling when the suspension begins.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Becomes Act No. 966 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 25Effective date: 06/25/2026.
- Jun 4Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- Jun 1Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 31Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 92, nays 2. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1602). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1789). Result: pass.Lower
- May 31Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- May 31Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.
- May 31Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- May 29Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 29Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
- May 29Conference committee report received.
- May 29Scheduled for floor debate on 05/31/2026.
- May 28House conferees appointed: Owen, Bourriaque, and Freiberg.
- May 28Senate conference committee members appointed: Reese, Foil, and Luneau.
- May 28Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 27Read by title, roll called, yeas 98, nays 0, Senate amendments rejected, conference committee appointment pending.
- Vote recorded REJECT SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1607). Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.
- May 26Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.
- May 25Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 20Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1076). Result: pass.Upper
- May 13Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 12Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 11Reported favorably.Minor
- Apr 27Senate Committee amendments read and adopted.
- Apr 27Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.
- Apr 22Reported with amendments.Minor
- Mar 31Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Minor
- Mar 30Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Mar 26Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#144). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Scheduled for floor debate on 03/26/2026.
- Mar 24Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Mar 23Reported favorably (13-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
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