LouisianaLouisiana law sets when minors may consent to medical care
Louisiana law generally requires a parent, guardian, or parent-authorized caregiver to consent to a minor's medical care, while allowing minors to consent in listed situations.
What it does
Healthcare providers generally need a parent's, guardian's, or parent-authorized caregiver's consent to treat a minor. Minors may consent themselves in listed situations, with an exception for certain vaccinations.
Argument forMinors facing pregnancy, substance misuse, or possible abuse may be able to seek certain care without first getting a parent's consent.
Argument againstParents may have less control over some care decisions because minors in listed situations may consent without a parent or guardian.
More detail
Healthcare providers generally need consent from a parent, guardian, or parent-authorized temporary caregiver to provide medical or surgical care to a minor. This applies to people under the age of majority receiving medical or surgical care or services. Minors may consent themselves in listed situations, including pregnancy-related care, treatment for substance misuse or sexually transmitted infections, and certain other circumstances. The exception for contraception and sexually transmitted infection care does not include vaccination for a sexually transmitted disease or infection.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 835.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- Jun 4Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 31Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 29Read by title, roll called, yeas 67, nays 30, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1738). Result: pass.Lower
- May 28Called from the Calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1532). Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 7 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- May 28Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 28Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- May 27Called from the Calendar.
- May 27Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- May 26Rules suspended.
- May 26Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- May 25Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments which were read and adopted. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 21Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 20Reported with amendments.Minor
- May 13Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- May 12Called from the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1203). Result: pass.Lower
- May 12Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- May 12Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- May 11Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- May 11Notice given.
- May 11Scheduled for floor debate on 05/12/2026.
- May 7Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 7Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.
- May 6Reported with amendments (9-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
HealthcareReproductive RightsMental Health