LouisianaLaw provides liability limits for some emergency aircraft landings
Starting August 1, 2026, owners of airports they mainly use who let others in without charge generally are not liable for loss or damage tied to emergency landings.
What it does
Owners of nonpublic use airports generally are not liable for loss or damage tied to an emergency aircraft landing on their property. The limit has exceptions for commercial recreation facilities and willful or malicious failures to warn.
Argument forThe liability limit could make owners more willing to let others use airports that they mainly use themselves, without charging them.
Argument againstPeople who suffer loss or damage during an emergency landing could have fewer ways to hold an airport owner responsible, except when the owner willfully or maliciously failed to warn them.
More detail
The law provides that an airport owner generally is not liable for loss or damage tied to an emergency aircraft landing on the owner's property. A nonpublic use airport is mainly used by its owner and lets others use it without charge. An owner can be a property holder, tenant, occupant, or person in control. The limit does not cover owners of commercial recreation facilities that let people use their land for recreation, whether or not they charge. It does not cover an owner's willful or malicious failure to warn about a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity. Malicious means intentional misconduct the person knows, or should know, is likely to cause harm; it does not include negligent or reckless conduct. Unless they agree otherwise in writing, the same rules apply to owners who lease land for recreation to the federal government, a state or local government, or private people. People using another's land must still use care. The law takes effect August 1, 2026.
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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 8Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 826.Became Law
- Jun 8Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 28Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 28Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 27Read by title, roll called, yeas 100, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1606). Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.
- May 25Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 21Rules 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 (#1146). Result: pass.Upper
- May 14Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 13Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 12Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 8Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.Minor
- Apr 7Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#316). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 1Scheduled for floor debate on 04/07/2026.
- Mar 31Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Mar 30Reported favorably (5-0-1).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
Public Safety