LouisianaLouisiana law treats some infrastructure crimes as terrorism
Starting August 1, 2026, Louisiana law treats infrastructure theft or unauthorized entry as terrorism when a person intends to intimidate or coerce the public or government.
What it does
The law treats theft or unauthorized entry of critical infrastructure as terrorism when done with intent to intimidate or coerce. The prison term is five to twenty years.
Unauthorized entry includes intentionally flying a drone over certain enclosed or restricted infrastructure areas without permission, and maliciously interfering with systems or equipment used to run or protect infrastructure.
Critical infrastructure includes public drinking water systems and oil and natural gas facilities and operations, along with related equipment and sites.
Argument forTreating infrastructure theft or unauthorized entry as terrorism when done to intimidate or coerce could deter attacks that threaten public services.
Argument againstUnauthorized drone flights or malicious interference could carry a five-to-twenty-year prison term if done to intimidate or coerce the public or government.
More detail
The law treats theft or unauthorized entry of critical infrastructure as terrorism when the person has the required intent. This applies to theft or unauthorized entry of critical infrastructure. The person must intend to intimidate or coerce the public, influence government policy through intimidation or coercion, or affect government conduct through intimidation or coercion. The law takes effect August 1, 2026.
The law describes unauthorized entry to include certain drone operations and malicious electronic interference. These rules apply to critical infrastructure, including marked restricted areas. Drone operation must be without prior express authority and over a physically enclosed infrastructure site or a marked restricted area. Electronic interference must be intentional, malicious, and unauthorized, and must access, control, disrupt, disable, manipulate, or materially interfere with equipment used to operate, monitor, secure, or control the infrastructure.
The law identifies public drinking water systems and oil and natural gas facilities and operations as critical infrastructure. Public drinking water systems include storage structures, pump stations, treatment facilities, and transmission lines. Oil and natural gas operations include related equipment, roads, storage yards, and equipment used between locations.
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 8Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 804.Became Law
- Jun 8Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 31Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 29Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1682). Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- May 26Rules 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 (#1320). Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 21Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 20Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 19Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 8Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.Minor
- Apr 7Called from the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#336). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Apr 7Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Mar 31Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Mar 31Notice given.
- Mar 31Scheduled for floor debate on 04/07/2026.
- Mar 30Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.
- Mar 26Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Mar 25Reported with amendments (12-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 25Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 25Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety