LouisianaCertain child care sites must assess lead hazards before opening
Certain child care and prekindergarten facilities must check for lead before receiving an operating license, and must delay opening if hazards are found.
What it does
Certain child care and prekindergarten facilities first placed in operation on or after August 1, 2026, must have a risk assessor check the facility and grounds for lead hazards. Previously checked or cleaned areas may qualify for an exception.
Before a license is issued, facility leaders must send assessment results to state agencies. If hazards are found, the facility must wait to open until the department confirms they are controlled.
For a renovated building, a certified risk assessor may use a limited-scope assessment if appropriate. The assessment must include soil samples when bare soil is present.
Argument forChecking for lead before certain facilities open could help identify hazards that might put children at risk.
Argument againstA facility that finds lead hazards may have to delay opening until the state confirms the hazards are controlled, which could disrupt plans to serve families.
More detail
A risk assessor must check the facility and grounds for lead in paint, dust, and soil. The listed facilities include certain early learning and federally licensed daycare centers, and public or approved nonpublic prekindergarten programs tied to elementary schools. An assessment is not required if the facility or its grounds had an inspection, risk assessment, or lead cleanup or remediation since 1978. Any portion not covered by that past work must be assessed. The results must be attached to the facility’s original license application.
The owner, operator, or governing authority must submit the assessment results to state agencies before the facility receives an operating license. The results go to the department, the state Department of Education, and the Louisiana Department of Health; the risk assessor and owner must also report findings to the state health officer and the secretary. If the assessment finds lead hazards, the facility cannot begin operating until appropriate controls are in place and the department confirms them. After agencies receive a report showing no lead hazards, no further testing is required for opening. Further testing may be required after major renovations or if lead hazards are later found.
A certified risk assessor may use a limited-scope assessment for a renovated building when the assessor finds it appropriate. This option applies to buildings that have been renovated. The assessment must include soil samples if bare soil is present.
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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 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 893.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective 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 on 6/2/2026.Minor
- May 31Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1796). Result: pass.Lower
- May 31Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- May 29Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1568). Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- May 29Scheduled for floor debate on 05/31/2026.
- May 28Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
- May 28Conference committee report received.
- May 28Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2026.
- May 27House conferees appointed: Ventrella, Geymann, and Boyer.
- May 27Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 25Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 21Senate conference committee members appointed: Edmonds, Hensgens, and Talbot.
- May 19Amendments proposed by the House read and rejected by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.
- Vote recorded REJECT (#991). Result: pass.Upper
- May 19Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.
- May 13Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1290). Result: pass.Lower
- May 13Called from the calendar.
- May 13Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- May 13Received from the House with amendments.Minor
- May 12Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.
- May 11Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 7Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
- May 6Reported with amendments (15-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.Minor
- Apr 14Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.Minor
- Apr 13Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#301). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 13Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
- Apr 8Read by title; Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered reengrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
- Apr 7Reported with amendments.Minor
- Mar 25Read by title. Ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
- Mar 24Reported favorably.Minor
- Mar 9Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Environmental Quality.Introduced
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