LouisianaLouisiana requires pregnancy reports and safety checks for younger children
Reporters must notify Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services when a child age 14 or younger is pregnant, and the agency must assess safety.
What it does
Pregnancies involving children age 14 or younger must be reported to the Department of Children and Family Services. The agency must begin a safety check when it receives a report.
Pregnant children age 17 or younger qualify for Department of Children and Family Services support. Eligibility alone does not require a child protection court case.
Pregnancy in a child age 12 or younger can serve as grounds for a child protection court case alleging that the child needs care.
Argument forEligibility for care coordination and counseling could help pregnant children get medical care and support suited to their needs.
Argument againstAllowing pregnancy at age 12 or younger to support a child protection case could bring families under court oversight.
More detail
Reporters must report these pregnancies to the Department of Children and Family Services, which must begin a safety assessment. These requirements cover pregnancies involving children age 14 or younger. The agency must follow its child protection procedures when checking the child's safety. The law took effect August 1, 2026.
Pregnant children qualify for services from the Department of Children and Family Services. Eligibility covers pregnant children age 17 or younger. Services include help coordinating medical care, counseling, case management, and protective supervision as warranted. This provision does not require filing a child protection court case unless separate grounds under the law exist. The law took effect August 1, 2026.
A child protection court case may cite the child's pregnancy as grounds that the child needs care. This ground applies when the pregnant child is age 12 or younger. The law took 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 3Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 717.Became Law
- Jun 3Effective 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 85, nays 5, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1714). Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- May 26Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1355). Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 25Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments which were read and adopted. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 21Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 20Reported favorably.Minor
- May 12Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- May 11Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1097). Result: pass.Lower
- May 11Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- May 7Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 7Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.
- May 6Reported favorably (13-0).Minor
- Apr 1Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.Minor
- Mar 31Read by title. Lies over under the rules.Introduced
HealthcarePublic Safety