LouisianaLouisiana law sets rules for veterans serving as school guardians
Starting August 1, 2026, qualifying veterans may serve as school guardians if they meet screening and training requirements and follow school policies.
What it does
Starting August 1, 2026, qualifying veterans may serve as school guardians under school policies. They may act to prevent an active threat and temporarily detain someone only when they have reasonable cause to believe a felony was or is about to be committed.
Charter schools must follow the school guardian rules listed among the requirements that apply to public schools.
Argument forSchools may have another trained adult who can act during an active threat, with training in de-escalation, mental health incidents, and first aid.
Argument againstA person could be temporarily detained based on a guardian’s reasonable belief about a felony, which may concern students and families if that belief is mistaken.
More detail
The law defines the qualifications and authority for a school guardian. A guardian must be an honorably discharged veteran, pass a background check, complete school incident training, be physically and mentally able to do the assigned work, and be employed or contracted by a public school system, nonpublic school, or law enforcement agency. The guardian must follow the school’s policies on duties, authority, and use of force. Guardians are not peace officers and have no arrest powers unless separately commissioned under applicable law. A guardian may act to prevent an active threat and may temporarily detain someone only with reasonable cause to believe the person committed or is about to commit a felony. The law takes effect August 1, 2026.
Charter schools must follow the school guardian provisions listed among the requirements that apply to public schools. This applies to charter schools established and operated under Louisiana’s charter school law and their approved charters. 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. 823.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 29Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1734). Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Read by title, roll called, yeas 94, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
- May 28Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 27Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Major
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1443). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1445). Result: pass.Upper
- May 27Rules suspended.
- May 27Reconsidered.
- May 27Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- May 26Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 25Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 21Reported favorably.Minor
- May 13Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.Minor
- May 12Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- May 11Called from the calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1135). Result: pass.Lower
- May 11Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- May 7Notice given.
- May 7Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.
- Apr 9Read by title, returned to the calendar.
- Apr 8Scheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Apr 7Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 1Reported with amendments (11-0).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
EducationVeteransPublic Safety