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HB 126

COURTS: Provides relative to the use of a facility dog by a witness during certain circumstances

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roy Adams and 34 co-sponsors

Louisiana bill allows witnesses, especially children and vulnerable individuals, to have trained facility dogs present during court testimony to reduce anxiety and trauma.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 126

Legislative bill overview

HB 126 allows witnesses—particularly children and vulnerable adults—to have a facility dog present during testimony in court proceedings. The bill establishes procedures for when and how these specially trained dogs can accompany witnesses to provide emotional support during legal proceedings.

Why is this important

Research indicates that the presence of a calm animal can reduce anxiety and trauma responses in witnesses, potentially improving testimony quality and reducing secondary victimization. This is especially significant for child witnesses and survivors of abuse, who often experience severe stress when testifying against perpetrators.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and resource allocation: Acquiring and maintaining trained facility dogs requires ongoing funding; unclear whether courts or other entities bear these expenses
  • Defense rights concerns: Some may argue that a comforting dog could bias jurors' perception of witness credibility or unfairly prejudice them against defendants
  • Eligibility criteria: The bill's specifics on who qualifies for this accommodation and what circumstances warrant it may be ambiguous or subject to inconsistent application across courts
  • Dog handler liability: Questions about liability if the dog is disruptive, causes injury, or creates evidentiary issues during proceedings

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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