WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1041

HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Prohibits certain entities from prohibiting access based on a person's medical intervention status

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beryl Amedée and 5 co-sponsors

Prohibits denying access or imposing penalties based on a person’s medical intervention status for employment, services, entry, or licensure in Louisiana.

Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1041

Summary of HB 1041 (Louisiana, 2026)

Title

HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Prohibits certain entities from prohibiting access based on a person's medical intervention status

  • Also known as the Louisiana Medical Freedom Act (as cited in the bill text and digest).

Main purpose and intent

  • Proposes to prohibit denial of access, or discriminatory practices, against individuals based on whether they have received or refused a medical intervention (e.g., vaccines or other drugs).
  • Seeks to protect individuals from being treated differently in employment, public entry, services, public assistance, or licensure solely due to their medical intervention status.

Key provisions and changes

Definitions and scope

  • Establishes new statutory provisions in R.S. 40:1300.81-1300.86.
  • Adds definitions to support the prohibition on discrimination based on medical intervention status.

Prohibitions and protections

  • Government entities and officials: May not require a person to receive or use a medical intervention as a condition of:
    • Employment
    • Entry into a public building
    • Receipt of public services or aid
    • Licensure
  • Private sector entities: May not require a medical intervention as a term of employment.
  • Public or private businesses: May not deny services, products, admission, or transportation to individuals solely on their medical intervention status.
  • Educational institutions (schools, colleges, and universities): May not mandate a medical intervention as a condition of entering the building or participating in activities.
  • Individuals: May not take adverse actions or impose penalties against a person lawfully residing in Louisiana for declining a medical intervention.

Safety equipment

  • Allows the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of occupational safety.
  • Prohibits compelling a person to wear PPE as a result of an emergency situation.

Enforcement and remedies

  • If a business or government entity violates the provisions, the Louisiana Attorney General may be awarded attorney’s fees and costs incurred in pursuing enforcement.

Exceptions and compatibility with existing law (as amended)

  • The bill as amended includes specific carve-outs:
    • Compliance with child welfare laws
    • Compliance with tuberculosis control and prevention laws (R.S. 40:31.21 and related provisions)
    • Exemption for healthcare facilities, providers, or employers from the provisions of this Part
  • Repeals existing provisions related to school immunization requirements (subject to the amendments made by the House Committee on Health and Welfare). Note: The committee amendments also remove a prior repeal of school immunization requirements, in a later amendment, indicating a nuanced treatment of immunization laws during the bill’s progression.
  • Present immunization requirements for school entry are preserved where consistent with current law; a school remains in compliance with proposed law if it complies with current immunization statutes.

Repeals and additions

  • Adds new provisions: R.S. 40:1300.81-1300.86 (the core of the act).
  • Repeals R.S. 17:170(F) as indicated in the committee amendments (subject to final enacted language).

Who is affected

  • Individuals: Protections against denial of access or discriminatory treatment based on medical intervention status.
  • Employers (public and private), including businesses, both for employment and access to services.
  • Government entities and officials: Restrictions on conditioning access or benefits on medical interventions.
  • Educational institutions: Restrictions on mandating medical interventions as a condition of attendance or participation.
  • Healthcare facilities, providers, and employers: Exempt from certain provisions, preserving existing healthcare operations and standards.
  • Legal enforcement: AG to handle enforcement with potential recovery of attorney’s fees and costs.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: As of the latest action (April 2026), the bill has been amended by the House Committee on Health and Welfare and moved through readings with amendments.
  • The amendments:
    • Add exemptions (child welfare, TB control, healthcare providers)
    • Remove a provision repealing certain school immunization requirements (subject to further legislative action)
  • Effective dates are not specified in the provided text; typically, enacted bills include an effective date set by the Legislature or upon passage.

Potential impact

  • Could reduce employment and service-based discrimination tied to medical intervention status.
  • Creates a potential enforcement pathway via the Attorney General for violations.
  • Establishes framework to balance public health laws (e.g., TB control, child welfare) with anti-discrimination protections.
  • Exempts healthcare providers and certain safety contexts from some restrictions, preserving essential health operations.

If you’d like, I can extract specific statutory language references or compare this bill to current Louisiana immunization and health-safety laws for a more granular analysis.

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

Sign in to ask a question.