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HB 741

HOUSING: Provides relative to housing for victims of human trafficking

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roy Adams and 18 co-sponsors

The bill creates a housing voucher program that gives priority to human trafficking survivors and requires verification from multiple sources while protecting their privacy.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 741

Summary of HB 741 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and intent

HB 741 establishes a targeted housing program to assist victims of human trafficking in Louisiana by creating a system of housing vouchers with preferential treatment for survivors. The bill aims to improve access to stable housing for this population while safeguarding their privacy.

Key provisions and changes

  • New statutory chapter: Enacts Chapter 3-I of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, creating R.S. 40:600.161.

  • Definitions:

    • Local housing authority: Any parish or municipal housing authority.
    • Voucher: Housing assistance vouchers similar to those used under HUD's Section 8 (regulated by applicable voucher programs).

  • Voucher preferences:

    • Local housing authorities must give preference for vouchers to human trafficking survivors.

  • Verification requirements:

    • Local housing authorities must verify that applicants:
    • Meet all standards and requirements of the respective voucher program.
    • Are human trafficking survivors, verified by at least one of the following sources:
      • A healthcare professional
      • A law enforcement report
      • A protective order
      • A government agency
      • An attorney

  • Privacy and confidentiality:

    • Any address attached to a voucher shall not be publicly available.
    • The bill includes protections governing the disclosure of address information obtained through the voucher process, with specific restrictions on who may provide consent for release (and prohibitions against consent by certain abusers or guardians in sensitive cases).

  • Additional provisions (as reflected in amendments):

    • A qualified third party may be used by a local housing authority to verify survivor status.
    • Public access to recipient addresses is restricted unless there is informed consent or a court order.
    • Restrictions on who may authorize release of address information to protect survivors.

Who would be affected

  • Local housing authorities in Louisiana (parishes and municipalities), which would implement the voucher program, apply verification processes, and enforce privacy protections.
  • Human trafficking survivors seeking housing assistance, who would be eligible for priority access to vouchers and granted privacy protections for their addresses.
  • Authorized verifiers (healthcare providers, law enforcement, protective orders, government agencies, attorneys, and potentially a designated third party) who can verify survivor status.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The act adds a new statute (R.S. 40:600.161) and becomes operative upon passage as part of the 2026 Regular Session.
  • The language requires regional and local housing authorities to implement the preference and verification framework, aligning with existing voucher programs (e.g., HUD Section 8 standards).
  • Amendments adopted by the House Committee added:
    • A third-party verifier option.
    • Stronger privacy protections for addresses, including consent requirements and prohibitions on certain individuals’ consent.
  • No explicit funding amounts or sunset dates are provided in the bill text; implementation would depend on local authorities and any future state funding decisions or fiscal notes.

Practical impact

  • Improves housing access for human trafficking survivors by prioritizing them in voucher allocations.
  • Enhances privacy around survivor addresses, reducing risk of exposure or harm.
  • Establishes a verifiable, multi-source process to confirm survivor status, potentially facilitating smoother access to housing resources for eligible individuals.

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

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