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SR 158

LOCAL AGENCIES: Requests local governing authorities to consider adopting local ordinances to require unlicensed residential facilities for seniors or persons with disabilities to have generators or alternative electrical power sources.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Glen Womack

Encourages local governments to pass ordinances requiring generators or alternative power sources for unlicensed facilities housing seniors or disabled residents.

Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate and sent to the Secretary of State by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SR 158

Overview

Senate Resolution 158 (SR 158), filed in the 2026 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, asks local governing authorities to consider enacting ordinances that would require unlicensed residential facilities housing seniors or persons with disabilities to have generators or other approved alternative electrical power sources. The resolution is nonbinding and serves as a request from the Senate, encouraging coordination with parish offices of homeland security and emergency preparedness.

Purpose and intent

  • Highlight the need for reliable power in vulnerable residential settings during disasters and extended outages.
  • Promote public safety by ensuring essential systems (heating, cooling, fire alarms, emergency lighting, and life-sustaining medical equipment) can operate during power disruptions.
  • Address gaps in regulation for unlicensed facilities that house seniors or disabled individuals, particularly those not subject to stricter state licensing requirements.

Key provisions and changes advocated

  • Encourages local governing authorities to adopt ordinances that would require generators or alternative electrical power sources for unlicensed residential facilities serving seniors or disabled residents.
  • Recommends consultation with parish offices of homeland security and emergency preparedness in developing these local ordinances.
  • Positions the measure as a safety standard for settings where multiple unrelated individuals reside in a home and pay rent or other compensation, acknowledging that such settings are not uniformly regulated at the state level.
  • References related policy context:
    • Existing state action requiring generators for licensed facilities (Act No. 253 of 2022 for nursing homes).
    • A separate 2026 proposal (Senate Bill No. 145) that would require generators for all adult residential care providers (not yet enacted in policy language here).
  • Directs transmission of the resolution to relevant associations (Louisiana Municipal Association and Policy Jury Association of Louisiana) for awareness and potential action.

Who would be affected

  • Unlicensed residential facilities that house seniors or persons with disabilities and charge residents rent or compensation.
  • Local government bodies (city/parish councils) empowered to regulate such facilities through local ordinances.
  • Parish offices of homeland security and emergency preparedness, which would collaborate on ordinance development.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • SR 158 is a Senate resolution, a nonbinding instruction urging action rather than prescribing a statute.
  • The resolution was introduced and placed on the calendar for a second reading after rules were suspended on May 26, 2026.
  • Any effect depends on local adoption of ordinances by municipalities or parishes; the state does not impose a statewide requirement through this resolution alone.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Could lead to the adoption of local safety ordinances that require backup power in unlicensed facilities, potentially improving resilience during outages.
  • May create regulatory distinctions between licensed facilities (already subject to generator requirements in some cases) and unlicensed facilities, raising questions about enforcement, funding, and compliance.
  • Local governments would need to coordinate with emergency preparedness offices to ensure feasible implementation and consistency with broader emergency planning.

If you’d like, I can compare SR 158 to related statutes (e.g., Act No. 253 of 2022 and SB No. 145 of 2026) to provide a fuller context of how generator requirements are evolving in Louisiana.

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

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