Louisiana Senate opens 2026 session, advances long slate of bills to third reading
March 16, 2026 | 2026 Legislature LA, Louisiana
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The Louisiana State Senate convened on March 16, 2026, opened with an invocation and pledge, and ordered a large group of committee-reported measures to be engrossed and advanced to third reading, the clerk announced.
Senator Owen introduced Chaplain David Ziegler, who offered the invocation and urged unity and blessing for the state as lawmakers begin the 2026 session. After the invocation, Senator Owen led the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The chamber then proceeded through routine business and a lengthy set of committee reports. The clerk read reports and identified numerous bills that committees had recommended favorably or with committee amendments and that the Senate ordered engrossed and passed to third reading. Among the measures advanced were: congressional redistricting legislation (Senate Bill 407); bills addressing telehealth (Senate Bill 30); a perinatal bereavement care initiative (Senate Bill 32); changes to licensing and regulation for certain businesses, including virtual-currency businesses; and a measure addressing insurers’ use of artificial intelligence (Senate Bill 246). Several bills were described as "ordered engrossed and passed to third reading," meaning they were advanced on the calendar for further consideration.
The clerk also announced other committee actions: bills adjusting definitions for food-service establishments (Senate Bill 23), repealing certain facility-need-review requirements for opioid treatment programs (Senate Bill 26), and changes to coroner autopsy requirements for certain child deaths (Senate Bill 29), among many others. Resolutions recognizing HBCU Day and Nurse Practitioner Day were taken up without objection, and other resolutions were referred to committees for study.
On a nonlegislative note, Senator Wheaton used a personal-privilege appearance to introduce representatives of the Amite Oyster Festival, noting the event’s 50th anniversary and inviting members and listeners to the March 20–22 festival in Amite.
The chair outlined the week’s schedule: no bills would be heard that day, the chamber would take up "Bagnaris only" on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the body planned to reconvene next week to catch up. Senator Talbot moved to adjourn and reconvene Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m.; the motion carried without objection.
What happened next: the Senate adjourned and will reconvene Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m., when bills advanced to third reading may return to the floor for debate or final votes.
Senator Owen introduced Chaplain David Ziegler, who offered the invocation and urged unity and blessing for the state as lawmakers begin the 2026 session. After the invocation, Senator Owen led the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The chamber then proceeded through routine business and a lengthy set of committee reports. The clerk read reports and identified numerous bills that committees had recommended favorably or with committee amendments and that the Senate ordered engrossed and passed to third reading. Among the measures advanced were: congressional redistricting legislation (Senate Bill 407); bills addressing telehealth (Senate Bill 30); a perinatal bereavement care initiative (Senate Bill 32); changes to licensing and regulation for certain businesses, including virtual-currency businesses; and a measure addressing insurers’ use of artificial intelligence (Senate Bill 246). Several bills were described as "ordered engrossed and passed to third reading," meaning they were advanced on the calendar for further consideration.
The clerk also announced other committee actions: bills adjusting definitions for food-service establishments (Senate Bill 23), repealing certain facility-need-review requirements for opioid treatment programs (Senate Bill 26), and changes to coroner autopsy requirements for certain child deaths (Senate Bill 29), among many others. Resolutions recognizing HBCU Day and Nurse Practitioner Day were taken up without objection, and other resolutions were referred to committees for study.
On a nonlegislative note, Senator Wheaton used a personal-privilege appearance to introduce representatives of the Amite Oyster Festival, noting the event’s 50th anniversary and inviting members and listeners to the March 20–22 festival in Amite.
The chair outlined the week’s schedule: no bills would be heard that day, the chamber would take up "Bagnaris only" on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the body planned to reconvene next week to catch up. Senator Talbot moved to adjourn and reconvene Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m.; the motion carried without objection.
What happened next: the Senate adjourned and will reconvene Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m., when bills advanced to third reading may return to the floor for debate or final votes.
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