Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops Provide Moral Framework for 2026 Legislative Session

Rooted deeply in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2026 Legislative Principles, Priorities, and Positions outline a comprehensive moral framework for public advocacy.

The document highlights the Church’s unwavering commitment to protecting the life and dignity of every person, from opposing expansions of abortion access to supporting legislation that strengthens perinatal bereavement care and end‑of‑life compassion programs.

It advances policies that uphold family, education, and religious freedom, including parental choice in schooling, support for foster youth, and protections for houses of worship.

The LCCB also promotes justice and solidarity, backing re‑entry programs, review of non‑unanimous verdicts, and workforce‑development initiatives that respect the dignity of work.

Finally, the document affirms the Church’s call to care for God’s creation, endorsing stronger environmental safeguards and research into health impacts on vulnerable populations.

Together, these positions reflect a consistent ethic of life, compassion, and the common good.

HB 261 – Enacts an exception for a physician to terminate a pregnancy in cases of 1st–3rd degree rape; no forensic evidence or police report required (Position: Oppose – O).

HB 456 – Post Safe Haven (Baby Box) information around public schools to increase awareness (Position: Support – S).

SB 310 – Requires public schools to provide and post information on pregnancy care centers (Position: Support – S).

HB 399 – Allows release of inmates with end‑of‑life diagnosis (≈4 months) to family or hospice; LCCB secured Rep. Zeringue to run the bill (Position: Support – S).

SB 32 – Establishes perinatal bereavement care services in hospitals; includes cooling beds, training, and pastoral care (Position: Support – S).

SB 45 – Classifies nonprofit community hospice providing free end‑of‑life care under LDH; e.g., Richard Murphy Hospice House (Slidell) and Calcutta House (Acadiana) (Position: Support – S).

HB 99 – Allows individuals 18+ to carry firearms on college campuses, including private colleges receiving state funds (Position: Oppose – O).

HB 328 – Prohibits carrying firearms on college campuses with narrow exceptions (class/ROTC/dorm with permission) Oppose.

Support Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) practices for infertility; identify LA physicians who practice RRM.

House Resolution – Study to identify RRM physicians extend HR one more year (Position: Support – S).

SB 402 – Parental Choice and Religious Freedom (Pre‑K & Summer Camps correction bill; (Position: Support – S).

HB 787 – Removes Computer Science as a TOPS requirement (Position: Support – S).

HB 201 – Opt‑in State Seal of Fine Arts for students graduating with 3.0 and certain liberal arts classes (Position: Support – S).

HB 1 – Advocate to include more funding for GATOR (coalition letter, testimony, parent letters).

HB 60 – Adds disruption of religious service (loud/abusive language, physical obstruction) with fines up to $5,000 or 5 years imprisonment.
HB 35 – Prohibits protests/pickets within 50 feet of a place of worship with intent to disrupt; penalty $500 or up to 15 days in jail.
SB 306 – Allows state law enforcement to arrest for intentional damage/refusal to leave a house of worship; fines starting at $10,000 for funders.
HB 294 – Exempts churchgoers and clergy from lawsuits for physically removing trespassers; includes anyone in the church.
HB 330 – Increases fines for desecration of graves and vandalism of religious buildings and requires restitution (Position: Support – S).

HB 584 – Allows foster children to retain federal benefits (e.g., Social Security) in trust until age 18 (Position: Support – S).
HB 575 – Offers youth aging out of foster care at 21 a state used vehicle at reduced rate (Position: Support – S).

HB 37 – Criminalizes and categorizes AI‑generated child sexual abuse material (Position: Support – S).
SB 5 – Regulates emotional‑support chatbots to self‑identify as non‑human and refer to counseling upon detecting suicidal ideation (Position: Support S).

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

SB 360 – Expands a pilot program for Pathways to Independence workforce training to other parishes after evaluation.

HB 111 – Reduces prison time upon earning an associate degree while incarcerated (Position: Support – S).
HB 168 – Creates a re‑entry program for women exiting prison (Position: Support – S).
HB 219 – Allows defendants with non‑unanimous jury verdicts to seek review and sentence amendment with victim notification (Position: Support – S).

SB 230 – Puts a statewide minimum wage increase to $10.75/hour on the ballot (Position: Support – S); testimony anticipated.

SB 356 – Requires perimeter air‑monitoring systems for toxic emissions at major petrochemical/chemical facilities (Position: Support – S).
Expand research/resolution on environmental risks to unborn children and maternal health; HR to continue studying toxins and low‑birthweight/preterm rates (Position: Support – S).
Monitor carbon capture and data‑center projects with community input, safeguards, and workforce benefits; emphasize subsidiarity and the common good.
HB 5 – Allows local parish governments to decide whether carbon capture can proceed in their parish (Position: Support – S).