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New Year Ushers In Dozens of New Louisiana Laws

FILE - The Louisiana state Capitol stands on April 4, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La.
AP Photo/Stephen Smith, File
/
FILE - The Louisiana state Capitol stands on April 4, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La.

The legislation comes from the 2024 regular legislative session along with three special sessions on redistricting, criminal justice and tax reform.

Dozens of new laws go into effect in Louisiana with the new year on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. As Brooke Thorington with Louisiana Public Radio [WWNO/WRKF] reports, in 2025 when you purchase crawfish or shrimp in Louisiana the vendor is required to tell you where the seafood originated. It’s all part of Act 148 / SB166. A first offense can cost a violator up to $15,000.
Another new law, Act 173 / SB 337, creates larger auto insurance discounts for veterans. If you’re retired military, a reservist or a veteran with a disability rating of 50% or more you’ll also be eligible for a 25% discount on your auto insurance. Previously, the discount only applied to active military and national guardsmen.
Other new laws include Act 412 / HB119, which decreases state unemployment benefits, while Act 500 / SB436, adds a proof of citizenship requirement for Louisianans registering to vote. There’s also Act 317 / SB218, which puts more restrictions on absentee voting. Only immediate family members can submit mail-in ballots on a voter’s behalf. Then there’s Act 746 / HB874. That legislation requires electronic monitoring service providers and manufacturers to register with law enforcement and submit monthly reports on the defendants they monitor. Another new law is Act 752 / HB952, which tightens regulations on the state’s hemp industry. The law sets new serving size limits on THC products.
Meanwhile, Act 273 / SB165 limits non-compete clauses in physician contracts to a maximum of five years, depending on specialty. Athina Morris with Louisiana Public Radio has an even more complete listing of new laws here.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, and a graduate of the University of Washington, Jeff began his on-air broadcasting career 33 years ago in the Black Hills of South Dakota as a general assignment reporter.
Before joining WRKF as the Capitol Access reporter, Brooke was the Assistant News Director at Louisiana Radio Network, where she also reported on statewide news and covered the state legislature.
Athina is a digital content producer for WWNO in New Orleans and WRKF in Baton Rouge. She edits and produces content for the stations' websites and social media pages, and writes WWNO's weekly newsletter.