This amendment adds rules requiring local leaders to end burning bans when risks drop, publish notices about the bans, and clarifies how fines and jail time work for breaking these laws.
Louisiana2026Enacted
HB1153
Law Allowing Local Burn Bans During Fire Risks
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:26 AM
In one sentence
This new Louisiana law lets parishes and cities temporarily ban outdoor burning when fire risks are high, with specific fines for breaking the rules.
What it does
- Allows parish leaders to declare temporary burn bans if weather or conditions raise wildfire risk.
- Lets city officials create similar bans within their town limits during dangerous times.
- Sets civil fines of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for third offenses.
- Creates criminal penalties including jail time if breaking the ban causes over $5,000 in property damage or harms critical infrastructure.
- Requires people who cause fires to pay back costs for fire suppression and emergency response.
Who it affects
- Parish governing authorities
- Municipalities and city officials
- Residents who burn yard debris, clear land, or have recreational fires outside of enclosures
Limits and unknowns
- The ban does not apply to agricultural burning that follows state rules.
- Prescribed burns done by certified workers are allowed even during a ban.
- Cooking fires in grills and recreational fires inside fire pits or enclosures are exempt from the ban.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Governing authority
- The group in charge of a parish or municipality that can declare bans.
- Critical infrastructure
- Systems defined by state law (R.S. 14:61) whose damage leads to higher criminal penalties.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
ENVIRONMENT/ENFORCEMENT: Authorizes parishes and municipalities to declare bans on burning
Official activity
Bill history
- Effective date: 08/01/2026.H
- Becomes Act No. 931 without the Governor's signature.H
- Sent to the Governor for executive approval.H
- Signed by the President of the Senate.S
- Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.H
- Received from the Senate without amendments.H
- Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.S
- Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.S
- Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.S
- Reported favorably.S
- Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs.S
- Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.S
- Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.H
- Scheduled for floor debate on 04/23/2026.H
- Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.H
- Reported with amendments (12-0).H
- Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.H
- Read by title. Lies over under the rules.H
Changes
Amendments
2 stored
This amendment adds rules requiring local leaders to end burning bans when risks drop, publish notices about the bans, and clarifies how fines and jail time work for breaking these laws.