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HB1198 • 2026
CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody
CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody
Children
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
- Sponsor
- Beryl Amedee
- Last action
- 2026-05-26
- Official status
- Sent to Governor
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material did not provide specific details on when the new rules will start.
Child Custody Rules
This bill changes Louisiana's laws about child custody and how courts handle custody agreements from other countries.
What This Bill Does
- Makes it against state policy to have agreements that force arbitration for child custody or visitation issues.
- Says that Louisiana courts will not recognize decisions made outside of court about child custody or visitation.
- Adds new rules for how Louisiana courts should treat child custody laws from other countries.
Who It Names or Affects
- Parents involved in child custody disputes
- Courts handling child custody cases
Terms To Know
- arbitration
- A way to solve disagreements outside of court with a neutral person's help.
- public policy
- The principles and goals that guide laws in a state or country.
Limits and Unknowns
- It does not say when the new rules will start.
- It only affects Louisiana courts, not other states or countries.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: HFAHB1198 4469 4383
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by Representative Amedee to Engrossed House Bill No.
- HFAHB1198 4469 4383
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by Representative Amedee to Engrossed House Bill No.
- 1198 by
Representative Amedee
1 AMENDMENT NO.
- 1
2 On page 2, line 5, after "this" and before "if" change "Act Section" to "Act"
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Bill History
-
2026-05-26
H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
-
2026-05-25
S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
-
2026-05-25
H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
-
2026-05-25
H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
-
2026-05-21
S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
-
2026-05-14
S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
-
2026-05-13
S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
-
2026-05-12
S
Reported favorably.
-
2026-05-04
S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.
-
2026-04-29
S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
-
2026-04-28
H
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
-
2026-04-23
H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/28/2026.
-
2026-04-23
H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
-
2026-04-22
H
Reported favorably (6-0).
-
2026-04-01
H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
-
2026-03-31
H
Read by title. Lies over under the rules.
Official Summary Text
CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1198
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 9:4216 and R.S. 13:1805(C) and to enact R.S. 13:1805(D),
3 relative to child custody; to provide relative to public policy; to provide relative to
4 arbitration of child custody matters; to provide relative to child custody agreements
5 from foreign countries; to provide relative to fundamental constitutional rights; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 9:4216 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §4216. Limitation of application of Chapter
10 A. Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply applies to contracts of
11 employment of labor or to contracts for arbitration which are controlled by valid
12 legislation of the United States or to contracts made prior to July 28, 1948.
13 B. Nothing contained in this Chapter applies to contracts mandating
14 arbitration of child custody or visitation.
15 C. Arbitration of child custody or visitation is against the public policy of
16 this state. Any provision of an agreement to arbitrate that mandates the arbitration
17 of child custody or visitation is void and unenforceable.
18 D. No court in the state shall recognize or enforce any arbitral award
19 governing child custody or visitation.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 1198 ENROLLED
1 Section 2. R.S. 13:1805(C) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 13:1805(D)
2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §1805. International application
4 * * *
5 C. A court of this state need not apply this Act if the child custody law of a
6 foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights or is manifestly
7 contrary to the public policy of this state.
8 D. A child custody law of a jurisdiction of a foreign country is manifestly
9 contrary to the public policy of this state if any of the following apply:
10 (1) The law does not grant a parent the same fundamental constitutional
11 rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of
12 Louisiana including the right of equal protection, due process, and free exercise of
13 religion.
14 (2) The law does not use the best interest of the child as the standard for
15 application of child custody.
16 (3) The law does not consider whether domestic violence has occurred and
17 is likely to occur again.
18 (4) The law does not consider whether a determination of child custody or
19 visitation might risk the substantial harm of the child.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.