HB1198 • 2026

CHILDREN/CUSTODY: Provides relative to child custody

Children

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Beryl Amedee
Last action: 2026-05-29
Official status: Signed by the Governor - Act 582
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not support all claims made in the candidate explanation, particularly regarding the requirement for courts to consider domestic violence. The bill text only mentions that foreign laws must consider domestic violence as a factor but does not mandate this consideration within Louisiana's own legal framework.

Child Custody Rules

This act changes Louisiana laws to say that child custody and visitation issues cannot be decided by arbitration, and sets rules for how the state handles foreign country child custody laws.

What This Bill Does

Changes a law to say that courts in Louisiana will not recognize or enforce any decisions about child custody made through arbitration.
Adds new rules saying that if a foreign country's child custody laws do not protect basic human rights, like equal treatment and fair process, then those laws won't be used in Louisiana.

Who It Names or Affects

People who are involved in child custody disputes within Louisiana
Courts that handle cases involving foreign country child custody laws

Terms To Know

arbitration: A way to solve disagreements outside of court by having a neutral person make the decision.
public policy: The principles and goals that guide how laws are made and enforced in a state or country.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not explain how the new rules will be applied to existing cases.
Does not provide details on how courts should decide when a foreign law violates human rights.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

House Floor Amendment #4383 Amedee Proposed

Filed

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

2026-05-29 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-05-29 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 582.
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
ACT No. 5822026 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:
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.