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HB1246 • 2026

DWI: Provides relative to operating a vehicle while impaired (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

DWI: Provides relative to operating a vehicle while impaired (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Brian Glorioso
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
Signed by the Governor - Act 723
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details that are not supported by the official source material. For example, it mentions 'Jada's Law' which is not explicitly named as such in the provided summary or bill text.

Jada's Law

This law requires that people arrested for driving while impaired must be held by the police until they are sober enough to leave safely.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new law called 'Jada's Law' which says people who are arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired should not be released from custody until it is safe for them to drive or go home without causing harm.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who get arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
  • Police and courts dealing with these arrests.

Terms To Know

Operating While Impaired (OWI)
Driving a vehicle when you are not able to safely control it because you have been drinking or using drugs.
Safe Release
Being allowed to leave jail after being arrested for driving while impaired only if it is safe and won't cause harm.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not apply to people under the age of 18.
  • It doesn't change how bail works or what other conditions a court can set for someone's release.

Amendments

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

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the time a person arrested for driving while impaired can be held by police from eight hours or longer to until it is safe to release them.

  • Changes the holding period for someone arrested for DWI from up to eight hours if necessary, to indefinite until it is safe to release them.
  • Adds that this change does not affect a person's right to bail or the court’s ability to set conditions for bail.
  • The amendment text does not specify what 'safe release' means in detail, which could lead to different interpretations by law enforcement and courts.
  • It is unclear how this change will be implemented and enforced across different jurisdictions.
Filed

Plain English: The amendment to HB1246 is about agreeing with changes made by the Senate regarding driving while impaired (DWI) laws.

  • The House agrees to concur in the amendments made by the Senate on HB1246, which relates to operating a vehicle while impaired.
  • The official amendment text does not provide specific details about what changes were made by the Senate or what they entail.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how a person who is presumed to be driving under the influence can be held by law enforcement until it's safe for them to leave.

  • Removes lines that describe certain conditions (lines 9 through 11).
  • Changes 'C.' to 'B.' at line 12, adjusting the order of listed items.
  • Adds new text allowing a custodial agency to hold someone presumed under the influence until it's safe for them to leave (lines 13 through 16).
  • Adjusts numbering by changing 'D.' to 'C.' and 'E.' to 'D.' in subsequent sections.
  • The exact impact of removing lines is not clear without the original text.
  • Details about what constitutes a 'safe release' are not provided.
Draft

Plain English: SCAHB1246 4769 3530 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to Engrossed House Bill No.

  • SCAHB1246 4769 3530 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to Engrossed House Bill No.
  • 1246 by Representative Glorioso 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, delete lines 9 through 11 3 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 4 On page 1, at the beginning of line 12, change "C." to "B." 5 AMENDMENT NO.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 H

    Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  2. 2026-06-01 H

    Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 723.

  3. 2026-05-29 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-05-28 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-05-28 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-05-27 H

    Read by title, roll called, yeas 98, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

  7. 2026-05-26 H

    Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.

  8. 2026-05-25 H

    Received from the Senate with amendments.

  9. 2026-05-21 S

    Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  10. 2026-05-14 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  11. 2026-05-13 S

    Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  12. 2026-05-12 S

    Reported with amendments.

  13. 2026-05-06 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

  14. 2026-05-05 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  15. 2026-05-05 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 3. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  16. 2026-04-29 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 05/05/2026.

  17. 2026-04-28 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  18. 2026-04-27 H

    Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 264 reported by the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice (10-0).

Official Summary Text

DWI: Provides relative to operating a vehicle while impaired (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
ACT No. 7232026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1246 (Substitute for House Bill No. 264 by Representative
Glorioso)
BY REPRESENTATIVES GLORIOSO AND MANDIE LANDRY
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 14:98.9, relative to operating a vehicle while impaired; to provide for the
3 detention and release of persons arrested for operating while impaired; to provide for
4 exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:98.9 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §98.9. "Jada's Law"; sober release requirement
8 A. This Section may be cited as "Jada's Law".
9 B. Following an arrest for operating while impaired in violation of R.S.
10 14:98 or 98.6, the custodial agency may hold an individual who is presumed to be
11 under the influence of alcoholic beverages pursuant to R.S. 32:662 until a safe
12 release is feasible.
13 C. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to deny or restrict the
14 entitlement of a person to bail pursuant to the Code of Criminal Procedure or limit
15 the authority of a court to impose additional conditions of release in accordance with
16 applicable law.
17 D. The provisions of this Section do not apply to any individual who is
18 seventeen years of age or younger.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.