COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Prohibits, with exceptions, a public postsecondary education institution from prohibiting a student from possessing self-defense chemical spray on campus

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Mike Bayham
Last action: 2026-05-21
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Allowing Students to Carry Self-Defense Spray on Campus

This bill stops public colleges and universities from banning students from carrying self-defense spray, except in certain areas like schools for younger kids or places with armed security.

What This Bill Does

Allows students at public colleges and universities to carry self-defense chemical spray on campus.
Defines 'self-defense chemical spray' as a small device that is carried for protection and contains no more than two ounces of chemical.
Exempts certain areas from the rule, such as preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools, patient care facilities, and places with armed security or specific contracts prohibiting it.

Who It Names or Affects

Students at public colleges and universities in Louisiana
Public postsecondary education institutions

Terms To Know

self-defense chemical spray: A small device used for protection that contains a chemical substance to deter attackers.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply to private colleges and universities.
It is unclear what the consequences are if a student violates the exceptions in certain areas.

Amendments

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

House Committee Amendment #2787 EDUC Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB195 224 2787 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Education to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB195 224 2787 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Education to Original House Bill No.
195 by Representative Bayham 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 16, after "spray" and before "on" insert "at any preschool, elementary school, 3 or secondary school operated by the institution; at any patient care facility located on 4 institutional property; and" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

House Committee Amendment #1141 EDUC Draft

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB195 224 1141 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Education to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB195 224 1141 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Education to Original House Bill No.
195 by Representative Bayham 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 16, after "spray" and before "on" insert "at any preschool, elementary school, 3 or secondary school operated by the institution; at any patient care facility located on 4 institutional property; and" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

Bill History

2026-05-21 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-20 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-20 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-20 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-19 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-13 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-12 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-11 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-13 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-04-08 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-08 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-07 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/08/2026.
2026-04-01 H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-03-31 H
Reported with amendments (13-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-02-20 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/20/2026.
2026-02-18 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-02-18 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Prohibits, with exceptions, a public postsecondary education institution from prohibiting a student from possessing self-defense chemical spray on campus

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 195
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:3399.20, relative to postsecondary education; to prohibit public
3 postsecondary education institutions from prohibiting the possession of self-defense
4 chemical spray on campus; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3399.20 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §3399.20. Self-defense chemical spray; possession on campus; exceptions
9 A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this Section, no public
10 postsecondary education institution shall prohibit students from possessing
11 self-defense chemical spray on campus. For purposes of this Section, "self-defense
12 chemical spray" means a device carried solely for purposes of lawful self-defense
13 that is compact in size, designed to be carried on or about the person, and contains
14 not more than two ounces of chemical.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 195 ENROLLED
1 B. A public postsecondary education institution may prohibit students from
2 possessing self-defense chemical spray at any preschool, elementary school, or
3 secondary school operated by the institution; at any patient care facility located on
4 institutional property; and on campus in any building or at any event where armed
5 security is provided or where such possession is prohibited by contract.
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.