HB315 • 2026

CONTRACTS: Provides relative to noncompete contracts or agreements for interns and apprentices

Education Labor

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Michael Melerine
Last action: 2026-05-15
Official status: Signed by the Governor - Act 150
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does provide a definition for 'intern', but it is detailed and specific. The candidate explanation's simplified version was removed to maintain accuracy.

No Noncompete Agreements for Interns and Apprentices

This act stops employers from making interns or apprentices sign agreements that prevent them from working in similar jobs after their internship or apprenticeship ends.

What This Bill Does

Stops employers from creating noncompete contracts with interns or apprentices.
Allows confidentiality, intellectual property, and data protection agreements to remain valid for interns and apprentices.

Who It Names or Affects

Interns
Apprentices
Employers of interns and apprentices

Terms To Know

Noncompete Agreement: A contract that stops someone from working in a similar job after leaving their current employer.
Internship: A program where students gain work experience related to their field of study.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify what happens if an intern or apprentice breaks a confidentiality agreement.
It only applies to interns and apprentices, not other types of employees.

Amendments

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

House Floor Amendment #3843 Melerine Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HFAHB315 4145 3843 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Melerine to Engrossed House Bill No.

HFAHB315 4145 3843 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Melerine to Engrossed House Bill No.
315 by Representative Melerine 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 5, after "agreements;" and before "and" insert "to provide a definition;" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
2 4 On page 1, line 11, change "P." to "P.(1)" 5 AMENDMENT NO.

House Committee Amendment #3436 L&IR Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB315 4145 3436 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB315 4145 3436 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to Original House Bill No.
315 by Representative Melerine 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 3, after "apprentices;" and before "and" insert the following: 3 "to provide for confidentiality agreements and certain employment information and 4 agreements;" 5 AMENDMENT NO.
2 6 On page 1, line 10, after "P." and before "shall" delete "There" and insert in lieu thereof the 7 following: 8 "Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, there" 9 AMENDMENT NO.

House Committee Amendment #3072 L&IR Draft

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB315 4145 3072 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB315 4145 3072 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to Original House Bill No.
315 by Representative Melerine 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 3, after "apprentices;" and before "and" insert the following: 3 "to provide for confidentiality agreements and certain employment information and 4 agreements;" 5 AMENDMENT NO.
2 6 On page 1, line 10, after "P." and before "shall" delete "There" and insert in lieu thereof the 7 following: 8 "Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, there" 9 AMENDMENT NO.

Bill History

2026-05-15 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-05-15 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 150.
2026-05-14 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-14 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-13 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-13 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-12 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.
2026-05-05 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-04 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-29 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-21 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
2026-04-20 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-15 H
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-14 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/15/2026.
2026-04-13 H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-09 H
Reported with amendments (11-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
2026-02-27 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
2026-02-24 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
2026-02-24 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

CONTRACTS: Provides relative to noncompete contracts or agreements for interns and apprentices

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 1502026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 315
BY REPRESENTATIVE MELERINE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 23:921(P), relative to noncompete contracts or agreements; to prohibit
3 noncompete contracts, agreements, or provisions for interns and apprentices; to
4 provide for confidentiality agreements and certain employment information and
5 agreements; to provide a definition; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 23:921(P) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §921. Restraint of business prohibited; restraint on forum prohibited; competing
9 business; contracts against engaging in; provisions for
10 * * *
11 P.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, there
12 shall be no contract or agreement or provision entered into by an intern, whether paid
13 or unpaid, or apprentice and his employer restraining the intern or apprentice from
14 engaging in a business or an employment similar to that of the employer. The
15 contract or agreement or provision shall not restrict an intern or apprentice from
16 pursuing employment, educational, or professional opportunities following the
17 completion of the internship or apprenticeship. The intern or apprentice shall,
18 however, remain subject to the employer's confidentiality, intellectual property, and
19 data protection agreements.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 315 ENROLLED
1 (2) For the purposes of this Subsection, "intern" means a student learner who
2 participates in an internship authorized and regulated by the provisions of LAC
3 28:CXV.3113 or any successor regulations the Board of Elementary and Secondary
4 Education may publish relative to a work-based learning program classified as an
5 internship.
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.