KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Louisiana

HB405 • 2026

HEALTH: Provides relative to the practice of acupuncture

HEALTH: Provides relative to the practice of acupuncture

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Peter Egan
Last action
2026-05-26
Official status
Sent to Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Acupuncture Licensing Law

This bill changes the requirements for becoming a licensed acupuncturist in Louisiana by requiring certification and passing an exam.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rules for getting a license to practice acupuncture in Louisiana.
  • Requires acupuncturists to be certified by a national organization called the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
  • Adds that acupuncturists must pass a test given by this certification board, including a part about biomedicine.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Acupuncturists who want to practice in Louisiana
  • The state agency responsible for licensing acupuncturists

Terms To Know

acupuncture
A traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body.
licensure
The process of getting official permission to practice a profession or occupation in a state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It does not specify what happens if an acupuncturist loses their certification.
  • Does not mention how often the license needs to be renewed.
  • Does not specify any penalties for practicing without a valid license.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-26 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  2. 2026-05-25 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  3. 2026-05-25 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  4. 2026-05-25 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  5. 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.

  6. 2026-05-18 S

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

  7. 2026-05-14 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  8. 2026-05-13 S

    Reported favorably.

  9. 2026-04-01 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

  10. 2026-03-31 S

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

  11. 2026-03-31 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 102, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  12. 2026-03-30 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.

  13. 2026-03-26 H

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

  14. 2026-03-25 H

    Reported favorably (9-0).

  15. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

  16. 2026-02-27 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  17. 2026-02-25 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

  18. 2026-02-25 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

HEALTH: Provides relative to the practice of acupuncture

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 405
BY REPRESENTATIVE EGAN
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:1358, relative to the practice of acupuncture; to provide for
3 the licensure of acupuncturists; to provide for the name change of the national
4 certifying organization; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 37:1358 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §1358. Licensed acupuncturists
8 The board shall certify as a licensed acupuncturist an individual who meets
9 both of the following:
10 (1) Holds active status with the National Certification Commission for
11 Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Certification Board for Acupuncture
12 and Herbal Medicine.
13 (2) Has successfully passed the certification examination, including the
14 Biomedicine portion of the examination, given by the National Certification
15 Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Certification Board
16 for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
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.