WEAPONS/HANDGUNS: Provides relative to the carrying of firearms on college campuses

HLS 26RS-201 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 99
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK
WEAPONS/HANDGUNS: Provides relative to the carrying of firearms on college
campuses
1 AN ACT
2 TToo amend and reenact R.S. 14:95(A)(4)(a) and (b)(introductory paragraph), 95.2(A), (B)(3),
3 and (C)(introductory paragraph), and 95.6(C)(1) and R.S. 40:1379.3(N)(11) and to
4 enact R.S. 14:95(A)(4)(b)(iv), 95.2(C)(10), and 95.11 and R.S. 17:3129.11, 3351.23,
5 and 5068.1, relative to carrying firearms on college and university campuses; to
6 provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to authorize the carrying of a
7 firearm on the campus of a college or university; to provide for prohibited locations;
8 to provide relative to the authority of the governing body of a college or university
9 to regulate the ability of a person to lawfully carry a firearm while on campus; to
10 provide relative to concealed handguns; to provide for severability of provisions; and
11 to provided for related matters.
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 14:95(A)(4)(a) and (b)(introductory paragraph), 95.2(A), (B)(3), and
14 (C)(introductory paragraph), and 95.6(C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
15 14:95(A)(4)(b)(iv), 95.2(C)(10), and 95.11 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
16 §95. Illegal carrying of weapons
17 A. Illegal carrying of weapons is any of the following:
18 * * *
19 (4)(a) The intentional possession or use by any person of a dangerous
20 weapon on a school campus during regular school hours or on a school bus.
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HLS 26RS-201 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 99
1 "School" means any elementary, secondary, or high school, or vocational-technical
2 school in this state and "campus" means all facilities and property within the
3 boundary of the school property. "School" does not mean a vocational-technical
4 school that is privately owned. "School bus" means any motor bus being used to
5 transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities.
6 (b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall do not apply to any of the
7 following:
8 * * *
9 (iv) Any individual authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to R.S. 14:95.11.
10 * * *
11 §95.2. Carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon by a student or nonstudent on
12 school property, at school-sponsored functions, or in a firearm-free zone;
13 exceptions
14 A. Carrying Except as provided in R.S. 14:95.11, carrying a firearm, or
15 dangerous weapon as defined in R.S. 14:2, by a student or nonstudent on school
16 property, at a school sponsored school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone
17 is unlawful and shall be defined as possession of any firearm or dangerous weapon,
18 on one's person, at any time while on a school campus, on school transportation, or
19 at any school sponsored school-sponsored function in a specific designated area
20 including but not limited to athletic competitions, dances, parties, or any
21 extracurricular activities, or within one thousand feet of any school campus.
22 B. For purposes of this Section, the following words have the following
23 meanings:
24 * * *
25 (3)(a) "School" means any elementary, secondary, high school, or
26 vocational-technical school, college, or university in this state.
27 (b) "School" does not mean any of the following:
28 (i) A vocational-technical school in this state that is privately owned.
29 (ii) A public college or university in this state.
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1 (iii) A private or independent college or university in this state that is a
2 recipient of any state funding.
3 * * *
4 C. The provisions of this Section shall do not apply to any of the following:
5 * * *
6 (10) Any person who is eighteen years of age or older, is lawfully permitted
7 to possess a firearm pursuant to state and federal law, and who carries a firearm on
8 the campus or in any building or facility on the campus of a public college or
9 university in this state or a private or independent college or university that is a
10 recipient of any state funding.
11 * * *
12 §95.6. Firearm-free zone; notice; signs; crime; penalties
13 * * *
14 C. For purposes of this Section:
15 (1)(a) "School" means any public or private elementary, secondary, high
16 school, or vocational-technical school, college, or university in this state.
17 (b) "School" does not mean any of the following:
18 (i) A vocational-technical school that is privately owned.
19 (ii) A public college or university in this state.
20 (iii) A private or independent college or university in this state that is a
21 recipient of any state funding.
22 * * *
23 §95.11. Carrying a firearm at colleges and universities
24 A.(1) It is the intent of the legislature to affirm that the right to keep and bear
25 arms is a fundamental right protected by the Second Amendment to the United States
26 Constitution and Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
27 (2) The purpose of this Section is to align the rules governing the possession
28 and carry of firearms on college and university campuses with existing permitless
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1 carry laws in this state, recognizing that law-abiding citizens do not lose their rights
2 when they step onto a campus that receives public funds.
3 B.(1) Any individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is
4 lawfully permitted to possess a firearm pursuant to state and federal law may carry
5 a firearm on the campus of any college or university in this state.
6 (2) For purposes of this Subsection, the following terms have the following
7 meanings:
8 (a) "Campus" means all facilities and property within the boundary of the
9 college or university property.
10 (b) "College" or "university" means any of the following:
11 (i) Any institution of post-secondary education that is authorized to confer
12 undergraduate degrees in the arts and sciences and receives any form of state
13 funding.
14 (ii) Any institution of post-secondary education in this state that is privately
15 or independently owned and operated, authorized to confer undergraduate degrees
16 in the arts and sciences, and is a recipient of any form of state funding.
17 (c) "Individual" means any student, faculty, staff, contractor, or visitor of a
18 college or university, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
19 C.(1) The provisions of this Section do not permit an individual to carry a
20 firearm in any of the following:
21 (a) Locations where firearm possession is restricted under federal law.
22 (b) Areas designated for any of the following:
23 (i) Active disciplinary or administrative hearings.
24 (ii) Medical or mental health treatment centers operated by the college or
25 university.
26 (iii) Events with security screening or controlled access when signs that
27 indicate the existence of such areas are posted pursuant to R.S. 14:95.6.
28 (2) Private facilities or classrooms within the college or university may
29 restrict the carrying of a firearm if signs are properly posted pursuant to R.S. 14:95.6.
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1 D. No student, faculty member, staff member, or visitor shall be subject to
2 discipline, penalty, or retaliation solely for carrying a firearm pursuant to this
3 Section.
4 Section 2. R.S. 17:3129.11, 3351.23, and 5068.1 are hereby enacted to read as
5 follows:
6 §3129.11. Carrying of a firearm at public colleges and universities
7 The Board of Regents shall not adopt, enact, or enforce a policy that does any
8 of the following:
9 (a) Requires any student, faculty, staff, contractor, or visitor to register his
10 firearm or declare his eligibility to carry a firearm with a public college or university.
11 (b) Imposes requirements more restrictive than state law pertaining to
12 additional firearm training, permits, or storage.
13 (c) Creates campus-specific limitations that conflict with R.S. 14:95.11.
14 * * *
15 §3351.23. Carrying of a firearm at public colleges and universities
16 Any management board of a public college or university, including those
17 listed in R.S. 17:3215 through 3217.5, or a public college or university shall not
18 adopt, enact, or enforce a policy that does any of the following:
19 (a) Requires any student, faculty, staff, contractor, or visitor to register his
20 firearm or declare his eligibility to carry a firearm with the public college or
21 university.
22 (b) Imposes requirements more restrictive than state law pertaining to
23 additional firearm training, permits, or storage.
24 (c) Creates campus-specific limitations that conflict with R.S. 14:95.11.
25 * * *
26 §5068.1. Enrollment of students who receive financial assistance; private or
27 independent colleges and universities; prohibited policies
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HLS 26RS-201 ORIGINAL
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1 A. No college or university that accepts a student who is a recipient of
2 financial assistance based on an Opportunity, Performance, Honors, or TOPS-Tech
3 Award shall adopt, enact, or enforce a policy that does any of the following:
4 (1) Requires any student, faculty, staff, contractor, or visitor to register his
5 firearm or declare his eligibility to carry a firearm with the college or university.
6 (2) Imposes requirements more restrictive than state law pertaining to
7 additional firearm training, permits, or storage.
8 (3) Creates campus-specific limitations that conflict with R.S. 14:95.11.
9 B. For purposes of this Section, "college or university" means an institution
10 of higher learning that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent
11 Colleges and Universities and that is accredited by an institutional accrediting
12 agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to pursue an
13 academic undergraduate degree.
14 Section 3. R.S. 40:1379.3(N)(11) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
15 follows:
16 §1379.3. Statewide permits for concealed handguns; application procedures;
17 definitions
18 * * *
19 N. No concealed handgun may be carried into and no concealed handgun
20 permit issued pursuant to this Section shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry
21 a concealed handgun in any of the following:
22 * * *
23 (11) Any school, school campus, or school bus as defined in R.S. 14:95.6,
24 except as provided in R.S. 14:95.11.
25 * * *
26 Section 4. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is held invalid, such
27 invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given
28 effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this
29 Act are hereby declared severable.
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HLS 26RS-201 ORIGINAL
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 99 Original 2026 Regular Session McCormick
Abstract: Provides relative to the carrying of firearms at colleges and universities.
Present law (R.S. 14:95) provides for the crime of illegal carrying of weapons. Further
provides for penalties and exceptions.
Proposed law generally retains present law and provides an exception to this crime for any
individual authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to proposed law.
Present law (R.S. 14:95.2) provides for the crime of carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon
on school property, at school-sponsored functions, or in a firearm-free zone.
Proposed law generally retains present law but amends the definition of "school" to exclude
the following:
(1) A public college or university in this state.
(2) A private or independent college or university in this state that is a recipient of any
state funding.
Proposed law creates an exception to present law (R.S. 14:95.2) for any person who is 18
years of age or older, is lawfully permitted to possess a firearm under state and federal law,
and who carries a firearm on the campus or in any building or facility on the campus of a
public college or university in this state or a private or independent college or university that
is a recipient of any state funding.
Present law (R.S. 14:95.6) provides for the establishment of firearm-free zones.
Proposed law generally retains present law but amends the definition of "school" to exclude
the following:
(1) A public college or university in this state.
(2) A private or independent college or university in this state that is a recipient of any
state funding.
Proposed law provides for a statement of legislative intent.
Proposed law authorizes any individual who is 18 years of age or older and who is lawfully
permitted to possess a firearm under state and federal law to carry a firearm on the campus
of any college or university in this state.
Proposed law defines the terms "college" or "university", "campus", and "individual".
Proposed law provides for certain locations where an individual is prohibited from carrying
a firearm pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that no student, faculty member, staff member, or visitor shall be
subject to discipline, penalty, or retaliation solely for carrying a firearm pursuant to proposed
law.
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Proposed law provides that certain restrictive firearm policies shall not be adopted, enacted,
or enforced by any of the following:
(1) The Board of Regents.
(2) Any management board of a public college or university.
(3) A public college or university.
(4) A college or university that is a member of the La. Assoc. of Independent Colleges
and Universities and accepts a student who is a recipient of financial assistance based
on an Opportunity, Performance, Honors, or TOPS-Tech Award.
Present law (R.S. 40:1379.3) provides for statewide permits for concealed handguns.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law (R.S. 40:1379.3(N)) provides for locations where an individual is prohibited
from carrying a concealed handgun. Further provides that one of these locations is any
school, school campus, or school bus as defined in present law (R.S. 14:95.6).
Proposed law retains present law, but amends the provision relative to any school, school
campus, or school bus to provide an exception for individuals carrying a firearm pursuant
to proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law are severable if any provision of
proposed law or its application is held invalid.
(Amends R.S. 14:95(A)(4)(a) and (b)(intro. para.), 95.2(A), (B)(3), and (C)(intro. para.), and
95.6(C)(1) and R.S. 40:1379.3(N)(11); Adds R.S. 14:95(A)(4)(b)(iv), 95.2(C)(10), and 95.11
and R.S. 17:3129.11, 3351.23, and 5068.1)
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