Louisiana AI Laws and Regulation (2026)

Artificial intelligence regulation in Louisiana is in a formative stage. The state has enacted targeted criminal laws addressing AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those involving minors, but has not yet passed comprehensive AI governance legislation. With at least 18 AI bills filed for the 2026 legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers are moving aggressively to regulate how AI is used across criminal conduct, healthcare, political campaigns, consumer transactions, and the workplace.

This guide covers Louisiana's current AI laws, pending legislation, executive branch AI policies, and how federal developments affect the state.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. AI regulation is evolving rapidly. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney for advice about your specific situation.

Enacted AI Laws in Louisiana

Louisiana does not have a comprehensive AI regulatory framework like Colorado's SB 24-205 or Illinois's HB 3773. Instead, the state has taken a targeted approach, enacting criminal statutes that address specific harmful uses of AI technology. The Louisiana State Legislature has focused primarily on deepfake-related crimes.

R.S. 14:73.13: Unlawful Deepfakes Depicting Minors

Louisiana's most significant AI law is R.S. 14:73.13, enacted through Act 456 of the 2024 Regular Session. This statute specifically criminalizes the creation, possession, and distribution of AI-generated deepfake content depicting minors engaged in sexual conduct.

The law defines a "deepfake" as any audio or visual media in an electronic format, including any motion picture film or video recording, that is created, altered, or digitally manipulated in a manner that would falsely appear to a reasonable observer to be an authentic record of the actual speech or conduct of the individual.

Penalties under R.S. 14:73.13:

Offense	Imprisonment	Fine
Creating or possessing deepfake CSAM	5 to 20 years at hard labor	Up to $10,000
Distributing, selling, or exchanging deepfake CSAM	10 to 30 years at hard labor	Up to $50,000

These penalties are among the most severe in the nation for AI-generated child exploitation material. The statute treats AI-generated CSAM with the same seriousness as traditional child exploitation offenses.

R.S. 14:73.14: Nonconsensual AI-Generated Intimate Images

Louisiana also enacted R.S. 14:73.14, which addresses the nonconsensual dissemination or sale of AI-generated intimate images of adults. Under this statute, it is unlawful to disseminate or sell any video or still image created by artificial intelligence that depicts another person in a state of nudity when done with the intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate.

The statute specifically covers images showing a person who is "totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast." The person disseminating the content must know or have reason to know that they lack authorization to distribute the material.

This law fills an important gap in Louisiana's existing revenge porn statute by explicitly covering AI-generated synthetic media rather than just authentic photographs or videos.

Deepfake Laws and Elections

Governor's Veto of Political Deepfake Bill

In a notable departure from many other states, Louisiana does not regulate AI-generated deepfakes in political campaigns. In 2024, the Louisiana Legislature passed HB 154 by Representative Mandie Landry, which would have prohibited the use of AI-generated deepfakes to deceive voters in elections.

Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the bill on June 20, 2024, stating: "While I applaud the efforts to prevent false political attacks, I believe this bill creates serious First Amendment concerns as it relates to emerging technologies. The law is far from settled on this issue, and I believe more information is needed before such regulations are enshrined into law."

The governor also vetoed a companion bill that would have required deepfake media to carry watermark disclosures. As a result, Louisiana remains one of the minority of states where AI-generated content in political advertising faces no specific legal restrictions.

Representative Mandie Landry pushed back on the veto, arguing that using someone's likeness without consent is distinct from protected political speech. As of March 2026, no new political deepfake legislation has advanced.

Executive Branch AI Policy

Division of Administration AI Acceptable Use Policy

The Louisiana Division of Administration, through its Office of Technology Services (OTS), issued a comprehensive AI Acceptable Use Policy governing all state agencies. This policy applies to all state government entities under OTS authority, pursuant to Act 712 of the 2014 Regular Legislative Session.

Key provisions of the policy include:

Covered Technologies: The policy governs machine learning algorithms, automated decision-making systems, generative AI and large language models, and cognitive computing applications used by state agencies.

Data Governance: All state agencies must ensure AI use complies with agency data governance policies, data classification standards, record retention schedules, and Louisiana public records laws.

Ownership: All AI-generated outputs created on behalf of the State of Louisiana are state property. Users waive any rights of ownership or authorship in such outputs.

Prohibited Uses: State employees may not use AI to independently make business decisions, bypass security controls, or create material without labeling it as AI-generated.

Incident Reporting: Unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential state data in AI systems must be reported to the OTS Information Security Team at infosecteam@la.gov or by calling 844-692-8019.

K-12 Education AI Guidance

The Louisiana Department of Education released guidance in August 2024 for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms. This guidance establishes frameworks for how teachers and students can use AI tools while maintaining academic integrity and student data privacy.

Louisiana Board of Regents AI Policy

The Louisiana Board of Regents adopted a policy on the responsible, ethical, and secure use of AI in higher education institutions across the state. This policy provides guidelines for colleges and universities in the Louisiana system.

Legislative Study Committee

Through SCR 49 (2023 Regular Session), Louisiana established a legislative study initiative. This resolution directed the Joint Committee on Technology and Cybersecurity to study the impact of artificial intelligence on state operations, procurement, and policy. The resolution also provided an early working definition of AI for state purposes.

Pending AI Legislation (2026 Session)

The 2026 Louisiana legislative session has seen a surge of AI-related proposals. At least 18 bills have been filed covering criminal conduct, healthcare, political campaigns, consumer transactions, and workplace AI use. However, industry pushback has slowed broader efforts, with only child exploitation-focused bills gaining significant traction.

Child Exploitation Bills

Senate Bill 42 by Senator Rick Edmonds (R-Baton Rouge) prohibits using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials. This bill passed the Louisiana Senate 36-0 and was sent to the House.

Senate Bill 110 by Senator Heather Cloud (R-Turkey Creek) bars using a child's image to train an artificial intelligence model to produce child sexual abuse materials. This addresses a gap in existing law by targeting the training process itself rather than just the output.

Healthcare AI Bills

House Bill 114 by Representative Domangue would regulate the use of artificial intelligence by healthcare providers. The bill would confine clinicians to using AI for analytical and administrative work while blocking autonomous diagnosis or treatment. All AI recommendations involving patient care must occur under the supervision of licensed healthcare professionals. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per infraction, with the Louisiana Department of Health empowered to investigate breaches.

Senate Bill 246 would require insurers to have a licensed human reviewer sign off on any coverage decisions made by an AI system. It would also mandate a process for policyholders to appeal those decisions and require insurers to disclose when an AI or automated decision system was used in any part of the coverage determination.

Mental Health Chatbot Regulation

Senate Bill 5 targets mental health chatbots specifically. The bill would require AI-powered mental health tools to disclose that they are AI, limit how they share user data, and set rules for handling self-harm disclosures. This legislation reflects growing concern about the proliferation of AI therapy and counseling tools.

Workplace AI and Consumer Protection

Several other pending bills address automated hiring decisions and AI disclosures to consumers, though specific bill numbers for these proposals are still being assigned as the session progresses. The business lobby has pushed back particularly strongly against employment AI regulations.

AI in Employment

Louisiana does not currently have any enacted legislation specifically regulating the use of AI in employment and hiring decisions. The state's existing employment discrimination framework under R.S. 23:332 prohibits intentional discrimination based on protected characteristics including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and other categories.

These existing protections would theoretically apply to AI-driven hiring tools that produce discriminatory outcomes. If an AI screening tool systematically disadvantages applicants based on a protected characteristic, an employer could face liability under Louisiana's anti-discrimination statutes.

However, Louisiana lacks the specific AI hiring requirements found in states like Illinois (which requires disclosure and consent for AI video interview analysis), Colorado (which mandates deployer risk assessments for high-risk AI systems), or New York City (which requires bias audits of automated employment decision tools under Local Law 144).

Several pending 2026 bills would address this gap, though business advocacy groups have resisted these proposals.

Federal AI Policy Impact on Louisiana

TAKE IT DOWN Act

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (P.L. 119-12), signed May 19, 2025, creates a federal floor for nonconsensual intimate deepfakes. This law criminalizes the publication of AI-generated intimate images without consent, with penalties of up to 2 years for adult victims and 3 years for minor victims. Louisiana's R.S. 14:73.13 and R.S. 14:73.14 provide additional state-level penalties that can stack on top of federal charges.

Trump Administration Executive Orders

President Trump's Executive Order 14179 (January 2025) revoked the Biden-era AI safety executive order and shifted federal policy toward deregulation. EO 14365 (December 2025) established a DOJ AI Litigation Task Force that could challenge state AI laws.

For Louisiana, this federal approach is largely compatible with the state's current posture. Governor Landry's veto of political deepfake legislation and the state's cautious approach to broad AI regulation align with the Trump administration's preference for limited government intervention in AI development.

Federal Preemption Concerns

If Congress passes comprehensive AI legislation, it could preempt some Louisiana state laws. However, most legal scholars agree that state criminal statutes like Louisiana's deepfake laws would likely survive federal preemption because they address conduct (child exploitation, harassment) rather than regulating AI technology itself.

Looking Ahead

Louisiana's AI regulatory landscape is at a crossroads. The 2026 legislative session represents the state's most ambitious effort to regulate AI, with bills spanning healthcare, child protection, consumer rights, and employment. The outcome of the current session will determine whether Louisiana joins the growing number of states with comprehensive AI frameworks or continues its targeted, criminal-law-focused approach.

The tension between industry groups and legislators seeking broader AI regulation will shape the final outcome. Based on current momentum, child exploitation bills are most likely to pass, while broader healthcare and employment AI regulations face a more uncertain path.

More Louisiana Laws

• Louisiana Recording Laws
• Louisiana Surveillance Camera Laws
• Louisiana Data Privacy Laws
• Louisiana Sexting Laws
• Louisiana Background Check Laws
• Louisiana Whistleblower Laws
• All AI Laws by State

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. AI regulation is evolving rapidly, and new legislation may be enacted after this article was last reviewed. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney for advice about your specific situation. Last reviewed: March 2026.