2025 Louisiana Legislative Session:
What You Need to Know
The Louisiana Legislative Session runs from April 14, 2025 through June 12, 2025.
Update: May 5, 2025:
Legislative Session Update
The 2025 Legislative Session is underway, and Forum for Equality has been actively advocating at the Capitol—supporting pro-equality legislation and fighting harmful bills now moving through committee.
Here are the bad bills:
HB 56 – Criminalizing STI Transmission
This bill could criminalize people for transmitting STIs like HPV or even cold sores potentially placing them on the sex offender registry. It’s overly broad and stigmatizes sexual health.
HB 421 – Eliminating DEI in State Agencies
HB 421 threatens public health programs, including HIV prevention efforts that support the LGBTQ+ community.
HB 5 – Increased Penalties for Sex Buyers
This bill would push sex work further underground, making it more dangerous—especially for trans women, who are overrepresented in the industry.
SB 58 – “Child Grooming” Bill
This vague proposal creates a criminal offense. We’re working with the author to clarify the language.
And the good bill:
HB 429 – LGBTQ+ Employment Protections
Thanks to Rep. Delisha Boyd for championing this bill to protect LGBTQ+ workers from job discrimination. It will be heard in committee this Wednesday—join us at the Capitol if you can!
We’ll keep you updated as these bills progress. There are additional bills we're monitoring regarding minors' consent to medical procedures, a "homelessness court" and abortion rights that have impacts to the LGBTQ+ community. Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out—we’re in this together.
Posted March 17th, 2025:
Monitoring Pre-Filled Bills for the 2025 Legislative Session
As we approach the upcoming legislative session, Forum for Equality remains dedicated to closely monitoring pre-filed bills to assess their potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community. At this time, no bills have been pre-filed that directly affect the rights or protections of LGBTQ+ individuals. However, we urge everyone to stay vigilant as the session unfolds. If any legislation that negatively impacts our community is introduced, Forum for Equality stands ready to respond aggressively and fight for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people.
Two bills that may indirectly affect the LGBTQ+ community and have caught our attention are HB5 and HB76. HB5 seeks to increase penalties for individuals who solicit prostitution, or 'sex buyers.' While the bill may seem to target illegal activities, its broader implications for vulnerable communities—particularly transgender women—raise concerns.
Transgender women, who already face disproportionate levels of violence and marginalization, make up a significant portion of the sex work industry. By imposing harsher penalties on sex buyers, HB5 could push these workers further into harm's way, worsening an already perilous situation. Targeting sex buyers doesn't eliminate the demand; it merely drives the industry into more dangerous spaces, where the most vulnerable—particularly trans women—are at greater risk.
Forum for Equality is committed to advocating for policies that protect the most marginalized within our community. If HB5 or similar legislation advances, we will be ready to take action and fight for the safety and well-being of all LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans women who are disproportionately affected by this kind of legislation.
The second bill we’re watching is HB76, which aims to criminalize the intentional exposure of STIs. We’re closely monitoring this bill, as similar legislation in the past has often targeted our communities.
Stay alert and stay informed. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on legislative developments. Together, we can ensure that our voices are heard, and that harmful bills are challenged every step of the way.