PRIA Logo™
LouisianaHB 12532026 Regular SessionHouse

HUMAN REMAINS: Enacts the Gracey Claire Rushing Act to provide for documentation, notification, and communication in the handling and disposition of human remains and internal organs (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Sponsored By: Rhonda Gaye Butler (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary B

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer death investigation records for families

Beginning January 1, 2027, Louisiana coroners must document organs retained under R.S. 13:5713(B)(4)(b) in their after-death examination reports. These records are called post-mortem forensic medical examination reports and must be the coroner’s work product. They can cover an external exam, an external exam with toxicology, toxicology alone, or a full autopsy with laboratory testing. Reports must include the deceased person’s name, address, birth date, age, sex, and race. They must give the death’s time, date, and location, plus the autopsy’s time and date when applicable. They must name the autopsy doctor and everyone present. Reports must state whether the autopsy was requested or legally required, describe physical and medical findings, and give medical conclusions. They must include applicable toxicology, tissue-testing, and imaging findings, along with the cause and manner of death. Upon request, the coroner must provide one copy to eligible relatives and one to the deceased person’s physician under R.S. 8:655(A). Listed relatives are a spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt, or uncle. Reports are not public except under the exception in Paragraph (6) or a court order opening them to the public. Appropriate law enforcement agencies get reports free upon request, and reports are subject to subpoena. These rules do not cover medical records or records created by other public agencies. Those records must be requested from their source under other applicable law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rhonda Gaye Butler

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Beryl Amedée

    Republican • House

  • Beth Anne Billings

    Republican • House

  • Chad Michael Boyer

    Republican • House

  • Roy Daryl Adams

    Democratic • House

  • Delisha Boyd

    Democratic • House

  • Doyle Boudreaux

    Republican • House

  • Emily Chenevert

    Republican • House

  • Jason Brian DeWitt

    Republican • House

  • Kim Carver

    Republican • House

  • Kimberly Landry Coates

    Republican • House

  • Michael Robert Bayham Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Phillip DeVillier

    Republican • House

  • R. Dewith Carrier

    Republican • House

  • Reese "Skip" Broussard

    Republican • House

  • Robby Carter

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie H. Berault

    Republican • House

  • Tehmi Jahi Chassion

    Democratic • House

  • Tony Bacala

    Republican • House

  • Wilford Carter Sr.

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 150 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/27/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 5/11/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2026

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 454 reported by the Committee on Judiciary

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 727.

    6/1/2026House

  2. Effective date: 01/01/2027.

    6/1/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/29/2026House

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/28/2026House

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/28/2026House

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/28/2026Senate

  7. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    5/27/2026Senate

  8. Called from the Calendar.

    5/27/2026Senate

  9. Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/27/2026Senate

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

    5/26/2026Senate

  11. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/25/2026Senate

  12. Reported favorably.

    5/21/2026Senate

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

    5/13/2026Senate

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

    5/12/2026Senate

  15. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    5/11/2026House

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

    5/7/2026House

  17. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.

    5/7/2026House

  18. Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 454 reported by the Committee on Judiciary (14-0).

    5/6/2026House

  19. Read by title.

    4/29/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation