LouisianaHB 4862026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

PSYCHOLOGISTS: Provides relative to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)

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

8 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 5 mixed.

Discipline limits psychologists' cross-state practice rights

Home-state license discipline ends a psychologist's compact practice authority and revokes the E.Passport and practice certificate. Other compact states can limit or revoke practice within their borders, with due process; restrictions can end online privileges throughout the compact. Reported discipline also blocks compact practice when commission rules disqualify the psychologist, and alternative-program participants cannot practice across state lines during their program. Psychologists cannot change their home-state licensure during an investigation, but may change after it ends even when the outcome remains pending. The former regulator retains authority to finish the case and report its conclusions; state law may keep alternative-program participation private.

Louisiana psychologists face possible authorization fees

Beginning January 1, 2028, Louisiana's psychology board may charge psychologists whose home state is Louisiana for compact authorization. The fee cannot exceed $50 for the initial request or for each renewal. The board may charge less or no fee.

Legal protections limit claims against commissioners

Commission members, officers, staff, and representatives receive protection from lawsuits and civil liability for qualifying acts within their duties. Coverage also applies when they reasonably believe they are acting within those duties. The commission must provide a legal defense and cover qualifying settlements or judgments. These protections do not cover intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct.

Psychologists gain limited cross-state practice options

Beginning January 1, 2028, Louisiana joins PSYPACT, letting eligible psychologists serve patients in other compact states without separate licenses there. Online care requires an active E.Passport, with the psychologist in the home state and the patient in another compact state. Temporary in-person care requires an active Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate and is limited to 30 days per calendar year. Both routes require a full, unrestricted home-state license, a qualifying psychology graduate degree, and no disqualifying discipline or criminal history. Degree standards include at least three academic years of full-time doctoral study or one academic year for master's programs. Psychologists must provide required statements about their practice, skills, background, and legal knowledge, and permit credential checks. Home states must handle complaints, report required information, and meet fingerprint-based identity-check requirements within ten years after compact activation. Psychologists must follow the patient state's practice rules; the compact does not authorize permanent in-person practice without a separate license or replace oversight of separately held state licenses.

Cross-state care gains stronger misconduct enforcement

The psychologist's home-state regulator must investigate reported misconduct during cross-state online care and apply its own licensing law. For temporary in-person care, the state where misconduct occurs must investigate and apply its law to the temporary authorization. Compact regulators can issue subpoenas for witnesses and evidence in other compact states, where those subpoenas are enforceable. The issuing state pays required witness fees, travel expenses, mileage, and related charges. Regulators can also use orders to stop practice and revoke compact authorization.

Psychologist records shared with public-access limits

The compact commission must maintain shared licensing and discipline records for psychologists in compact states. States report license details, significant investigations, discipline, revoked privileges, license denials and reasons, and nonconfidential alternative-program participation. The database administrator must promptly alert all compact states about discipline or significant investigations. States can restrict public release of designated information, and records must be removed when the reporting state's law requires expungement. Beginning January 1, 2028, Louisiana law also recognizes public-records exemptions for covered psychology records.

States can lose cross-state care membership

States that break compact rules receive notice, training, and technical help to fix the problem. If other compliance efforts fail, a majority of compact states can vote to end the state's membership and benefits. A state may also leave by repealing the compact; withdrawal takes effect six months after that law is enacted. Investigation and discipline reporting continues until withdrawal takes effect, and leaving or termination does not erase earlier financial obligations. The commission may seek court orders or damages to enforce compliance, and disputes may use mediation, binding dispute resolution, or designated federal courts.

States share psychology oversight and costs

A joint commission runs the compact, with one voting commissioner from each member state and rules that bind participating states. The compact's activation threshold is enactment by seven states; Louisiana's implementation begins January 1, 2028, with existing commission rules applying. The commission may accept grants and donations and charge annual state assessments or fees to other parties. These charges cover approved operating costs not met by other revenue; the commission sets the state cost-sharing formula, but the law gives no amounts. State governments must enforce the compact, and the commission must keep financial records and undergo annual audits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Annie Spell
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Alonzo L. Knox
Democratic • House
Dixon Wallace McMakin
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 154 • No: 2

Senate vote • 5/18/2026

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 2. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 2

House vote • 4/8/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2026