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LouisianaSB 512026 Regular SessionSenate

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Creates the crime of fraudulent representation of military service or awards. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: Caleb Kleinpeter (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Administration of Criminal JusticeJudiciary C

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New penalties for false military claims

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana makes certain false claims about military service records or awards a crime. The claim must involve a record or award that was revoked or never granted to, achieved by, assigned to, or earned by the person. The person must intend to harm or defraud, gain money, an advantage or benefit, or secure a privilege for themselves or someone else. A basic violation carries up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both. Claims involving listed honors carry up to a $5,000 fine, one year in prison with or without hard labor, or both. These honors are the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart. They also include the Combat Action Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Medal, and replacements or duplicates of any listed honor. If the fraud results in a benefit reserved for active-duty members, veterans, or their families, higher penalties apply. These are up to a $10,000 fine, five years in prison with or without hard labor, or both. The offender must also repay the full benefit received. Awards include medals, ribbons, ribbon devices, badges, rank insignia, and other military honors. Service records are official records documenting rank, deeds, achievements, qualifications, or actions during service. These definitions cover U.S. armed services, reserve forces, and any state's National Guard. A veteran is anyone who has served in those forces.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Caleb Kleinpeter

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 144 • No: 0

House vote • 5/7/2026

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

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/28/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 203.

    5/14/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    5/14/2026Senate

  3. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/13/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/12/2026Senate

  5. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/12/2026House

  6. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/11/2026Senate

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

    5/7/2026House

  8. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/07/2026.

    5/6/2026House

  9. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/5/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    4/29/2026House

  11. Reported favorably (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    4/28/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

    3/23/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    3/18/2026House

  14. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    3/17/2026Senate

  15. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    3/11/2026Senate

  16. Reported favorably.

    3/10/2026Senate

  17. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

    3/9/2026Senate

  18. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

    2/18/2026Senate

Bill Text

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