House Bill No. 87 aims to regulate the imposition of COVID-19 mandates by governmental entities and businesses in Louisiana. The bill explicitly prohibits these entities from mandating the wearing of face coverings or vaccinations against COVID-19, with specific exceptions. Masks may still be mandated in certain settings such as nursing facilities, correctional facilities, hospitals, physician's offices, and for EMS practitioners. Similarly, vaccination mandates are allowed only in hospitals or nursing facilities if required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as for religious accommodations and in physician's offices.

The bill also establishes a mechanism for enforcement, allowing individuals to petition the attorney general for injunctive relief if a governmental entity violates the provisions. It outlines penalties for violations, including fines of $50,000 for governmental entities and $10,000 for small businesses per violation, along with provisions for covering investigation costs and attorney fees incurred by the attorney general during enforcement actions. Overall, the legislation seeks to limit the authority of governmental entities and businesses in enforcing COVID-19 health mandates while providing a framework for accountability.

Statutes affected:
HB87 Original: 23:1032(A)(1)
HB87 Engrossed: 23:1032(A)(1)