Senate Bill No. 205, introduced by Senator Carter, aims to amend Louisiana's employment discrimination laws by prohibiting certain employment practices related to wage history, wage disclosure, and retaliation. The bill specifically makes it unlawful for employers to inquire about or rely on an applicant's wage history during the hiring process. This includes screening applicants based on their current or prior wages, using wage history to determine salary or benefits, and retaliating against applicants who refuse to disclose their wage history. Additionally, the bill protects employees from discrimination or retaliation for discussing their wages or the wages of others, with certain exceptions for employees who have access to wage information as part of their job functions.

The proposed law also retains existing protections against employer interference with employees' rights to discuss wages while adding a provision that these protections do not apply if an employee discloses wage information to unauthorized individuals, unless required by law. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to promote fair employment practices and enhance wage transparency in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
SB205 Original: 23:664(D)