Senate Bill No. 227, introduced by Senator Cloud, aims to amend the definition of "employment" within Louisiana's unemployment insurance laws. The bill specifically adds a new provision stating that services performed by an individual will not be classified as employment during the five calendar years following their date of hire if the employer hires the individual within one year of their release from incarceration, provided that the individual was not incarcerated for certain specified crimes.

This new legal language is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The bill retains existing definitions of employment while expanding them to include this specific exemption, thereby impacting how unemployment insurance benefits are determined for individuals with recent incarceration histories.