Hemp, Income Taxes, Voting Rights & More — New Louisiana Laws Going Into Effect in 2025

When we flip the calendar over to 2025 in Louisiana, several new laws will go into effect, ranging from those involving hemp products to homeowner's insurance, imported seafood, and more.

A total of 32 new laws were passed by state lawmakers during the regular and three extraordinary law-making sessions.

You can read in detail about each of these new laws at the Louisiana State Legislature website.

Here are some of the more talked about new laws taking effect on January 1, 2025, in Louisiana:

HEMP LAWS

The new regulations on Louisiana's hemp industry will change serving sizes for consumable hemp-derived THC products which will include seltzers and gummies, band the sale of flower hemp products, raise the age requirement to purchase hemp-THC products from 18 to 21, and ban the sale of hemp products at gas stations.

INCOME TAXES

This was a big one as part of Jeff Landry's new tax reform plan that was passed during the last special session. Louisiana's corporate income taxes will be lowered to a single 5.5% rate, down from the previous 7.5% rate. The individual income tax was also changed to a flat 3% rate starting with the 2025 tax year.

VOTING RIGHTS

Act 500 requires Louisiana voters to provide proof of citizenship when they apply to vote. The Secretary of State's office will determine what documentation will be required of residents.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Act 317 revises rules around submitting absentee ballot applications. The new rules state that no one, except an immediate family member of the voter, can submit more than one mail-in ballot application.

It also prohibits people or organizations from handing out application forms to anyone who has not requested them. Seniors and people with disabilities must now reapply to submit an absentee ballot every four years.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Louisiana's unemployment benefits will go down to a maximum of 20 weeks, down from the previous 26-week limit. New laws also create a sliding scale basing the amount of time a jobless person can get benefits on the current unemployment rate in the state.

SEAFOOD SAFETY

There will be several new rules regarding the labeling of seafood, which are aimed at getting restaurants and producers to be transparent about where the seafood comes from. Act 148 requires restaurants, seafood markets, and grocers that sell cooked or prepared crawfish or shrimp from outside of the United States to display a disclaimer on their menu or at the entrance of their business.

AUTO INSURANCE DISCOUNTS FOR MILITARY

This law will extend the state's 25% premium discount on automobile insurance policies for active duty military personnel to military reservists, retired military, and some veterans.

ANKLE MONITORING REGULATIONS

A new law will add regulations to ankle monitoring companies, which for years have been without oversight. The new law will allow officials to privately track the firms. Ankle monitor "vendors" will have to register with law enforcement and submit monthly lists of the defendants they supervise.