The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana House Bill 81 sets rules for landowners trimming neighboring tree branches and roots
Last action · April 20, 2026: Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.Sponsor: Chad Boyer
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What This Bill Proposed
Landowners may hire a licensed arborist to trim neighboring tree branches or roots extending onto their property at their own expense after giving 30 days' written notice, or they may trim the encroaching flora themselves without notice provided it causes no material damage to the plant's health.
Establishes a formal legal procedure and liability framework for resolving property disputes over encroaching trees and roots, affecting costs and responsibilities for property owners undertaking arboricultural work.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
landowners
Landowners gain explicit statutory authorization and procedure to trim encroaching vegetation either themselves or via an arborist.
neighboring property owners
Neighboring property owners are subject to 30-day written notifications regarding planned arborist trimmings on encroaching tree parts.
licensed arborists
Licensed arborists with required insurance are eligible to be hired by landowners to perform commercial trimming under the new article.
Key Facts
- A landowner may have encroaching branches or roots trimmed by a licensed arborist at the landowner's own expense if the neighbor fails to trim them after a demand under Article 688.
- The landowner must send a 30-day written notification via certified mail or commercial courier with confirmation of delivery before proceeding with an arborist.
- The 30-day written notification must include the date, demand for removal, name and credentials of the arborist, proposed removal date, and a statement of intent to proceed after 30 days.
- The licensed arborist must hold an arborist license, general liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance.
Show all 5 facts
- A landowner may remove encroaching branches or roots themselves without notification if the removal is conducted in a reasonable manner without causing material damage to the health of the plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut my neighbor's tree branches that hang over my property line without telling them?
What qualifications must an arborist have if I hire one to trim a neighbor's tree?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
16 actions- Apr 20, 2026SenateRules suspended. Recalled from Committee.
- Apr 20, 2026SenateIntroducedRead by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
- Apr 14, 2026SenateCommitteeRead second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.
- Apr 13, 2026SenateReceived in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCalled from the calendar.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorRead third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 87, nays 3. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
Show 10 earlier actions
- Apr 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, returned to the calendar.
- Apr 7, 2026HouseNotice given.
- Apr 7, 2026HouseScheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Apr 1, 2026HouseScheduled for floor debate on 04/07/2026.
- Mar 31, 2026HouseFloorRead by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
- Mar 30, 2026HouseReported with amendments (7-0).
- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
- Feb 6, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/6/2026.
- Feb 3, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 3, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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