The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana House Bill 837 authorizes exemplary damages in civil actions involving unauthorized aliens and establishes employer liability
Last action · March 9, 2026: Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.Sponsor: Lauren Ventrella
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What This Bill Proposed
Louisiana House Bill 837 enacts Civil Code Article 2315.14 to permit courts to award to injured parties when an unauthorized alien causes injury. The measure applies jointly to the unauthorized alien as well as their employers and s.
Injured parties gain the legal right to seek beyond general and special compensation, while employers and s face expanded financial liability for damages caused by unauthorized workers.
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.
unauthorized aliens
They can be held liable for exemplary damages in civil actions resulting from injuries they are proven to cause.
employers and statutory employers
They are subject to the provisions of the article regarding liability for damages caused by unauthorized alien workers.
injured parties
They gain the legal mechanism to seek exemplary damages in addition to general and special damages.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What additional damages can an injured party seek under House Bill 837?
Who is considered an 'unauthorized alien' under this legislation?
Does this bill affect employers?
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 · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
- Feb 27, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Civil Liability to Employers for Unauthorized Workers
The bill creates a direct legal link allowing courts to extend exemplary damages and liability to employers and statutory employers of unauthorized aliens.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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