Short answer: Louisiana has no broad law regulating how businesses build or use artificial intelligence. What it has is narrower. There are rules for how state agencies use AI, a few laws aimed at specific harms like election deepfakes, and several proposals that stalled this year after the White House signaled it could hold back federal broadband money.

Quick definitions. Artificial intelligence (AI) here mostly means generative AI, software that produces text, images, audio or video from a prompt. A deepfake is AI-generated or AI-altered media that makes a real person appear to say or do something they didn't. An executive order is a directive from the governor that binds state agencies but isn't a law passed by the Legislature.

If you work for a state agency

State agencies follow Gov. Jeff Landry's executive orders on AI and the Office of Technology Services (OTS) Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy, effective Sept. 29, 2025. Among its rules:

  • A human reviews AI output. A designated person must review and approve AI-assisted work before it's used, and AI may not make decisions on its own about eligibility, employment, finances, law enforcement or benefits.
  • No confidential data in commercial AI tools without prior authorization.
  • Approved tools only. Agencies must submit AI software to OTS for review before buying it.
  • Label AI-generated content.

A separate order this year, JML 26-069, sets up an AI-assisted fraud detection unit led by the inspector general, with bias testing and human review before any adverse decision. It's in our policy tracker.

If you run a political campaign

House Bill 459 by Rep. Mandie Landry, now Act 806, took effect Aug. 1. It requires political ads that use materially altered AI-generated images, audio or video to disclose that AI was used, KTBS reported. It covers candidates, political action committees and other political groups. Reported penalties differ, so check the enrolled act before relying on a figure.

A second bill, Rep. Mike Bayham's House Bill 639, would require campaign robocalls that use AI to say so at the start of the call. It cleared a House committee in April, WAFB reported. We could not confirm that it became law.

Other AI laws that took effect Aug. 1

  • AI-generated sexual images. House Bill 119 by Rep. Bryan Fontenot expanded criminal penalties for creating, possessing or sharing AI-generated sexual images, including of real people without their consent, KTBS reported.
  • AI evidence in court. A new law sets standards courts must apply before AI-generated evidence can be used at trial, building on a 2025 law that requires advance notice to the other side, according to KTBS.

What didn't pass, and why

Several proposals that would have applied to private businesses were dropped this spring. According to Broadband Breakfast and WAFB:

  • Senate Bill 246 by Sen. Jay Luneau, on how insurers use AI. Luneau dropped it after learning it could put broadband money at risk.
  • Two bills by Rep. Vincent Cox, one limiting AI-generated copies of a person's voice or likeness for commercial use and one requiring employers to disclose AI automation. Cox withdrew both.
  • A health care claims bill that would have required a human medical professional to review a claim before it could be denied based on an AI recommendation. Peter Robbins Brown, a former lobbyist for Louisiana Progress, told WAFB the bill "was already moving" before the federal threat led lawmakers to "park the bill."

The backdrop is a December 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump that directed the Commerce Department to restrict federal broadband money for states with AI laws it considers "onerous." Louisiana has hundreds of millions of dollars in that program not yet committed to construction. (See our GUMBO 2.0 explainer.)

Asked on Oct. 8 whether the threat affected his decisions, Gov. Landry told WAFB, "No no no, not at all," adding, "When the president speaks, you certainly want to take that under consideration." Landry has said he expects AI rules to be revisited next session, Axios New Orleans reported in August.

Coming next: privacy

The Louisiana Data Privacy Act takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, KTBS reported. It isn't specific to AI, but businesses that use customer data to train or run AI tools should read it.

The bottom line for businesses

If you are...What applies today
A private company using AI toolsNo AI-specific state law; general consumer protection, privacy (from 2027) and existing law apply
A vendor selling AI to state agenciesOTS review before purchase; agency AI rules and executive orders
A campaign or PACAct 806 disclosure for AI-altered ads
Anyone making AI images of real peopleNew criminal penalties for sexual deepfakes

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and orders change; we update our policy tracker as they do.

Verify it yourself

Does your business have questions about using AI in Louisiana? Send them and we'll take them to the people who write the rules. Send us a note.

Sources

  1. Louisiana Office of Technology Services: Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy (effective Sept. 29, 2025) (primary source)
  2. Louisiana Legislature: HB 459 (2026), Act 806 (primary source)
  3. Executive Order JML 26-069 (primary source)
  4. KTBS: New Louisiana artificial intelligence laws take effect Aug. 1
  5. WAFB: Louisiana lawmakers advance bill requiring AI disclosure on campaign robocalls (April 8, 2026)
  6. Broadband Breakfast: Louisiana AI bills halted after White House threatens BEAD funding (April 1, 2026)
  7. WAFB: State AI regulation bills stalled after Trump funding threat (Oct. 8, 2026)
  8. Axios New Orleans: Political campaigns will need to disclose deepfakes (Aug. 4, 2026)