HB 611

HLS 26RS-1020  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 611
 BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
 HEALTH/WOMEN'S: Provides relative to pregnancy-related service centers
1AN ACT
2 To enact Part VI-H of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to
3be comprised of R.S. 40:2180.31 through R.S. 40:2180.38, relative to
4pregnancy-related service centers; to require licensure by the Louisiana Department
5of Health for pregnancy help centers providing healthcare services; to provide for
6definitions, standards and oversight, and enforcement and penalties; and to provide
7for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9Section 1. Part VI-H of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
10 1950, comprised of R.S. 40: 2180.31 through R.S. 40:2180.38, is hereby enacted to read as
11 follows:
12Part VI-H. LICENSING OF PREGNANCY HELP CENTERS
13§2180.31. Short title
14This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Pregnancy Help Center
15Healthcare Licensing Act".
16§2180.32. Purpose
17The purpose of this Part is to authorize the Louisiana Department of Health
18to promulgate and publish rules and regulations for the licensing of pregnancy help
19centers to increasingly provide services that involve medical screening, diagnostics,
20or counseling presented as healthcare.
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1§2180.33. Definitions
2For the purposes of this Part, the following terms have the following
3meanings:
4(1) "Client" means any individual who receives services from a pregnancy
5help center.
6(2) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Health.
7(3) "Healthcare services" means services that constitute or involve medical
8care, including but not limited to any of the following:
9(a) Pregnancy testing.
10(b) Ultrasound imaging.
11(c) Medical screening or diagnostic services.
12(d) Pregnancy counseling or consultation presented as medical advice.
13(4) "Licensed healthcare facility" means a facility licensed by the department
14pursuant to Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
15(5) "Pregnancy help center" means any organization, center, or facility,
16whether for-profit or nonprofit, that has as its primary purpose the provision of
17pregnancy-related services, counseling, testing, or information.
18§2180.34. Licensure requirement
19A. Any pregnancy help center that provides healthcare services shall be
20licensed by the department as a healthcare facility.
21B. No pregnancy help center shall provide healthcare services unless and
22until it has obtained such licensure.
23C. Pregnancy help centers that provide only non-medical services including
24peer counseling, material assistance, education, or religious counseling and do not
25provide healthcare services shall not be subject to licensure under this part.
26§2180.35. Licensing Standards and Oversight
27A. The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance
28with the Administrative Procedure Act establishing minimum standards for licensure
29which shall include but not be limited to:
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1(1) Staff qualifications and scope-of-practice requirements.
2(2) Clinical supervision by appropriately licensed medical professionals.
3(3) Infection control and equipment safety standards.
4(4) Client confidentiality and compliance with applicable privacy laws.
5(5) Record keeping and reporting requirements.
6(6) Complaint and inspection procedures.
7B. Standards adopted pursuant to this Part shall be comparable to those
8applied to similarly situated outpatient healthcare facilities and shall not impose
9requirements unrelated to patient safety or quality of care.
10§2180.36. Inspections and compliance
11A. Licensed pregnancy help centers shall be subject to all of the following:
12(1) Initial licensure inspections.
13(2) Periodic inspections, including unannounced inspections, as determined
14by the department.
15B. The department may investigate complaints alleging violations of this Part
16of applicable regulations.
17§2180.37. Enforcement and penalties
18A. The department may deny, suspend, or revoke licensure for violations of
19this Part or rules adopted pursuant thereto.
20B. Any pregnancy help center that knowingly provides healthcare services
21without required licensure shall be subject to any of the following:
22(1) Civil penalties not to exceed five thousand dollars per violation per day.
23(2) Injunctive relief to prevent continued unlicensed operation.
24C. The attorney general may bring an action to enforce the provisions of this
25Part.
26§2180.38. Construction
27Nothing in this Part shall be construed to:
28(1) Require any pregnancy help center to provide or refer for abortion
29services.
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1(2) Regulate religious doctrine, prayer, or counseling unrelated to healthcare
2services.
3(3) Limit speech or advocacy not connected to the provision of healthcare.
4Section 2. (A) Pregnancy help centers providing healthcare services on the effective
5 date of this Act shall have six months to apply for licensure.
6(B) During the transition period such centers may continue operations while their
7 licensure application is pending provided they comply with interim standards established by
8 the department.
9Section 3. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is held invalid, such
10 invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given
11 effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this
12 Act are hereby declared severable.
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HB 611 Original  2026 Regular Session  Freeman
 Abstract: Provides for the designation of pregnancy-related service centers, their licensure
  by the Louisiana Department of Health, standards, and relevant definitions.
 Proposed law names the proposed law the Pregnancy Help Center Healthcare Licensing Act.
 Proposed law states the legislative purpose of the proposed law.
 Proposed law lists relevant definitions.
 Proposed law provides for any pregnancy help center to be licensed by the Louisiana
 Department of Health (LDH); all rules regarding standards and oversight and inspections and
 compliance shall be promulgated by LDH in compliance with the Administrative Procedure
 Act.
 Proposed law provides that enforcement and penalties for any pregnancy help centers that
 violate licensure requirements are to be levied by the Louisiana Department of Health
 (LDH).
 Proposed law does not require pregnancy help centers to provide or refer for abortion
 services; to regulate religious activity unrelated to healthcare services; and limits speech and
 advocacy not connected to the provision of healthcare.
 Proposed law provides for severability.
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Proposed law provides for a transition period for pregnancy help centers to apply for
licensure.
(Adds R.S. 40:2180.31-2180.38)
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