A Louisiana House committee deferred Rep. Patricia Moore’s bill criminalizing intentional exposure to “incurable” STDs, citing concerns it could worsen rising STD rates. The bill would make knowingly exposing others without consent a felony, with stricter penalties if victims are minors or vulnerable. Moore aims to create legal recourse for nondisclosure of STD status, but opposition from health advocates, including the Louisiana Coalition Against Criminalization, argues such laws stigmatize and hinder public health. Louisiana leads the nation in several STDs. Critics urge investment in testing, treatment, and education rather than criminalization. Moore plans to revise and reintroduce the bill next year.
A Louisiana House committee shelved a bill Wednesday that would have made it illegal for someone to “intentionally” expose another person to an “incurable” sexually transmitted disease after steep concerns that criminalization could worsen the state’s proliferating STD rates.
This was the second time Rep. Patricia Moore, D-Monroe, had introduced such a bill in five years, despite opposition from public and sexual health advocates as well as people living with STDs. Moore said at a House Administration of Criminal Justice committee meeting that she wants to create a law that offers people recourse for when someone “knowingly and intentionally” doesn’t disclose their STD status.
The bill would have created a new felony, carrying up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 in fines, for someone who knows they have an “incurable” STD and exposes someone else without their knowledge and consent. Those penalties would have increased if the person exposed to the STD is a minor, over 65 years old or has an intellectual disability. The exposure under either charge would have needed to come through sexual contact, donating bodily fluids such as blood or sharing needles.
After pushback during public testimony, Moore voluntarily deferred House Bill 76.
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In 2023, Louisiana had the highest rate of chlamydia cases in the country and ranked in the top 10 for syphilis, HIV and gonorrhea, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The legislation comes as other states have repealed or modernized their own laws criminalizing STDs, especially HIV, over the past decade to align with the current medical landscape. An attempt to update Louisiana’s own law criminalizing HIV failed last year.
Before the bill was deferred, Moore amended it to just focus on “incurable” STDs, removing a proposal to create a new misdemeanor charge for exposing someone to a curable STD. The four most common incurable sexually transmitted infections are hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV. While no treatments exist to eliminate these viruses, all are treatable and manageable with medication, and HPV can sometimes clear up on its own.
But the groups who opposed the bill, including several members of the Louisiana Coalition Against Criminalization and Health, said the bill would have the same problems as another state law on the books that criminalizes “intentional exposure” to HIV.
Data on how many people have been charged under the law is challenging to compile, but UCLA’s Williams Institute identified 147 allegations of HIV-related crimes between 2011 and 2022 in Louisiana, though researchers said that number could be higher.
Dietz, the coalition’s state coordinator, told the committee that said both the current law and bill contain “legal loopholes” that allow the law to be used against people living with HIV in their personal relationships, in part because it’s on the person living with the STD to prove they received the accuser’s consent.
In 2024, Dietz and other members of a state task force charged with researching the criminalization of HIV found that Louisiana’s current legal approach “can actually interfere with work to end the HIV epidemic,” according to its report.
“We’ve already made recommendations for the way the existing law allows for environments of coercion because again … proving that you disclosed your status is challenging,” Dietz said. “Even if you were to have proof in your hand, even if someone were to write it down, what if someone ripped it up? Or you lost it?”
St. Tammany Parish resident Katie Darling, who also serves as the vice chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, shared the testimony of one of her residents who said she had been living with HIV for 25 years. Darling said the resident had her first husband sign an affidavit acknowledging that he knew she had HIV and consented, even though she was taking medication that prevented transmission. When the marriage turned physically abusive, the resident testified that her former husband threatened to take her to court over her HIV status.
“Thankfully, I had the document he signed on file at my doctor’s office. But what if I hadn’t?” Darling read from the testimony. The St. Tammany resident has now had her second husband sign a similar affidavit.
Those who opposed the bill also acknowledged that there is a need for people to have justice when they are unknowingly given an STD, whether that’s under new legislation or current laws around sexual assault.
Jennifer Tokarski, who is living with HPV, testified in support of the bill. She shared the story of her former husband who had sex outside of their marriage, refused to admit it and ultimately transmitted the virus to her.
“After five years in what I believed was a faithful relationship and Catholic marriage, I became severely ill,” Tokarski testified. “My husband attended appointments, rejected STD testing, reassuring doctors we were monogamous.”
When she learned of his infidelity, she said he battered her and filed for divorce.
“Only then did I learn he had infected me with a lifelong and incurable STD,” Tokarski said. “This is not just a private betrayal, this is a public health failure.”
Moore and Tokarski said they believed such a law would help promote honest conversations about sexual health that would lower the spread and give survivors a voice.
Studies have shown that criminalizing STDs do little to lower the number of cases and increase stigma. During testimony, public health advocates said Louisiana should invest more heavily in resources for testing and treatment as well as sexual health education, which isn’t required in schools.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Moore said she planned to work with the bill’s opponents to improve the language and possibly return the legislation to the committee if there’s time before the session. Otherwise, Moore said she will bring a form of the legislation back next year.
Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article maintains a generally neutral tone while covering a legislative debate in Louisiana. However, it presents the opposition to the bill with significant weight, especially by highlighting concerns from public health advocates and individuals living with STDs. These perspectives stress the potential negative consequences of criminalizing STD exposure, such as exacerbating stigma and failing to address the root issues of education and healthcare access. The article includes personal testimonies that support the opposition, which suggests a more critical stance toward the legislation. Overall, the article leans toward advocating for public health solutions over criminalization but does not explicitly push a political ideology, maintaining a factual presentation of both sides of the issue.
SUMMARY: Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) has seen significant financial improvement under Mayor-President Monique Boulet, as highlighted in the latest Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Revenues from taxes and utilities have risen, with LCG’s general funds now exceeding 60% of operating expenses, providing millions in available funds for future projects. LCG has come in under budget, spending less than anticipated, though recruitment issues persist, especially in the police force. LUS Fiber has underperformed, showing minimal revenue growth. Major infrastructure projects, such as road, drainage, and facility improvements, are ongoing, reflecting a more disciplined and competent governance compared to the previous administration.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-09 13:04:00
Louisiana lawmakers are considering bills to enhance oversight on state spending and regulation. Senate Bill 59, by Sen. Mike Reese, would require legislative approval for state agency rules with significant fiscal impact, aiming to increase accountability. Meanwhile, SB 184, by Sen. Heather Cloud, targets nonprofit organizations, mandating financial audits and outcome data for those receiving public funds. Governor Jeff Landry has also launched the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), led by a Fiscal Responsibility Czar, to streamline state operations. While the initiatives seek to improve transparency, critics question their necessity and potential duplication of existing oversight.
(The Center Square) − As Louisiana’s legislative session continues, lawmakers are considering multiple bills aimed at increasing oversight of regulatory actions and tightening the rules for how taxpayer money is spent.
One of the early measures gaining traction is Senate Bill 59 by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, which would require legislative approval before any state agency rule with a significant fiscal impact — defined as at least $200,000 per year or $1 million over five years — could take effect. The bill passed a key Senate vote and now awaits consideration in the House.
Supporters say the bill would improve accountability by ensuring that major regulatory decisions are reviewed by elected officials. The proposal is similar to the so-called “REINS Act” model being promoted in legislatures across the country.
Under current Louisiana law, agencies must include fiscal impact statements with proposed rules, but they are not always subject to legislative approval. SB 59 would expand that oversight, requiring the fiscal office to assess potential costs and trigger committee hearings for high-impact rules. Emergency regulations would also be subject to additional fiscal scrutiny under the bill.
Meanwhile, another piece of legislation — SB184 by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Allen — would implement new standards for nongovernmental organizations that receive public dollars.
The bill, which is scheduled for further debate in the Senate Finance Committee, would require recipient organizations to provide detailed financial audits, outcome data, and statements of public purpose before receiving state appropriations.
Nonprofits would also need to be registered in Louisiana for at least one year, keep administrative costs under 15% of expenditures, and maintain a physical office in the state. Groups that fail to submit required documentation could face a five-year ban from receiving state funds.
The legislation would consolidate existing data into a searchable portal through Louisiana’s Checkbook platform to allow the public and lawmakers to better monitor how funds are spent.
“These bills are part of a broader effort to increase transparency and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer money,” Cloud said during a recent hearing.
In addition to the legislative activity, Governor Jeff Landry has launched a new initiative—the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE)—tasked with identifying ways to reduce waste and improve performance in state government.
Landry appointed Steve Orlando as Fiscal Responsibility Czar, who is expected to work closely with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
A news release from the governor’s office says residents are encouraged to submit suggestions for improving government efficiency via email.
The DOGE initiative has drawn both support and criticism. Supporters see it as a step toward greater fiscal accountability, while critics, including some legislators, question whether it duplicates existing oversight functions already handled by the legislature and the state auditor.
“Legislators create and pass the state’s annual budget, which the governor then signs, with a line-item veto,” Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, said in a statement. “A new, bureaucratic entity cannot and should not supersede these constitutional powers.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article primarily reports on legislative efforts and government initiatives in Louisiana aimed at increasing oversight, fiscal responsibility, and transparency in spending. The tone is factual and includes statements from both supporters, including Republican lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry, and critics, such as a Democratic representative. However, the focus on regulatory tightening, fiscal scrutiny, and government efficiency aligns more closely with conservative, center-right priorities emphasizing limited government oversight and financial accountability. The language is measured and not overtly partisan, maintaining a mostly neutral reporting style without promoting an ideological agenda, but the content’s framing suggests a center-right perspective based on the topics covered and the officials highlighted.
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV has strong Creole and Haitian family ties to New Orleans dating back to the 1800s. His mother, Mildred Martinez, born in Chicago in 1912, was the first of her siblings to be considered white. His grandparents married in New Orleans in 1887, and many relatives were born there, living in the Seventh Ward. Family historian Gerry Honoré noted the family was categorized as mulatto or people of color in early census records. Their story highlights deep Catholic faith and Southern roots, strengthening New Orleans’ rich Roman Catholic heritage and its connection to the Pope.
The first American Pope has a family history with deep ties to New Orleans.
Robert Prevost, who has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the next pontiff on Thursday following a two-day conclave.
According to New Orleans historian Jari Christopher Honora, Pope Leo has Creole roots on his mother’s side.
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