HLS 25RS-934 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 419
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CRIME: Creates the crime of intentional exposure to a self-spreading pathogen
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 14:43.8, relative to criminal law; to create the crime of intentional exposure
3 to a self-spreading pathogen; to provide for penalties; to provide for definitions; and
4 to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:43.8 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง43.8. Intentional exposure to a self-spreading pathogen
8 A. No person shall intentionally expose another to a self-spreading pathogen
9 without the knowing and lawful consent of the victim.
10 B. For the purposes of this Section, the term "self-spreading pathogen"
11 means an engineered virus or bacteria including any recombinant, attenuated, or
12 modified version of any virus or bacteria, or any virus-like or bacteria-like particles
13 or substance capable of spreading from person to person.
14 C. Whoever commits the crime of intentional exposure to a self spreading
15 pathogen shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, imprisoned with or
16 without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-934 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 419
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 419 Original 2025 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Creates the crime of intentional exposure of a self-spreading pathogen.
Proposed law creates the crime of intentional exposure of a self-spreading pathogen.
Proposed law defines "self-spreading pathogen" as an engineered virus or bacteria including
any recombinant, attenuated, or modified version of any virus or bacteria, or any virus-like
or bacteria-like particles or substance capable of spreading from person to person.
Proposed law provides penalties of a fine of more than $5,000, or imprisonment with or
without hard labor for not more than 10 years, or both.
(Adds R.S. 14:43.8)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.