HLS 25RS-817 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 421
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHENEVERT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STATE AGENCIES: Provides relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion in state agencies
1 AN ACT
2To enact Chapter 23 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 49:1601, relative to state agencies; to require secretaries and other agency
4 heads to abolish certain programs and offices pertaining to diversity, equity, and
5 inclusion; to require secretaries and other agency heads to provide for the revision
6 of rules and practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to report to the
7 commissioner of administration; to require the commissioner of administration to
8 report to the governor and certain legislative committees; and to provide for related
9 matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Chapter 23 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12comprised of R.S. 49:1601, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 CHAPTER 23. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
14 ยง1601. Diversity, equity, and inclusion
15 A. As used in this Section:
16 (1) The terms "agency", "department", "office", and "secretary" shall have
17 the meanings provided in R.S. 36:3. The term "agency head" shall have the meaning
18 provided in R.S. 42:1102.
19 (2) "Diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) means any program, activity,
20 initiative, event, instruction, action, measure, factor, or policy that classifies or
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-817 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 421
1 references individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, culture, gender
2 identity, or sexual orientation or promotes differential or preferential treatment of
3 individuals on the basis of such classification.
4 B.(1) Each secretary or other agency head, as applicable, shall do the
5 following to the maximum extent allowable by law:
6 (a) Abolish all DEI programs, offices, and positions and all DEI performance
7 requirements for employees.
8 (b) Provide for the revision of all DEI-related rules and practices as
9 necessary to comply with Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
10 (2) Submit a written report to the commissioner of administration not later
11 than December 31, 2025, detailing actions taken in compliance with Paragraph (1)
12 of this Subsection.
13 C. Not later than February 1, 2026, the commissioner of administration shall
14 submit a written report to the governor, the House Committee on House and
15 Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental
16 Affairs summarizing the information reported pursuant to Subsection B of this
17 Section and provide recommendations, if any, for further action, including but not
18 limited to gubernatorial action or legislation, regarding diversity, equity, and
19 inclusion.
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 421 Original 2025 Regular Session Chenevert
Abstract: Provides relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion in state agencies.
Proposed law defines "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) as any program, activity,
initiative, event, instruction, action, measure, factor, or policy that classifies or references
individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, culture, gender identity, or sexual
orientation or promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of
such classification.
Proposed law requires secretaries or other agency heads, as applicable, of all state agencies
to do the following to the maximum extent allowable by law:
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are additions. HLS 25RS-817 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 421
(1)Abolish all DEI programs, offices, and positions and all DEI performance
requirements for employees.
(2) Provide for the revision of all DEI-related rules and practices as necessary to comply
with such abolition.
Proposed law requires secretaries and other agency heads to submit a written report to the
commissioner of administration by Dec. 31, 2025, detailing actions taken in compliance with
proposed law.
Proposed law requires the commissioner of administration to submit a written report to the
governor, the House and Senate governmental affairs committees by Feb. 1, 2026,
summarizing this information and provide recommendations, if any, for further action,
including but not limited to gubernatorial action or legislation, regarding DEI.
(Adds R.S. 49:1601)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.