Action Alert #14 Protect Lives. Protect Rights.

Two bills impacting people with disabilities have moved to the House and Senate Floors for debate.

You can take action on one or both issues. See below for what to do.

What You Need to Know

➡️SB34 by Sen. Patrick McMath – Emergency Alert for People with I/DD

• Will be heard on the House Floor
• Updates how Louisiana sends alerts when a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) is missing

Action: Contact Your State Representative

➡️HB1107 by Rep. Michael Melerine – Intellectual Disability and the Death Penalty

• Will be heard on the Senate Floor
• Sets rules for how courts decide intellectual disability in death penalty cases
• Amendments added by House to consider adaptive behavior were removed in Senate committee

Action: Contact your State Senator

More information about each issue can be found below after the “How to Take Action” section.ssues can be found HERE.

How to Take Action

Your voice can help protect people with I/DD. These bills may be heard at any time, so it’s important to take action as soon as possible.

➡️For SB34 – Emergency Alert for People with I/DD

Email or call your State Representative

• State Representative full contact information.
• Not sure who your Representative is? Use the legislator look up tool HERE

➡️For HB1107 – Death Penalty and Disability

Email or call your State Senator

• State Senator full contact information.
• Not sure who your Senator is? Use the legislator look up tool HERE

What to Include in Your Message:

• Your name
• Your contact information
• The bill you are writing about (SB34 or HB1107)
• Your position on the bill (do you or do you not support it)
• A short description of your experience or concerns
• Thank them for listening

Contact your LaCAN Leader if you need help or want more information.

You can watch the meetings live and see when bills are scheduled on the Louisiana Legislature’s website. plan your visit.

More Information

➡️SB34 – Emergency Alert for People with I/DD

What does the bill do?

SB34:

• Adds Level II Missing Child Advisory into state law
  • Creates “Bryan’s Call” under this alert for missing children with I/DD
• Expands Silver Alerts
  • Creates “Bryan’s Call” under this alert for missing adults with I/DD
• Requires law enforcement to act fast
  • Alerts must be sent right away when rules are met
• Requires use of Wireless Emergency Alerts
  • Sends alerts to phones across the state or local area

Why this matters?

Some people with disabilities may:

• Wander or get lost
• Not understand danger
• Not be able to ask for help

The first few hours after someone goes missing are very important.

Fast alerts can:

• Help people respond quickly
• Share information with the public
• Improve safety
• Help save lives

Other states already have similar alerts for people with I/DD.

➡️HB1107 – Death Penalty and Disability

What does this bill do?

HB1107 sets rules for how courts decide if someone has an intellectual disability in death penalty cases.

This matters because people with intellectual disabilities cannot be executed under federal law.

What happened in committee?

Earlier in the process, amendments were added to the bill on the House Floor that allowed courts to consider adaptive behavior for people with IQ scores between 75 and 80.

Adaptive behavior includes things like:

• Communication
• Social skills
• Decision-making
• Independent living

These changes provided more protections and better reflected how doctors and experts evaluate intellectual disability.

However, the Senate Judiciary C Committee removed those amendments.

As a result:

• The bill returned to a stricter focus on IQ scores
• Adaptive behavior may be more limited in how it is considered, if it is even considered at all by the court
• Concerns remain about whether the bill fully reflects current medical and clinical standards
• Concerns remain that people with intellectual disabilities could face the death penalty in Louisiana if the federal protections established in Atkins v. Virginia are weakened or overturned

Why this matters?

Doctors and clinical experts do not diagnose intellectual disability using IQ scores alone.

Current standards look at:

• IQ as a range, not a fixed number
• Daily living skills and real-life functioning
• The whole person

Some advocates remain concerned that strict IQ rules and a high level of proof could make it harder for some people with I/DD to be recognized.

Because death penalty cases are permanent and serious, many believe disability evaluations should:

• Follow current medical standards
• Consider adaptive behavior
• Allow experts to fully explain their findings

Stay Informed

All the issues LaCAN and the Council will be following this legislative session can be found on the LaDDC 2026 Bill Tracking List.

Confirm Your Action

• Email your LaCAN Leader after you take action
• Why confirm your action? This helps the Council know how effective we are reaching you with important information and engaging members across our state in advocacy for systems change.

Tips & Tools for Advocacy

Looking for tips and tools to help you in your advocacy? Check out the Council’s Advocacy 101 page. You can also find tips for:

• Writing/emailing your legislators
• Calling your legislators
• Writing your story