LOUISIANA – A new bill introduced in the Louisiana Legislature is drawing major attention for its bold approach to public health and criminal justice.
House Bill No. 76, authored by Representative Moore, proposes creating felony and misdemeanor charges for knowingly exposing others to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—and includes lifetime electronic monitoring for the most serious offenders.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals who intentionally expose someone to an incurable STD—such as HIV—without the victim’s knowledge or consent could be charged with felony intentional exposure.
If convicted, offenders could face up to ten years in prison, with much harsher sentences if the victim is a minor, elderly, or has an intellectual disability.
But what sets this bill apart is its post-incarceration clause:
Convicted felony offenders would be required to wear an electronic ankle monitor for the rest of their natural lives, even after completing their prison sentences. The monitoring would be overseen by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and offenders would be responsible for covering the cost—unless deemed financially unable.
The bill also outlines affirmative defenses, including proof that the infected person disclosed their status and took medical precautions, or that the victim gave informed consent knowing the risks.
Additionally, the bill defines a separate misdemeanor offense for exposing someone to a curable STD (like chlamydia or gonorrhea) under similar non-disclosure circumstances. Those convicted would face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
While HB76 has not yet passed, it has already sparked significant debate across Louisiana—raising questions about public health, personal responsibility, and civil liberties in the digital monitoring age.
If approved, the law would make Louisiana one of the strictest states in the nation when it comes to criminal penalties for STD transmission.
