Louisiana HB868: MTR VEHICLE/TRAILERS: Provides relative to the requirement that trailers have approved safety chains while being towed by certain vehicles

What the bill says

An act To amend and reenact R.S. 32:341(C), (D), and (G), 384(A) and (D), and 385(A)(1)(a) and to enact R.S. 32:384(E)(3) and 385(A)(4), relative to the regulation of motor vehicles; to establish comprehensive requirements for brake equipment; to mandate safety chain specifications for trailers and semi-trailers; to eliminate specific exemptions pertaining to farm equipment; and to provide for related matters.

From the introduced text:

AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S. 32:341(C), (D), and (G), 384(A) and (D), and 385(A)(1)(a) and to enact R.S. 32:384(E)(3) and 385(A)(4), relative to the regulation of motor vehicles; to establish comprehensive requirements for brake equipment; to mandate safety chain specifications for trailers and semi-trailers; to eliminate specific exemptions pertaining to farm equipment; and to provide for related matters. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. R.S. 32:341(C), (D), and (G), 384(A) and (D), and 385(A)(1)(a) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 32:384(E)(3) and 385(A)(4) are hereby enacted to read as follows: §341. Brake equipment required * * * C. Every trailer or semi-trailer of used in commerce or that was originally manufactured with brakes and has a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more, when operated upon a highway of this state, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle and so designed as to be applied shall be designed so that the brakes may be applied by the driver of the towing motor vehicle from its cab, and said the brakes shall be so designed and connected that in case of an accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle the brakes shall be automatically applied. A semi-trailer, pole trailer, full trailer, or four-wheel Page …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• DeWitt, Jason (R, 25) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. June 4, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2. June 4, 2026: Becomes Act No. 778 without the Governor's signature.
3. May 25, 2026: Received from the Senate without amendments.
4. May 25, 2026: Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
5. May 22, 2026: Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
6. May 21, 2026: Signed by the President of the Senate.
7. May 20, 2026: Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
8. May 13, 2026: Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
9. May 12, 2026: Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
10. May 11, 2026: Reported favorably.

Votes

• Senate Vote on HB 868, FINAL PASSAGE (#1083) (May 20, 2026): 36 yea, 0 nay, passed
• House Vote on HB 868, FINAL PASSAGE (#511) (April 14, 2026): 96 yea, 1 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB868?

HB868 is a bill in the Louisiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): MTR VEHICLE/TRAILERS: Provides relative to the requirement that trailers have approved safety chains while being towed by certain vehicles.

What does HB868 do?

In its own words: An act To amend and reenact R.S. 32:341(C), (D), and (G), 384(A) and (D), and 385(A)(1)(a) and to enact R.S. 32:384(E)(3) and 385(A)(4), relative to the regulation of motor vehicles; to establish comprehensive requirements for brake equipment; to mandate safety chain specifications for trailers and semi-trailers; to eliminate specific exemptions pertaining to farm equipment; and to provide for related matters.

What is the status of HB868?

Chaptered as of June 4, 2026. Latest action: Effective date: 08/01/2026. (June 4, 2026).

Who sponsored HB868?

DeWitt, Jason (R, 25).

Where is the official record for HB868?

On the Louisiana Legislature website: https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=HB868