MOTOR VEHICLES: Provides for clarification on the proper way to wear a safety belt. (8/1/26)
Summary
SB 55 amends Louisiana’s seat belt law to clarify how a safety belt must be worn by drivers of passenger cars, vans, sports utility vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less. The bill requires the belt to be properly fastened across both the lap and shoulder as designed, and expressly prohibits wearing it behind the body or under the arm. The existing exemption for vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1981 remains unchanged.
In practical terms, the bill does not create a new seat belt requirement so much as it specifies the correct method of compliance under current law. It applies to drivers in covered vehicles and reinforces that the safety belt must be worn in the intended manner while the vehicle is in forward motion.
Impact
SB 55 amends R.S. 32:295.1(A)(1), Louisiana’s safety belt statute, by adding explicit language defining proper seat belt use. The change affects motorists in passenger cars, vans, SUVs, and light trucks, and gives law enforcement and courts clearer statutory language for determining compliance. It leaves the pre-1981 vehicle exemption intact and does not alter the broader structure of the seat belt law beyond clarifying enforcement standards.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 37-0 and the House 90-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests there was little public or legislative dispute over the measure.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention around SB 55. The only potentially notable issue is that the bill specifies that a seat belt may not be worn behind the body or under the arm, which could be viewed as a stricter clarification of compliance rather than a policy expansion. No recorded opposition, amendments, or committee objections are reflected in the available materials.
Establishes a state and local sales and use tax exemption for certain antique motor vehicles and increases the fee for issuance of special license plates for those vehicles (EN DECREASE GF RV See Note)