Louisiana Bill Seeks Two-Party Consent for In-Person Recordings

Proposed legislation would prohibit recording conversations without all parties' knowledge.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new bill in the Louisiana House of Representatives, HB 410, would require both parties to be informed if a conversation is being recorded. The bill includes exceptions for law enforcement, public meetings, and other situations, and violators would face penalties of court costs and attorney fees.

Why it matters

The proposed law aims to protect individual privacy by ensuring people are aware if their conversations are being recorded. However, it has raised concerns about potential impacts on law enforcement investigations and the public's ability to hold officials accountable.

The details

HB 410 would prohibit a person from using a device to record or transcribe a direct conversation with another party unless all parties are specifically informed that the conversation is being recorded. Exceptions would include public or semi-public meetings, law enforcement activity, emergencies, or other situations that could capture evidence of a crime, as well as recordings of public officials performing official duties in public places.

  • The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure is scheduled to take up the bill on Monday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Robert Lee

A resident of Louisiana who supports the proposed law.

Barb Ingraham

A resident of Louisiana who supports the proposed law, but believes police should be able to record conversations without someone's knowledge.

Laurie Schlegel

The Republican state representative from District 82 who authored HB 410.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Somebody shouldn't be recording a conversation of you, and you don't know.'”

— Robert Lee, Resident

“'I don't think anybody should be able to just record you because they could put it online and, you know, it could do a lot of harm.'”

— Barb Ingraham, Resident

“'I do think police should be able to record conversations without somebody's knowledge. I feel like that's how they get a lot of the information that they need.'”

— Barb Ingraham, Resident

What’s next

The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure will decide the future of HB 410 in the Louisiana legislature during their meeting on March 30, 2026.

The takeaway

This proposed law highlights the ongoing tension between individual privacy and the public's right to record interactions with authorities or in public spaces. The debate over the bill's exceptions and potential impacts on law enforcement and government transparency will likely continue as the legislation moves through the state legislature.