Breastfeeding and Louisiana Law

2013 La. Acts, P.A 179, §1 prohibits any child care facility from discriminating against breastfed babies. (SB 222)

La. Rev. Stat. § 47:305.67 provides that the state sales and use tax shall not apply to the consumer purchase of breastfeeding items, including breast pumps and accessories, replacement parts, storage bags and accessories, and nursing bras. (2011 La. Acts, P.A. 331; SB 82)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 51.2247.1 (2001) states that a mother may breastfeed her baby in any place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement, and clarifies that breastfeeding is not a violation of law, including obscenity laws. (2001 HB 377)

La. House Concurrent Resolution 35 (2002) establishes a joint study of requiring insurance coverage for outpatient lactation support for new mothers.

2008 La. Senate Resolution 110 requests the Department of Health & Hospitals to study and/or consider a provision of providing non-emergency transportation for new mothers to allow them to visit the hospital and bring their breast milk for their babies.

2011 La. Acts, P.A. 269 requires certain state buildings to provide suitable areas for breastfeeding and lactation. (2011 HB 313)

2012 La. House Concurrent Resolution 52 requests the department of health and hospitals to study the feasibility of establishing a breast milk bank at a hospital in northeast Louisiana. The study shall also include information about any cost savings to the Medicaid program by creating a breast milk bank.

2013 La. Acts, P.A. 87 requires public school boards to adopt a policy to require each school to provide an appropriate, private room, other than a restroom, that may be used by an employee to express breast milk. The school must also provide a reasonable amount of break time to accommodate an employee needing to express breast milk for up to one year following the birth of her child. (HB 635)