As Louisiana’s legislative session nears its final days, a bill that could reshape how young people access healthcare is advancing quietly but urgently. House Bill 400 (HB 400), co-authored by Representatives Emily Chenevert and Dodie Horton, was scheduled for debate in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Sunday, June 8. The current status as of June 8, 2025 indicates “considered,” but is otherwise unclear. Though couched in the language of parental rights, critics warn that the bill poses serious risks to vulnerable youth across the state.
HB 400 would require that all minors under 18 obtain parental or guardian consent before receiving nearly any form of non-emergency medical or mental health care. It carves out only narrow exceptions for emergencies and specific categories like sexually transmitted infection treatment, pregnancy care (not including abortion), and substance use. That means teens who seek therapy for depression, support for anxiety, or confidential medical services could be turned away, unless a parent signs off.
Supporters of the bill argue that parental involvement is essential in guiding a child’s medical decisions. But for many young people, that guidance isn’t an option—it’s a roadblock. “If a minor is being abused by a parent, they will be less likely to seek treatment,” said Rep. Mandie Landry (D-New Orleans), one of the few lawmakers who spoke publicly in opposition when the bill was debated in the House. For youth in abusive, neglectful, or unsupportive homes, requiring parental permission doesn’t enhance care—it delays or denies it entirely.
That concern is shared by reproductive justice advocates across the state. Lift Louisiana, a nonprofit focused on advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, issued an action alert opposing the bill. “Strictly mandating parental involvement deters and delays many young people from seeking the healthcare services they need,” the statement reads. “Those with parents who are absent or unavailable, as well as those with parents who refuse to provide consent due to shame, stigma, miseducation, religious beliefs, or cultural differences will be entirely unable to access the confidential care they need.”
The message is clear: while the bill may claim to protect minors, the lived reality is that it will leave many without options. That includes young people in conservative households, LGBTQ+ teens at risk of family rejection, or minors dealing with sensitive health issues they don’t feel safe discussing at home.
Medical experts agree. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians have all issued strong recommendations in favor of protecting adolescents’ rights to confidential care. “It is vitally important that young people have access to confidential services and are able to trust their health care providers so they can make informed decisions about their bodies and their lives,” Lift Louisiana emphasized.
But HB 400 would require healthcare providers to do the opposite by breaking confidentiality and turning away patients unless a parent is involved. Advocates worry that this not only undermines public health goals but violates core ethical commitments in medicine, particularly for those working with adolescents in distress.
But opponents say HB 400 doesn’t stand alone. Rather, it’s part of a larger movement within the state legislature.
“We’ve been tracking HB 400 closely and doing everything we can to oppose it,” said Dadrius Lanus, Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. “It’s part of a disturbing trend we’re seeing in this legislature, where instead of expanding care or protecting young people, lawmakers are narrowing their options. Just last week, Representative Delisha Boyd introduced a separate bill to allow minors pregnant from rape or incest to access abortion care. That amendment was rejected. So whether it’s denying confidential counseling through HB 400 or refusing exceptions for survivors of sexual violence, the message is the same: the state wants control over young people’s bodies, not to protect their autonomy.”
The legislation passed the House on May 27 with an overwhelming vote of 83-9 and is now barreling toward its next test. If approved by the Senate committee, it will move swiftly toward a full Senate vote, possibly before most people are even aware it exists.
What’s especially troubling to critics is the speed and timing. With a June 8 committee vote falling on a Sunday, and the full legislative session ending just four days later, many fear that lawmakers are hoping to pass HB 400 with minimal public scrutiny. But advocates are not staying quiet. They’re calling on residents to contact their senators and urge them to reject a bill that could push struggling youth further into the shadows.
“This bill would require providers to do the opposite of what trusted medical organizations recommend,” Lift Louisiana’s alert states plainly. The legislation, they argue, prioritizes politics over the well-being of children.
In a state already grappling with high rates of teen pregnancy, mental health crises, and a shortage of youth-centered services, HB 400 could strip away what little safety net exists. For some teens, that might mean suffering in silence. For others, it could mean life or death.
