Louisiana HB 568 (2026 Regular Session) proposes changes to drug-free school zone penalty enhancement provisions in R.S. 40:981.3

HB 568 (2026 Regular Session) proposes amendments to R.S. 40:981.3 (drug free zone enhancements for Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law violations). The engrossed bill would amend and reenact R.S. 40:981.3(D) and enact additional provisions (including a new subsection addressing controlled dangerous substance violations while smoking/vaping/otherwise abusing a substance on school property/within 2,000 feet/on a school bus) and a penalty carve-out for conduct also constituting a marijuana-related violation under R.S. 40:966(C)(2). Compliance teams should monitor because drug-free-zone enhancement rules can affect criminal exposure and enforcement posture for activities involving controlled substances near schools and school buses.