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Committee advances SB 409 to guarantee leave protections for living organ donors
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Summary
The Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations reported SB 409, the "Louisiana Living Donor Paid Leave Protection Act," as amended after testimony from living donors and health advocates; the amendment clarifies eligibility, makes leave 30 consecutive calendar days, and specifies concurrency with FMLA where applicable.
Senator Myers asked the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on March 25 to advance Senate Bill 409, which he described as the "Louisiana Living Donor Paid Leave Protection Act," a measure designed to protect living organ donors from job insecurity and to encourage donations. He said the bill would provide eligible state employees up to 30 days of leave for organ donation and require private employers to provide unpaid leave while prohibiting retaliation against employees who request or take that leave.
Supporters told the committee the bill addresses a practical barrier to donation. Corey Ryder, a living donor who said he donated roughly 65 percent of his liver to his father on 08/12/2025, urged lawmakers to advance the bill, noting national transplant statistics and family experience. "If you save a life, Louisiana stands with you," Ryder said, arguing the measure would save lives, protect families and reduce long-term health care costs. Brie Schmidt, associate director at the American Kidney Fund, described the group’s work supporting people with kidney disease and living donors and said the organization backed the bill’s protections. Andrea Agee, who identified herself as a living donor and co‑director of the Workplace Justice Project, described donating a kidney to her mother in 2020 while employed at Loyola University New Orleans and said she received pay and job protection during recovery; she cited roughly 14,000 Louisianans living with kidney failure and urged support so families would not have to choose between donation and employment.
Senator Myers offered Amendment No. 1070, which he said tightens definitions for "eligible employee" and "state agency," specifies a 30‑consecutive‑calendar‑day leave period beginning immediately after surgery, makes clear that paid leave runs concurrently with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act where applicable, and clarifies the private‑employer leave provisions and related technical language. Myers told the committee the amendment does not change the bill’s core purpose but makes it clearer and more workable; he said many of the amendment’s clarifications resulted from a meeting with the administration and Commissioner Barra.
Senator Barra voiced strong support for the measure and asked that a coauthor sheet be circulated. With no objection, the amendment was placed on the bill and Senator Myers moved to report SB 409 as amended. The chair announced "seeing no objection," and the committee reported the bill as amended out of committee by unanimous voice consent; members agreed to circulate a coauthor sheet to gather coauthors.
The measure now advances from committee with the amendment clarifications in place; the committee did not record a roll‑call vote. A coauthor sheet will be circulated to add additional sponsors before the bill is calendared for further action.
