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Louisiana committee advances bill targeting transnational repression after expert testimony
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Summary
The House Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice advanced HB 6‑35 after testimony from national-security and diaspora-rights experts who described examples of foreign regimes exerting pressure on residents and called for state-level tools and training. A technical CFR-citation amendment was adopted.
The House Committee for the Administration of Criminal Justice voted to report House Bill 6‑35 favorably on April 8, 2026, after expert testimony about transnational repression and a technical amendment was adopted.
Representative Horton, the bill’s author, told the committee HB 6‑35 would address criminal activity committed by agents of foreign adversaries or foreign terrorist organizations and would give state and local authorities training and tools to recognize and respond to such incidents. The committee adopted Amendment Set 21‑44, a technical correction to a Code of Federal Regulations citation.
Witnesses described patterns the bill seeks to address. Michael Lucci, founder of State Armor, said the legislation would deter conduct already criminalized — assault, surveillance and harassment — when it is done in the context of transnational repression and would create a new offense for enforcing foreign laws that contravene U.S. or Louisiana constitutional rights. “Transnational repression is an extremely timely and topical problem,” he said.
Dr. Jacqueline Diehl, introduced as an advisor to State Armor, described the measures as both human-rights and national-security concerns, saying state and local officials are often the first responders and need training to identify digital harassment, surveillance and coercion. Tom Rawlings, policy director for State Shield, cited reporting that the Chinese government and others use tactics ranging from digital threats to rendition and coercion of exiles.
Julie Sandifer of the Convention of States Action and a lineup of supporting organizations urged the committee to pass the bill. Horton closed by thanking the witnesses and asked that the committee report the bill favorably as amended. The committee agreed by voice vote.
The bill was advanced to the next stage; staff will incorporate the adopted technical amendment into the committee report.
