Introduction

The 2026 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session enacted several significant laws affecting the practice of architecture. These new laws revise architect licensing requirements, professional discipline, litigation deadlines, building code administration, public procurement of design services, and licensing board procedures. Several of the changes became effective on July 1, 2026 or will become effective on August 1, 2026, and will affect architects, architectural firms, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, and public agencies throughout Louisiana.

This blog summarizes seven of the most significant Louisiana construction and design laws enacted during the 2026 legislative session, including:

• Act 484 – Comprehensive revisions to Louisiana’s architect licensing law.
• Act 135 – Clarification of the five-year peremptive period for claims against design professionals.
• Act 798 – Stronger enforcement against the unlicensed practice of architecture and engineering during State Fire Marshal plan review.
• Act 881 – Creation of the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission and statewide adoption of national model building codes.
• Act 831 – A new framework for Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) professional design services contracts.
• Act 939 – New limits on attorney fee recovery in licensing board disciplinary proceedings.
• Act 260 – An increase in the professional services procurement exemption threshold for public projects.

For each law, this blog will explain what changed, who is affected, and the practical implications for architects, engineers, contractors, owners, developers, and other construction industry participants operating in Louisiana.

1. Act 484 (SB 291): Comprehensive Overhaul of Architect Licensing Law

What It Does

Effective August 1, 2026, Louisiana’s Act 484 represents the most comprehensive revision to the state’s architect licensing statutes (La. R.S. 37:141 et seq.) in decades. The legislation modernizes nearly every aspect of Louisiana’s regulatory framework governing architects, aligning many provisions with current national standards while expanding the authority of the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners (“Board”).

Modernized definitions. Under prior law, only three terms were defined: “architect,” “board,” and “practice of architecture.” The Act introduces a comprehensive set of defined terms, including “applicant,” “firm,” “responsible control,” and “technical submissions,” among others.

The definition of “architect” has also been updated. Previously, an architect was defined as “a person who is technically and legally qualified to practice architecture.” Under Act 484, an architect is “an individual currently licensed by the board who demonstrates competence to engage in the practice of architecture.” By tying the definition directly to current licensure and demonstrated competency, the revised statute reflects a more modern and fluid regulatory approach.

Three-pillar licensing. Act 484 restructures the requirements for initial licensure around three core components: (1) completion of an approved education program, (2) completion of an approved experience program, and (3) successful completion of an approved examination. This framework mirrors the licensure model administered nationally by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Reciprocal licensing. The Act also updates Louisiana’s reciprocity provisions. Architects seeking Louisiana licensure based on an out-of-state license must now hold both a current, valid license from a jurisdiction recognized by the Board and a current NCARB Certificate. Applicants must also submit a completed application and the applicable licensing fee.

Firm registration. Act 484 significantly strengthens the regulation of architectural firms. Rather than operating under the prior certificate of authority framework, firms providing architectural services in Louisiana must now register with and obtain a license from the Board. The revised provisions expand the Board’s oversight of business entities offering architectural services and emphasize firm-level compliance in addition to individual licensure.

Seal and responsible control. One of the Act’s more significant substantive changes is its replacement of the previously undefined concept of “responsible supervision” with the defined term “responsible control.” The Act provides that only “technical submissions” prepared under an architect’s “responsible control” may bear the architect’s seal. “Responsible control” is defined as responsibility for exercising the ultimate authority over, and possessing the knowledge and ability to oversee, delegate, and integrate the design and technical decisions related to the preparation of a project’s instruments of service and the project’s implementation in conformance with the standard of care.

Disciplinary Changes. Act 484 also expands the Board’s disciplinary authority. The legislation broadens the list of conduct subject to discipline while substantially increasing available monetary penalties. Minimum fines increase from $300 to $1,000 for individuals and from $300 to $1,500 for non-individual entities, while the maximum administrative fine increases to $5,000 per violation. In addition, the Board must now publish all disciplinary actions on its official website and in its official newsletter and is expressly authorized to provide disciplinary information to professional organizations related to architecture and to the news media.

Why It Matters

Act 484 has practical implications for architects, architectural firms, contractors, and project owners.

Architectural firms providing services in Louisiana should confirm that they satisfy the Act’s new registration and licensing requirements before August 1, 2026. Individual architects should also review their licensure status and internal practices to ensure that documents bearing their professional seal are prepared under their “responsible control” as now defined by statute.

Contractors and project owners should likewise be aware of the revised framework. The expanded firm registration requirements and the clarified definition of responsible control may affect project delivery, construction administration, and the allocation of responsibility for design documents. Finally, the substantial increase in administrative penalties signals a more robust enforcement regime, particularly with respect to unlicensed practice and other licensing violations.

2. Act 135 (HB 194): Peremptive Periods for Claims Against Design Professionals

What It Does

Act 135 amends La. R.S. 9:5607(A) to clarify the statute governing the five-year peremptive period for claims against architects, engineers, land surveyors, interior designers, and real estate developers. The legislation does not appear to make any substantive changes to Louisiana law. Instead, it clarifies the language identifying the events that trigger the commencement of the five-year peremptive period.

Under the amended statute, the five-year peremptive period begins to run upon the earliest of the following events:

(1) The date the owner records acceptance of the work in the applicable mortgage office;

(2) The date the owner occupies or takes possession of the improvement, if no acceptance is recorded within six months after occupancy or possession; or

(3) The date the design professional’s services are completed, if the professional did not perform construction-related inspections.

Why It Matters

This is a peremptive period (statute of repose) and arises most frequently when latent design defects surface years after project completion. Owners and contractors pursuing claims against design professionals must be vigilant about tracking these deadlines. Failure to file within the peremptive period extinguishes the claim entirely. This is because peremption—unlike a prescriptive period—cannot be interrupted or suspended. Architects should ensure their project close-out documentation clearly reflects the dates relevant to triggering the peremptive period.

3. Act 798 (HB 387): Enforcement Against Unlicensed Practice in Fire Marshal Plan Review

What It Does

Act 798 amends La. R.S. 40:1574.1(C)(1) to strengthen enforcement of Louisiana’s professional licensing requirements during the State Fire Marshal’s plan review process. The legislation changes how the Office of the State Fire Marshal handles plans submitted in violation of the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Practice Act or the Louisiana Architecture Practice Act.

Under prior law, when plans requiring the services of a licensed architect or professional engineer were submitted by an unlicensed individual, the Office of the State Fire Marshal could issue a correction letter identifying deficiencies and providing an opportunity to revise the submission. Act 798 eliminates that process. Instead, plans submitted by an unlicensed individual must be rejected outright, without comments identifying deficiencies or instructions on how to cure them.

Why It Matters

These changes create an additional enforcement mechanism against unlicensed design work by removing the roadmap that previously allowed unlicensed persons to iteratively correct their submissions. Under the new framework, plans submitted by unlicensed individuals will have no path forward except engaging a properly licensed professional. Contractors who commission plans from unlicensed designers will face immediate project delays.

4. Act 881 (HB1186): Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission and Building Code Adoption

What It Does

Act 881 significantly restructures Louisiana’s building code administration by replacing the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council with a new Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission. The 18-member Commission is housed within the Governor’s Office and is responsible for administering and updating Louisiana’s statewide construction codes. Two licensed architects are required members of the Commission.

Among its most significant changes, Act 881 requires the Commission to adopt eight nationally recognized model codes, including the International Building Code (IBC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Act 881 also establishes a comprehensive dual-track licensing framework covering public and private building inspectors. The new system creates multiple inspector classifications, including recognition of a Louisiana Licensed Architect as a general inspector license classification.

The Act also includes several provisions affecting residential construction. Most notably, it prohibits state and local governments from requiring automatic fire sprinkler systems in one- or two-family dwellings. In addition, municipalities and parishes may not require that plans for qualifying one- or two-family residential dwellings be prepared by, or bear the seal of, a licensed architect or professional engineer, provided the project complies with the prescriptive requirements of the International Residential Code (IRC).

Why It Matters

The mandatory adoption of nationally recognized model codes should improve consistency for design professionals and contractors working across multiple jurisdictions.

Architects who perform inspection services or seek to do so should review the Act’s new inspector licensing requirements and classifications. The prohibition on requiring architect stamps for certain IRC-prescriptive residential plans narrows the scope of required architectural services for some residential projects.

The private inspection option provides contractors and developers an alternative to overburdened public inspection offices. The disciplinary framework penalizes both under-enforcement and over-enforcement of codes, which affects how inspectors apply code requirements to architect-designed projects. For a more comprehensive analysis of Act 881, including the background legislative framework, detailed inspector licensing requirements, enforcement mechanisms, and stakeholder-specific guidance, see Louisiana’s Construction Code Overhaul: Act 120 of 2025 and Act 881 of 2026, Trippe Hawthorne & Crystal D. Burkhalter, Kean Miller Louisiana Law Blog (June 26, 2026).

5. Act 831 (HB 755): Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Professional Design Services Contracts

What It Does

Act 831 establishes a new statutory framework governing indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) professional design services contracts for Louisiana state agencies. An IDIQ contract is a master services agreement under which a state agency may issue multiple task orders to a design professional for separate projects over the life of the contract, rather than procuring each engagement individually.

Under the new law, the Louisiana Architects Selection Board is designated as one of the professional selection boards responsible for procuring these contracts. The legislation also imposes several limitations on the use of IDIQ contracts. Among other requirements, an IDIQ contract may not exceed two years in duration, total professional fees under a single contract are capped at $1 million, and individual task orders for renovation projects are limited to projects with a maximum construction value of $13 million. The legislation further prohibits the use of IDIQ contracts for the design of new buildings, limiting their use to renovation, maintenance, and similar projects. Although the master contract expires after two years, agencies may continue to amend individual task orders as necessary to complete ongoing projects.

To promote competition, the legislation requires each participating state agency to maintain at least two active IDIQ contracts at all times. This requirement is intended to preserve competitive opportunities when assigning task orders and avoid reliance on a single design firm.

Why It Matters

For design professionals, IDIQ contracts provide an opportunity to perform recurring work for state agencies without competing for every individual assignment, while the statutory requirement that agencies maintain multiple contracts should help preserve competition among qualified firms. The prohibition on new buildings limits IDIQ contracts to renovation, maintenance, and other non-new-construction work.

Contractors who rely on relationships with particular design firms should understand how this framework may diversify the pool of design professionals involved in agency projects. Architects seeking state work should monitor agency IDIQ procurement announcements and understand the task order structure.

6. Act 939 (SB 131): Limiting Attorney Fee Recovery in Licensing Board Disciplinary Proceedings

What It Does

Act 939 limits the circumstances under which Louisiana professional and occupational licensing boards may recover attorney fees from licensees in disciplinary proceedings. The legislation adopts an offer-of-judgment framework designed to encourage early resolution of administrative enforcement actions and reduce the financial burden on licensees who achieve favorable outcomes.

Under the Act, if a licensee makes a written offer of judgment and the final disposition of the disciplinary proceeding is more favorable to the licensee than that offer, the licensing board may not recover attorney fees incurred after the offer was made. A licensee is considered the prevailing party when the disciplinary matter is dismissed, resolved without an adverse finding, or otherwise concludes on terms more favorable than the licensee’s prior written offer of judgment. The Act also provides that these protections supersede any agency rule that affords less favorable treatment to the licensee.

Although the legislation exempts the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners from certain hearing scheduling requirements contained elsewhere in the Act, the Board remains subject to the attorney fee limitations established by Act 939.

Why It Matters

The new law has important implications for architects, engineers, contractors, surveyors, and other licensed construction professionals who may become involved in disciplinary proceedings before a Louisiana licensing board. The act creates a mechanism similar to offers of judgment in civil litigation—if a licensee makes a reasonable settlement offer and the board does not accept it, the board bears the risk of its own legal costs if the outcome is more favorable to the licensee than the rejected offer.

This should encourage earlier resolution of disciplinary disputes and protect licensees from the financial burden of protracted proceedings. Licensees facing disciplinary action should understand these rights and consult with counsel before accepting or rejecting any offer from a licensing board.

7. Act 260 (SB 315): Professional Service Contract Exemption Threshold Increased

What It Does

Act 260 amends Louisiana’s public procurement laws by increasing the threshold for projects exempt from the state’s formal professional services selection process. Effective July 1, 2026, state agencies may procure professional design services without following the formal selection procedures when the estimated project budget does not exceed $2 million, an increase from the prior $1 million threshold. In addition to increasing the exemption threshold, Act 260 imposes a new limitation on how agencies award exempt professional services contracts. If an agency enters into more than one exempt professional services contract during a fiscal year, at least 50% of those contracts must be awarded to separate, distinct, and unaffiliated firms. This requirement is intended to promote broader participation among qualified professional service providers and reduce the concentration of exempt work among a small number of firms.

Why It Matters

More projects will now qualify for the streamlined professional services selection process, allowing state agencies to engage design professionals more efficiently for projects with estimated budgets under $2 million. By expanding the exemption threshold, Act 260 may reduce procurement timelines and accelerate the delivery of smaller public projects.

The Act’s new 50% distribution requirement is a significant limitation on the award of exempt contracts. Agencies entering into multiple exempt professional services contracts during a fiscal year must award at least half of those contracts to separate, distinct, and unaffiliated firms. This requirement creates additional opportunities for smaller and emerging architecture and engineering firms, while limiting the extent to which any single firm may receive an agency’s exempt-contract work. Larger firms should be aware that this change may affect the volume of smaller public-sector engagements they are awarded.

Conclusion

The 2026 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session produced significant changes affecting architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and other participants in the design and construction industry. Collectively, these enactments touch nearly every stage of a construction project—from professional licensure and discipline, to liability exposure, procurement of design services, and statewide building code administration. The legislation reflects several overarching themes, including modernization of Louisiana’s regulatory framework, enhanced enforcement of professional licensing requirements, and increased accountability for licensed professionals and firms.

For architects, immediate priorities include confirming compliance with the revised firm registration and licensure requirements under Act 484, understanding the clarified peremptive period under Act 135, and evaluating opportunities created by the new IDIQ professional services contracting framework established by Act 831. Contractors, developers, and owners should also be aware of the strengthened enforcement mechanisms targeting the unlicensed practice of architecture and engineering under Acts 484 and 798, which make verifying the credentials of design professionals more important than ever. Finally, Act 939 provides licensed professionals with meaningful new procedural protections in disciplinary proceedings by limiting a licensing board’s ability to recover attorney fees in certain circumstances.

Given the breadth of these legislative changes, architects, design professionals, contractors, and project owners should review the new laws carefully to understand their compliance obligations and evaluate how the revised statutory framework may affect their operations, procurement strategies, and risk management practices.

Disclaimer: This blog is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with qualified legal counsel regarding the application of these legislative changes to their specific circumstances.

Trippe Hawthorne is a member of Kean Miller’s Construction team and advises clients on all phases of construction project planning, development, contracting, procurement, and dispute resolution across the industrial, commercial, public, and residential sectors. Andrew Mahtook, a member of the firm’s Business & Corporate group, assists clients with business, commercial real estate, and transactional matters affecting development projects throughout Louisiana. Drawing on the firm’s multidisciplinary teams, Kean Miller regularly advises architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners, and other construction industry participants on the regulatory, procurement, and business issues affecting design and construction projects throughout the state.