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Thursday, March 19, 2026

Louisiana bill proposes prison time for false military service claims - Yahoo

LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) — A proposed bill in Louisiana could land you in prison for lying about serving in the military.

Senate Bill 51 states that making false claims about military service or awards may lead to fines and prison sentences, depending on the case’s severity. The offenses are listed as follows:

MILITARY SERVICE OR AWARDS

If someone falsely claims to have a military service record or an award with the intent to obtain economic gain, they will be fined no more than $1000 and/or imprisoned for up to 6 months. Some of the awards include the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, or the Combat Action.

MILITARY BENEFITS

Under the proposed bill, anyone who lies about their military service or awards to receive benefits could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years, which may include hard labor. The offender will also be required to pay full restitution.

It’s important to clarify that a “Veteran” refers to someone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Reserve Forces, or the National Guard of any state. When you indicate that you have a service record, which is maintained and compiled by the U.S. government, it signifies that you are a veteran.

As Senate Bill 51 states, “awards” means any medal, service ribbon, ribbon device, badge, rank insignia, or other honor awarded by the U.S. armed forces, reserve forces of the U.S., or the
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