COURTS: Provides relative to the city court system in Avoyelles Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)
HB 1252 amends the Louisiana Revised Statutes to establish a new election process for the city judge and marshal of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish. Under this change, these officials will be elected by voters from specific wards within the parish rather than being appointed or serving in a different capacity. The bill sets the first election for these positions to occur in November 2026, with subsequent elections held every six years. This legislative update directly affects the local judicial and law enforcement leadership structure in Marksville by introducing a direct voting mechanism for these roles.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced May 5, 2026
Signed Jun 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB1252 Original
→
HB1252 Act 972
·
4 edits
MODERATE
HB 1252 was enacted as Act 972, transforming the bill from a draft proposal into final law. The primary substantive change involves updating the election schedule for city court officials in Bunkie and Marksville to occur in November 2026, replacing the previous appointment or election mechanisms. The bill also formally recognizes and continues the existence of the City Courts of Bunkie and Marksville within Avoyelles Parish, defining their specific territorial jurisdictions and powers.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the city court systems in Avoyelles Parish, specifically Bunkie and Marksville, but it shifts from a proposed framework to an enacted statute with binding legal effect. The applicability of the election provisions is now fixed to a specific future date.
TIMELINE
The election schedule for city judges and marshals in Bunkie and Marksville was updated to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November 2026, with terms lasting six years thereafter.
REQUIREMENT
The law formally recognizes and continues the existence of the City Courts of Bunkie and Marksville, explicitly defining their territorial jurisdiction over specific wards in Avoyelles Parish.
ENFORCEMENT
The mechanism for selecting city court officials changed from appointment by the governor or existing terms to a direct election by qualified electors in the respective wards.
TECHNICAL
The document format was finalized from a draft bill to an enrolled act, including page number adjustments and the addition of standard legislative headers and footers.
Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2026 · House May 7, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 28, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
32
Key actions
11
Committee
10
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. Having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received.
lower
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate conference committee members appointed: Reese, Talbot, and Harris.
upper
May 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 19, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 1165 reported by the Committee on Judiciary (17-0).
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Daryl Deshotel
RRepublican
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