HB 147 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CRIME/RACKETEERING: Provides for the definition of the crime of racketeering (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 147 amends Louisiana law to explicitly include mail theft (R.S. 14:67.6) and theft of mail receptacle keys/locks (R.S. 14:67.7) as specific crimes that qualify as "racketeering activity." This definition change directly affects Louisiana law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts handling criminal cases involving these mail-related offenses. The bill adds these two offenses to the existing list of crimes that can be prosecuted under racketeering statutes, without creating new penalties or requirements. The bill is procedural, solely updating the legal definition within Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Apr 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB147 Original → HB147 Act · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill formally enrolls House Bill 147, which adds mail theft and theft of mail receptacle keys to the list of crimes that count as racketeering activity. It also authorizes the state law institute to renumber the relevant legal sections to accommodate these new additions. The changes expand the scope of racketeering laws to cover specific mail-related offenses.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of racketeering activity to include mail theft and the theft of mail receptacle keys or locks.

DEFINITION

Added mail theft (R.S. 14:67.6) and theft of mail receptacle keys or locks (R.S. 14:67.7) as elements of racketeering activity.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered paragraphs in R.S. 15:1352(A) to properly place the newly enacted sections (89) and (90).

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2026 · House Mar 24, 2026

How they voted

34–3

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Apr 22, 2026

D Democratic12

7 Yea 3 Nay 2

58% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 3 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 1. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (9-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors