HB 159 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Creates a pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program in Caddo Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note)

HB 159 creates a pilot program in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, allowing eligible defendants to serve pretrial time at home under electronic monitoring instead of being held in jail. To qualify, defendants cannot face violent crime or sex offense charges (as defined by law) and must pass a risk assessment by the sheriff’s office, in coordination with the district attorney and court. Participants must follow conditions like curfews, possible mental health check-ins, and pay a sliding-scale fee for supervision (with lower costs for those who cannot afford full fees). The sheriff must develop program rules, evaluate its effectiveness, and report findings to legislative committees and Caddo Parish officials, with the program ending if a new or expanded jail opens in the parish.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Jun 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB159 Original HB159 Act 784 · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled as Act No. 784, retaining its core purpose of creating a pretrial incarceration pilot program in Caddo Parish. The substantive policy content regarding eligibility, supervision conditions, and funding remains identical to the original version, with no new restrictions or expanded powers introduced.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to apply exclusively to Caddo Parish.
TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from a draft bill to an enrolled act, indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is now law.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House Apr 22, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D Democratic12
11 Yea 1
91% Yea
R Republican28
28 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
11
Committee
12
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 93, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
May 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
lower
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate conference committee members appointed: Jenkins, Morris, and Boudreaux.
upper
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 6, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 90, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (11-0).
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

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson
DDemocratic
LA
2