HB 164: COURTS/COMMISSIONERS: Provides for the powers and duties of the commissioner in the 15th Judicial District Court (EN NO IMPACT LF EX See Note) - Louisiana

HB164 Original → HB164 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes the powers of the commissioner in the 15th Judicial District Court, shifting from a strict separation of duties to a more flexible system based on case type and party consent. The changes allow commissioners to adjudicate misdemeanor cases fully and handle civil trials if parties agree, while restricting their role in felony cases to preliminary matters and pretrial motions. These updates aim to increase judicial efficiency by allowing commissioners to handle more case types, provided the defendant or civil parties consent to the arrangement.

Scope change

The bill expands the commissioner's authority to include full adjudication of misdemeanor cases and civil trials (with consent), whereas previously they were limited to specific pretrial functions in felonies and non-evidentiary hearings in civil matters.

SCOPE

Commissioners can now adjudicate misdemeanor cases, whereas they were previously excluded from trying and adjudicating felonies and misdemeanors in the same manner.

Felony case handling is restricted to preliminary hearings and pretrial motions, with commissioners prohibited from adjudicating felony cases on the merits.

REQUIREMENT

New consent mechanisms allow commissioners to conduct civil trials and hear felony pretrial matters only if the parties agree to the commissioner's jurisdiction.

ENFORCEMENT

Explicit authority is added for commissioners to punish for contempt of court and exercise all powers of a district judge not inconsistent with state and federal constitutions.

HB164 Enrolled → HB164 Original · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from 'Enrolled' to 'Original' and significantly restricted the powers of the commissioner in the Fifteenth Judicial District Court. The most critical change is that the commissioner is now explicitly prohibited from accepting guilty pleas in misdemeanor and felony cases, whereas the previous version allowed them to accept pleas of guilty or nolo contendere in traffic offenses. Additionally, the commissioner's authority to try and adjudicate felony cases was removed, limiting their role to preliminary hearings and pretrial motions only.

Scope change

The scope of the commissioner's authority was narrowed to exclude the adjudication of felony cases and the acceptance of guilty pleas in any criminal matter.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the commissioner's ability to accept pleas of guilty or nolo contendere for traffic offenses.

Added a specific prohibition preventing the commissioner from accepting guilty pleas in misdemeanor and felony cases.

SCOPE

Removed the commissioner's authority to try and adjudicate felony cases, restricting them to pretrial matters only.

HB164 Reengrossed → HB164 Enrolled · 2 edits · May 6, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reclassified from a reengrossed draft to an enrolled final version, indicating it is ready for signing into law. The substantive legal text regarding the Fifteenth Judicial District Court Commissioner's powers was reordered and slightly rephrased to clarify that commissioners can adjudicate misdemeanor and civil cases but are explicitly barred from trying felony cases on the merits. The core authority to handle pretrial matters, traffic offenses, and administrative duties remains unchanged.

Scope change

The scope of the Commissioner's authority was clarified to explicitly exclude felony trials while affirming jurisdiction over misdemeanors and civil matters.

REQUIREMENT

The Commissioner's powers were reorganized and clarified to explicitly prohibit trying felony cases on the merits while retaining authority over misdemeanors and civil cases.

TECHNICAL

The document status changed from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENROLLED', signifying the final version approved for enactment.

HB164 Engrossed → HB164 Reengrossed · 2 edits · May 5, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to update the document title and page count, reflecting a revision in the legislative process. A significant substantive change was made to the commissioner's authority: the restriction on accepting guilty pleas was narrowed to specifically prohibit accepting pleas of nolo contendere (no contest), while explicitly allowing the commissioner to accept standard guilty pleas in traffic cases.

Scope change

The scope of the commissioner's authority in traffic arraignments was modified by clarifying which types of pleas are prohibited.

REQUIREMENT

The prohibition on the commissioner accepting pleas was changed from a blanket ban on guilty pleas to a specific ban only on pleas of nolo contendere, allowing guilty pleas to be accepted in traffic cases.

TECHNICAL

The document title was updated from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and the page count was updated from 8 to 9.

COURTS/COMMISSIONERS: Provides for the powers and duties of the commissioner in the 15th Judicial District Court (EN NO IMPACT LF EX See Note)

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