HB 251 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides with respect to criminal resentencing

HB 251 requires Louisiana trial courts to hold a "contradictory hearing" and allow victims (or their families if the victim is deceased or disabled) to make a statement before granting any motion to vacate a final conviction or resentence an imprisoned person to a lesser sentence. The bill mandates that courts provide written notice of such motions to victims and their families, ensuring they can participate in the process. Any motion granted without this hearing or notice is automatically void, and pending appeals may be remanded for the court to consider the victim's input. This bill directly affects victims of crimes and their families in criminal resentencing cases, adding a procedural step to protect their right to be heard.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB251 Original HB251 Act 538 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the requirements for victim notification and participation when a court considers reducing or vacating a criminal sentence. It shifts the responsibility of providing written notice from the trial judge to the court clerk and clarifies that motions violating these rules are voidable errors rather than null. Additionally, it expands the definition of who can provide victim impact statements to include designated family members if the victim is deceased or unable to appear due to disability.
Scope change
The bill applies prospectively to future cases and does not change the fundamental eligibility for resentencing, but it modifies procedural requirements for courts and victims.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the duty to provide written notice of a resentencing motion from the trial court to the clerk of court.

Reclassified the legal consequence of failing to follow victim notification rules from 'null' (invalid from the start) to 'voidable as a patent error' (can be challenged and fixed).

Added a requirement for prospective application, meaning the new rules apply to future cases rather than retroactively.

Expanded the right to provide victim impact statements to designated family members when the victim is deceased or disabled.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House May 13, 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
28
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. 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 20, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (9-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors