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
39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Yea
R
Republican28
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
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mandie Landry
DDemocratic
Co
Aimee Freeman
DDemocratic
Co
BA
Beryl Amedée
RRepublican
Co
Beth Billings
RRepublican
Co
Chasity Martinez
DDemocratic
Co
Delisha Boyd
DDemocratic
Co
Doyle Boudreaux
RRepublican
Co
Rodney Lyons
DDemocratic
Co
Sylvia Taylor
DDemocratic
Co
Tehmi Chassion
DDemocratic
Co
Vanessa LaFleur
DDemocratic
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