HB 44 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

JUDGES/JUSTICE OF PEACE: Provides jurisdictional exceptions for constables and justices of peace

HB 44 expands the authority of justice of the peace courts in St. Bernard Parish to handle property standards and nuisance violations across the entire parish, not just specific areas. It grants these courts concurrent jurisdiction (meaning they can handle these cases alongside other courts) for violations covered by local ordinances. The bill also allows constables serving these courts to issue summonses and serve subpoenas for such violations anywhere within the parish's territorial boundaries. This change directly affects local courts, constables, and residents facing property or nuisance enforcement actions in St. Bernard Parish.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB44 Original → HB44 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill enrolls House Bill 44, which expands the jurisdiction of justice of the peace courts in St. Bernard Parish to cover property standards and nuisance violations across the entire parish. It also authorizes constables from these courts to issue summonses and serve subpoenas for these violations anywhere within their territorial jurisdiction, rather than being limited to a specific location. The changes primarily involve formatting updates to reflect the bill's final approval by the Governor and Senate.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to allow justice of the peace courts in St. Bernard Parish to exercise concurrent jurisdiction over property standards and nuisance violations throughout the entire parish, and to authorize constables to enforce these rules parish-wide.

ENFORCEMENT

Constables of justice of the peace courts in St. Bernard Parish are now authorized to issue summonses and serve subpoenas for property standards and nuisance violations occurring anywhere within their territorial jurisdiction.

SCOPE

Justice of the peace courts in St. Bernard Parish are granted concurrent jurisdiction over property standards and nuisance violations anywhere in the parish.

TECHNICAL

The document was updated from an original draft to an enrolled act, including changes to the header, page count, and approval signatures.

Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2026 · House Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 5, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (17-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors