COURTS: Provides relative to the appointment of a special master by a trial court
HB 519 requires Louisiana trial courts to follow specific ethical standards when appointing special masters in complex, consolidated cases involving shared factual questions. It mandates that such appointments comply with the state's Code of Judicial Conduct and federal rules (Fed. Civ. R. 53) for special masters, except where state law conflicts. The bill directly affects trial courts handling multi-case litigation, ensuring appointments meet consistent ethical and procedural standards. This change aims to standardize oversight for special masters without altering substantive case outcomes. The bill is procedural, focusing on appointment mechanics rather than new substantive law.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 26, 2026
Signed May 22, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB519 Original
→
HB519 Act 303
·
2 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the Louisiana Revised Statutes to clarify that special masters appointed in complex civil cases must follow the Code of Judicial Conduct. It adds a specific provision ensuring these rules apply even if other laws conflict, provided the appointments comply with Supreme Court rules. The change formalizes ethical standards for these judicial officers to ensure fairness in complicated legal proceedings.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the Code of Judicial Conduct to explicitly include special masters appointed by trial courts in complex civil litigation, whereas the original text did not clearly mandate this adherence.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement that special masters in complex civil cases must comply with the Code of Judicial Conduct.
ENFORCEMENT
Inserted a clause stating that these ethical requirements apply regardless of conflicting laws, as long as appointments follow Supreme Court rules.
Floor votes · Senate May 18, 2026 · House Apr 15, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 18, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 6, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (13-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mike Johnson
RRepublican
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