HB 55 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to disclosure of juror information (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 55 prohibits the public disclosure of jurors' personal information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, images, or likenesses, to protect juror privacy and safety. It allows courts to disclose such information only if a person demonstrates "good cause" and the court approves, while permitting courts to limit disclosures to safeguard juror identity. Violating this prohibition carries penalties of up to $1,000 fines, six months in jail, or both. The bill specifically exempts these privacy protections from Louisiana's public records laws, ensuring juror details remain confidential unless court-approved.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB55 Original HB55 Act 284 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill transforms a proposal to actively disclose juror information into a law that strictly protects juror privacy by prohibiting the release of their identifying details as public records. It establishes a specific penalty for violations and clarifies that the new protections apply only to future cases, rather than retroactively. The legislation also explicitly lists the new juror information rules as an exception to general public records laws.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from creating a mechanism for disclosing juror information to establishing a comprehensive prohibition on such disclosure, with specific exceptions for court-ordered releases based on good cause.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the primary intent from allowing disclosure of juror information to strictly prohibiting it, except when a court finds good cause.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific penalty clause for intentional violations, including fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

TIMELINE

Added a provision stating that the new law applies prospectively only, meaning it does not affect past cases.

DEFINITION

Reclassified juror identity and contact information as non-public records unless specifically released by the court.

Floor votes · Senate May 13, 2026 · House Apr 21, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 40
May 13, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
24 Yea 4
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
5
Committee
7
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 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 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (10-0).
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (10-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Debbie Villio
Debbie Villio
RRepublican
LA
79