HB 57 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

HB 57 amends Louisiana law governing temporary restraining orders (TROs) in abuse cases. It requires courts to give the respondent (the person accused of abuse) an opportunity to rebut and respond to any criminal history evidence considered when granting a TRO without notice. The bill also specifies that courts must provide the respondent with 24-hour notice of the TRO and the subsequent hearing, and mandates that the petitioner prove abuse allegations by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing. This applies to all TRO proceedings where criminal history is used as evidence, directly affecting petitioners, respondents, and courts handling these cases.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Signed Apr 30, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB57 Original HB57 Act · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the rules for temporary restraining orders in abuse cases to clarify how courts handle evidence and timelines. It ensures that when an order is granted without prior notice, the court must schedule a hearing within 21 days to determine if the order should stand, requiring the petitioner to prove abuse by a preponderance of the evidence. The changes also maintain existing requirements for defendants to be notified and given a chance to respond if criminal history is considered.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on evidence procedures within temporary restraining order proceedings; no new categories of cases or parties are added.
TIMELINE

Clarified that hearings for orders granted without notice must be set within twenty-one days, replacing a previous ambiguous instruction.

Adjusted the hearing timeline for cases where no temporary restraining order was initially granted, specifying a ten-day limit from the date of service of the petition.

REQUIREMENT

Explicitly stated that the petitioner must prove allegations of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence during the rule to show cause hearing.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2026 · House Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
Apr 22, 2026
D Democratic12
10 Yea 2
83% Yea
R Republican28
27 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 30, 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
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (12-0).
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