CORRECTIONS: Creates a pilot program that provides certain DPS&C programming and services to inmates (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
HB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.
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
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026
Signed Jun 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB656 Original
→
HB656 Act 663
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was expanded from a single sponsor to a bipartisan group of representatives and formally enrolled as Act No. 663. The core policy regarding inmate programming remains largely the same, but the eligibility criteria were broadened to include inmates held in parish jails, not just juvenile facilities.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to apply to all inmates in parish prisons or jails, whereas the original draft only explicitly mentioned juvenile offenders in juvenile facilities.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility was broadened from only juvenile offenders to include all inmates sentenced to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections who are held in parish prisons or jails.
Attendance options were updated to allow in-person or remote access for the newly included adult inmates in parish jails, in addition to remote access for juveniles.
FORMAL_STATUS
The bill was officially enrolled and assigned Act No. 663, indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is now law.
SPONSORSHIP
The list of sponsors was updated to include multiple representatives, reflecting a broader legislative coalition.
Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House May 5, 2026
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% 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 26, 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 19, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
May 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (9-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Marcus Bryant
DDemocratic
Co
Aimee Freeman
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Carpenter
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Freiberg
RRepublican
Co
Beth Billings
RRepublican
Co
Candace Newell
DDemocratic
Co
Chasity Martinez
DDemocratic
Co
Dana Henry
DDemocratic
Co
Denise Marcelle
DDemocratic
Co
Ed Murray
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff Wiley
RRepublican
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