HB 76 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to notification of inmates released from a parish prison or jail or state correctional facility (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 76 requires sheriffs or their designated staff to immediately notify specific parties when an inmate is improperly released from a parish prison or jail due to administrative errors, mismanagement, or staff mistakes. It mandates notification to law enforcement agencies, the victim of the inmate’s crime, any known witness (regardless of testimony), and individuals specified by the district attorney. The bill defines "improper release" broadly to include clerical errors or facility mismanagement, and clarifies that "local media outlets" may also be notified. This law directly affects parish prison staff, victims, witnesses, law enforcement, and prosecutors in Louisiana.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 3, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB76 Original HB76 Act · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the notification requirements for when inmates are improperly released from parish prisons or jails. It simplifies the definition of 'improper release' to focus on administrative or clerical errors, removing broader categories like 'mismanagement.' Additionally, it removes the requirement to notify known witnesses and individuals specified by the district attorney, while adding a mandatory requirement to notify local media outlets.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of notification by requiring media alerts but narrows the applicability of the law by removing the requirement to notify witnesses and specific individuals designated by prosecutors.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'improper release' was narrowed to include only administrative or clerical errors or staff mistakes, removing 'mismanagement' from the list of qualifying circumstances.

New definitions were added for 'law enforcement agency' and 'local media outlet' to clarify who must be notified.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added to immediately notify local media outlets within the parish when an inmate is improperly released.

The requirement to notify any known witnesses and any person specified in writing by the prosecuting district attorney was removed.

Floor votes · Senate May 11, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 11, 2026
D Democratic12
9 Yea 3
75% Yea
R Republican28
26 Yea 2
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 91, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (10-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Feb 3, 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 Mandie Landry
Mandie Landry
DDemocratic
LA
91