HB 769 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to the removal authority process with respect to domestic offenders

HB 769 requires courts to hold a domestic abuse offender without bail for 48-72 hours (a "cooling off" period) after arrest for specific offenses like domestic abuse battery, violation of protective orders, or stalking involving family, household, or dating partners. This applies to defendants charged with offenses listed in the bill, directly affecting those arrested for these crimes and the courts handling their cases. The bill mandates a court hearing about bail conditions within five days (excluding weekends/holidays) if bail isn't set immediately during this holding period. It does not change the definition of offenses but modifies the immediate detention and hearing process for these cases. The law aims to provide safety time for victims before bail decisions.
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 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB769 Original HB769 Act 834 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure to formalize a 'cooling off' period for individuals charged with specific domestic violence and related crimes. The change ensures that defendants in these cases are held without bail for a mandatory 48 to 72 hours, regardless of whether a contradictory bail hearing is requested. This policy aims to protect victims and the public by preventing immediate release after arrest for serious offenses like stalking, strangulation, and violations of protective orders.
Scope change
The bill expands the procedural requirements for bail hearings by making the 48-72 hour holding period mandatory for all qualifying cases, removing the previous option to release a defendant immediately if a contradictory hearing was not held.
REQUIREMENT

Mandatory 48 to 72-hour holding period without bail for defendants charged with domestic abuse, stalking, strangulation, or violations of protective orders, applicable regardless of whether a contradictory bail hearing occurs.

Requirement for the court to notify the prosecuting attorney before setting bail if the court decides not to hold a contradictory hearing.

Explicit instruction for courts to consider specific risk factors, such as stalking, strangulation, use of force, or threats to the victim or public, when deciding whether to impose the holding period.

DEFINITION

Clarified that the 48 to 72-hour holding period is officially referred to as a 'cooling off' period intended for the benefit of the victim.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

360
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D Democratic12
11 Yea 1
91% Yea
R Republican28
25 Yea 3
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 20, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
May 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 6, 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 27, 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 Delisha Boyd
Delisha Boyd
DDemocratic
LA
102