CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to time limitations and other matters concerning certain sex offenses (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
HB 92 updates Louisiana's rape laws by adding a new circumstance for first-degree rape: when the victim cannot resist due to the offender's force overpowering their ability to resist. It revises indictment forms to specifically include "forcible or second degree rape" as a charge and modifies jury verdict options for first-degree rape cases, removing "oral sexual battery" as a separate offense. The bill repeals the existing crime of oral sexual battery (R.S. 14:43.3) and makes technical adjustments to related legal provisions. These changes directly affect how prosecutors charge rape cases and how juries determine verdicts in court.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026
Signed May 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB92 Original
→
HB92 Act
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5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Louisiana's sex offense laws by clarifying when force constitutes first-degree rape, adding a new specific indictment form for forcible or second-degree rape, and establishing a ten-year statute of limitations for third-degree rape that only begins when the crime is discovered. It also repeals the separate crime of oral sexual battery, merging it into the existing sexual battery offense, and reorganizes the list of responsive verdicts for first-degree rape to include a specific exception for victims under age thirteen.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of first-degree rape by explicitly including situations where force overpowers a victim's ability to resist, and it introduces a new procedural option for charging forcible or second-degree rape.
DEFINITION
First-degree rape now explicitly includes cases where the offender's force overpowers the victim's ability to resist.
The standalone crime of oral sexual battery was repealed and its elements are now covered under the existing sexual battery offense.
ENFORCEMENT
A new specific indictment form was created for forcible or second-degree rape charges.
TIMELINE
A ten-year statute of limitations was established for third-degree rape, starting only when the crime is discovered by the victim.
REQUIREMENT
The list of responsive verdicts for first-degree rape was reorganized to prioritize the exception for victims under age thirteen.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2026 · House Mar 24, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Apr 22, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 94, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 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 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 18, 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 6, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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