JUVENILE JUSTICE: Limits juvenile offender parole eligibility in resentencing court. (8/1/26)
SB 201 requires Louisiana courts to hold specific hearings when resentencing juvenile offenders to determine whether parole eligibility should be included in their sentence. The bill mandates that courts explicitly state their reasoning for denying parole eligibility, reserving such sentences for the "worst offenders and worst cases." It also specifies that appellate courts must prioritize the original sentencing court's findings, particularly when youth was rejected as a mitigating factor. This procedural change affects juvenile offenders facing resentencing, focusing on the process for determining parole eligibility rather than altering sentencing ranges.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 26, 2026
Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB201 Original
→
SB201 Act 585
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the law governing parole hearings for juvenile offenders by adding a new category for those convicted of second-degree murder after August 1, 2026. It ensures that these offenders are eligible for parole consideration if the prosecutor files a timely notice, aligning their treatment with existing rules for first-degree murder cases. The changes also clarify the legal standards for reviewing courts in specific death penalty cases involving juveniles.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of juvenile parole eligibility to include offenders indicted on or after August 1, 2026, for second-degree murder, whereas previously only first-degree murder cases were covered under this specific hearing process.
ELIGIBILITY
Added eligibility for parole hearings for juveniles convicted of second-degree murder if indicted on or after August 1, 2026.
TIMELINE
Extended the applicability of juvenile parole hearing rules to cover a new date range starting August 1, 2026, for second-degree murder cases.
REQUIREMENT
Established that if the prosecutor fails to file a timely notice of intent for second-degree murder cases, the offender is automatically eligible for parole without a judicial hearing.
DEFINITION
Updated the statutory definition of eligible juvenile offenders to explicitly include second-degree murder convictions alongside first-degree murder convictions.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 13, 2026 · House May 19, 2026
How they voted
26–12
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Apr 13, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Nay
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 26 yeas and 7 nays.
upper
May 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 61, nays 27. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (7-3). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 26 yeas and 11 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jay Morris
RRepublican
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