SB 421 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CLERKS OF COURT: Provides relative to the filing of electronic records. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill updates Louisiana laws to allow clerks of court and related recorders to use electronic methods for filing, copying, and storing legal records. It authorizes these officials to purchase or lease equipment and software for converting existing paper documents into digital formats and permits them to use their salary funds to cover these costs. The legislation also establishes standards for electronic storage and allows clerks to return original documents to individuals after verifying that complete electronic copies have been made, while requiring certain permanent records like criminal files to be preserved electronically before any originals are destroyed.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 24, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #2013, Miller, G., Adopted → SB421 Act 386 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill modernizes Louisiana's court record-keeping laws by authorizing clerks to convert physical records into electronic formats and purchase necessary equipment. It also updates rules for preserving permanent records before destruction and clarifies that electronic copies are legally acceptable alternatives to traditional bound volumes.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of authorized record-keeping methods to include electronic imaging, digitization, and non-rewritable digital storage media, while maintaining specific exceptions for certain historical property and family law records.

REQUIREMENT

Clerks are now authorized to purchase equipment, software, and services to convert records into electronic formats, photorecording, or microfilming.

The law now permits permanent records to be destroyed only after creating and retaining electronic copies on non-rewritable media like CD-ROM.

FISCAL

Clerks can use their existing salary funds to pay for the costs of equipment, software, and services needed for record conversion and storage.

DEFINITION

Electronic copies and digital storage media are now explicitly recognized as valid methods for maintaining court records, replacing the requirement for bound volumes in many cases.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 13, 2026 · House May 18, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Apr 13, 2026

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 11, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (15-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors