Civil Law and Procedure

This bill authorizes the city of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish to acquire private property through expropriation when the city cannot reach an agreement with property owners for public projects. The law creates a new legal process that allows the city to take ownership of land before a court determines the final compensation amount, provided the city first passes a resolution confirming the project serves a public purpose. Property owners retain the right to challenge the taking in court and receive just compensation, with title transferring to the city immediately after the city deposits the estimated compensation amount into the court registry. The bill applies to various public infrastructure projects including streets, utilities, drainage, and flood protection systems within the city limits.

SB 389 regulates athlete agents in Louisiana to protect student athletes. It requires agents to register with the state, sets maximum fees, and bans "anything of value" (like gifts or loans) that could jeopardize athletic eligibility. The bill mandates clear disclosures in endorsement contracts and prohibits agents from recruiting athletes during school seasons or accepting payments for securing team employment. It directly affects student athletes in Louisiana schools and colleges, as well as agents seeking to represent them, by creating enforceable standards and penalties for violations.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment in Louisiana that would allow the governor to recommend suspending or removing district attorneys and certain judges (district, juvenile, family, or municipal courts) for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence. If the governor recommends suspension, the Senate must approve it with a two-thirds vote; for removal, the Senate would hold a trial and require a two-thirds vote to remove the official. Removed officials would be permanently barred from holding any judicial office in Louisiana. The amendment requires voter approval in the April 2027 election and is currently pending committee review.

SB 97 is a proposed constitutional amendment to Louisiana's Constitution that would require prosecutors' written consent before a defendant can waive their right to a jury trial in non-capital criminal cases. Currently, defendants can waive jury trials without prosecutor approval (except in capital cases), but this amendment would mandate written consent from the prosecutor, which must be obtained at least 45 days before trial and would be irrevocable. It directly affects defendants facing non-capital criminal charges (those not punishable by death or requiring hard labor confinement) and prosecutors who would need to approve such waivers. The amendment, if approved by voters, would change the constitutional provision governing jury trials in criminal cases.

This bill updates Louisiana's civil procedure rules to allow legal documents to be served via mail, physical delivery, or electronic transmission. It directly affects attorneys and parties involved in civil cases by permitting electronic service of pleadings when specific address information is filed in the court record. The key provision states that electronic service is considered complete upon transmission but remains ineffective if the sender learns the transmission failed to reach the recipient. If electronic service cannot be completed, the bill requires service to proceed through other established methods. This change modernizes how legal notices are delivered while maintaining safeguards to ensure parties actually receive important court documents.