Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 93: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Establishes minimum bond amounts for certain offenses. (8/1/26)

SB 93 establishes minimum bail amounts for two specific offenses under Louisiana law: $50,000 for possession of child sexual abuse materials (R.S. 14:81.1) and $100,000 for production of such materials. This bill directly affects defendants charged with these offenses and Louisiana district courts, which must set bail at or above these minimums. The key provision requires courts using a bail schedule to enforce these fixed minimums, though judges may adjust bail higher for "good cause" under limited circumstances, such as rearrest on new charges.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates minimum bail for serious offenses, restricting pretrial release and reducing defendant rights without reform provisions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 207: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides 10-year time limitation on prosecution of certain crimes committed by elected officials and public employees. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

SB 207 removes time limits for prosecuting certain serious misconduct by elected officials and public employees while they are serving in office or employment. It eliminates the statute of limitations for six specific offenses committed during their tenure, including abuse of office, bribery of candidates/voters, corrupt influencing, malfeasance, and public bribery. This means prosecutors can bring charges for these crimes at any time during the individual's term or employment period, without being restricted by typical time limits. The bill directly affects Louisiana elected officials (like mayors or council members) and public employees who commit these offenses while performing their duties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves statute of limitations for public official misconduct (abuse of office, bribery), enhancing accountability in criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 635: CRIME: Provides relative to criminal activity committed by an agent of a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign terrorist organization (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 635 creates new Louisiana laws to protect residents from foreign agents who attempt to control their behavior using foreign laws or threats. It defines "agents of foreign adversaries" (like government-linked entities) and "transnational repression" (such as coercion or retaliation for exercising free speech, religion, or assembly rights). The bill makes it a crime for these agents to coerce people into actions violating constitutional rights or retaliate for such actions, imposing enhanced penalties on top of the underlying offense. It also declares that courts cannot enforce foreign law decisions that deny constitutional rights protected under U.S. or Louisiana law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalties to protect constitutional rights against foreign coercion, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 296: CORRECTIONS: Repeals the Reentry Advisory Council and Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF RV)

HB 296 repeals Louisiana’s Reentry Advisory Council and the Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (specifically R.S. 15:1199.1-1199.16 and R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a)). This bill removes legal requirements for the advisory council, data collection on inmate workforce programs, and references to the Reentry Advisory Council in statutes governing work release programs (e.g., R.S. 15:827, 1113) and the Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit (R.S. 47:287.750). It directly affects correctional workforce development programs, state agencies managing inmate work programs, and businesses participating in work release initiatives. The repeal eliminates the council’s role and related administrative criteria, though work release programs themselves remain referenced under other statutes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit statute (R.S. 47:287.750), defunding a tax relief program.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRepeals mandatory offender rehabilitation programs and advisory council, eliminating workforce development requirements for inmates per repealed statutes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 58: BAIL: Restricts post-conviction bail for certain offenders (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG EX)

HB 58 restricts bail for certain convicted individuals in Louisiana. It prohibits bail after conviction for capital offenses (like murder) and for specific violent sex crimes against minors (defined as offenses requiring registration under state law). The bill creates a strong legal presumption against releasing these offenders, meaning courts cannot grant bail unless they prove the person poses no danger to others or risk of fleeing. This directly affects people convicted of these serious crimes who would otherwise seek bail before sentencing or final judgment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts bail for serious offenders, reducing defendant rights and increasing incarceration, opposing reform-focused criminal justice approaches.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HB 51: BAIL: (Constitutional Amendment) Restricts post-conviction bail for certain offenders (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 51 proposes a constitutional amendment to Louisiana's Constitution that would prohibit bail after a conviction for certain offenses. Specifically, it would ban bail for defendants convicted of an "aggravated offense" (as defined in state law) committed against a minor victim. This change would apply only after a conviction and before sentencing or final judgment, affecting individuals found guilty of these specific crimes against children. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 election to take effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBans bail after conviction for crimes against minors, reducing defendant rights and increasing punitive measures per indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

passed · Louisiana · House May 19, 2026

HB 985: SEX OFFENSE/REGISTRY: Provides relative to identification procedures for sex offenders (EG1 +$200,000 SG EX See Note)

This bill requires sex offenders in Louisiana to carry identification documents that clearly mark them as such, including QR codes and orange "sex offender" text on both driver's licenses and special identification cards. The law mandates that these individuals renew their identification annually at a motor vehicle office, where they must verify their registration information including address and employer details before receiving a new card or license. Anyone who intentionally fails to comply with these requirements faces fines of up to $500 or up to six months in jail, and the provisions apply to all registered sex offenders regardless of when their conviction occurred.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes additional restrictions on sex offenders by requiring identification with visible markings and annual verification, limiting their privacy and mobility rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 132: CRIME/BATTERY: Provides relative to battery (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 132 clarifies that intentionally directing loud sounds (like bullhorns, air horns, or amplified speakers) at a police officer’s head or ear within three feet - under circumstances likely to cause pain or hearing injury - counts as battery. It defines "close proximity" as within three feet of an officer’s ear/head and specifies that using acoustic devices to target an officer meets this standard. The bill increases penalties for battery committed by two or more people acting together or causing injuries requiring medical care, with sentences up to 7 years in prison for the most severe cases. This law directly affects individuals who use loud devices near officers, expanding what constitutes a criminal offense under Louisiana’s battery statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for battery against officers using loud devices, expanding criminalization of protest tactics targeting law enforcement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 82: DWI: Provides relative to penalties for DWI offenses (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 82 amends penalties for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenses by changing a specific penalty duration from "twelve months" to "twelve years." This change directly affects individuals convicted of DWI offenses, significantly increasing the potential jail time for certain violations. The bill modifies an existing penalty provision within the DWI statute, focusing on the length of incarceration rather than introducing new categories or requirements. As a substantive policy change, it represents a major adjustment to sentencing for DWI convictions in the jurisdiction.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases DWI penalties from 12 months to 12 years, raising mandatory incarceration without rehabilitation focus95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 231: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Adds intentional evasion of service of process for certain court orders as conduct that constitutes a violation of a protective order

HB 231 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally avoiding service of specific court orders, directly affecting individuals who evade legal notices related to protective orders, custody cases, or other civil/criminal proceedings. The bill makes it a violation to deliberately skip being served with orders issued under laws covering domestic violence (R.S. 9:361 et seq.), child custody (R.S. 28:53.2), or certain civil/criminal court processes (e.g., Code of Civil Procedure Articles 3601 or 3607.1). Key provisions define which orders trigger this crime and establish criminal penalties for intentional evasion, rather than focusing on the underlying order's content. This policy change adds a criminal consequence for avoiding court-ordered notices, targeting a specific behavior without altering the substantive requirements of the covered orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for evading court orders, expanding criminalization without reform measures or defendant protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice