This Louisiana bill creates a specific offense for battery against school teachers, defined as battery committed when the perpetrator knows the victim is a teacher or targets them due to their job. It sets harsher penalties for non-student offenders (up to 5 years in jail or $5,000 fine) versus students (up to 1.5 years jail with 72 hours mandatory for minor cases, or up to 1 year for injuries requiring medical care). Juvenile offenders under 17 are handled under the Children's Code, requiring court-approved counseling (costs borne by the family) and secure detention for teens 14+ who commit this crime. The law applies to all school teachers during work duties and modifies juvenile court procedures for such offenses.
This bill establishes a two-year pilot program for a Domestic Violence Intervention Court within the Nineteenth Judicial District Court in Louisiana. The program targets defendants convicted of domestic abuse-related offenses who are assessed as at-risk of reoffending, offering them voluntary participation in a specialized court track that combines judicial supervision with treatment and accountability measures. Key provisions include mandatory batterer intervention programming using evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy, regular court appearances, compliance with individualized case plans, and access to services such as mental health screening, substance abuse referrals, and victim safety planning. The court will operate with a coordinated team including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and victim advocates, while collecting data on recidivism and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness for potential statewide expansion.
HB 108 prohibits individuals convicted of violent crimes (as defined in Louisiana law) or sex offenses (as defined in Louisiana law) from serving on criminal juries. The bill amends the state's Code of Criminal Procedure to add this requirement as a specific disqualification for jury service. This change directly affects people with prior convictions for these offenses, barring them from jury duty in criminal cases. The law would apply to all criminal jury panels across Louisiana, modifying the existing qualifications outlined in Article 401(A)(6). The bill focuses solely on defining who cannot serve, not on other aspects of jury selection or criminal procedure.
HB 169 adds a new condition for both probation and parole in Louisiana: individuals must waive extradition to Louisiana from any U.S. or international jurisdiction and agree not to contest being returned. This applies to anyone on probation or parole who leaves Louisiana, requiring them to pay the full cost of extradition (based on their ability to pay) if returned from outside the state. The bill amends Louisiana law to include this requirement as a standard condition during probation or parole placement. It directly affects individuals under probation or parole supervision who travel outside Louisiana, imposing a financial obligation for their return. The law aims to streamline the return process for offenders who leave the state.
SB 156 increases the maximum prison sentence for negligent homicide from 10 to 15 years in certain cases. It specifically raises the maximum to 15 years for killing a child under 10, and to 40 years for offenders over 17 who cause the death of someone under 17 through intentional or negligent mistreatment. The bill also requires courts to explain in writing why they don't sentence offenders to prison when alcohol contributed to a vehicle-related death. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of negligent homicide, particularly in cases involving minors or alcohol-related incidents.
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.
SB 258 changes Louisiana law to require that 17-year-olds and older be prosecuted in district court for traffic offenses, rather than juvenile court. It amends the Children's Code by redefining "delinquent act" to include traffic violations for individuals under 17, meaning traffic offenses committed by 17- to 20-year-olds will now be treated as criminal matters in adult court. The bill directly affects teens aged 17-20 who commit traffic violations, shifting their cases from juvenile proceedings to standard criminal prosecution. This change removes the previous exclusion of traffic violations from juvenile court jurisdiction for this age group. The bill is currently prefiled and awaiting committee referral.
SB 347 adds "unlawful deepfake" to the definition of "power-based violence" under Louisiana's Campus Accountability and Safety Act. The bill defines a "deepfake" as manipulated audio or video falsely appearing authentic to a reasonable observer, excluding political commentary, news, satire, or clearly disclosed content. This change directly affects college and university campuses in Louisiana, expanding how institutions address certain forms of harassment. The policy amendment specifically targets deepfakes used to control or intimidate others, aligning with existing campus safety definitions without creating new criminal penalties.
HB 362 creates a special crime prevention and security district for Regency Park Townhomes residents in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The district, governed by a five-member board (including association leaders and resident members), will fund security patrols, improved lighting, signage, and beautification through a voter-approved annual parcel fee of up to $300 per property. Property owners within the defined boundaries (bounded by Morrison Road, Downman Road, Seabrook Place, and Countess Lane) will pay this fee, collected like property taxes, with funds restricted solely to district security and maintenance. The district operates as a political subdivision under Louisiana law, requiring voter approval for fee implementation and renewal.
HB 265 expands Louisiana's video voyeurism law to explicitly criminalize recording the body of a deceased person using any camera, video device, or drone. The bill adds this conduct to the existing definition of video voyeurism under state law, making it a punishable offense. It covers all image-recording technology, including drones equipped with cameras, when used to observe or capture a dead person's body without consent. This directly affects individuals who might use such devices to record deceased persons, creating a new criminal penalty for this specific behavior. The law focuses on preventing exploitation of vulnerable situations involving the dead.
