HB 126 allows courts in Louisiana to permit facility dogs to accompany specific witnesses during testimony. It directly affects minors under 18, individuals with developmental disabilities (as defined by law), and victims of sex offenses (as defined in state law). The bill requires courts to permit a facility dog if available while these witnesses testify, aiming to help reduce anxiety. The provision applies during court proceedings and does not change existing legal standards or outcomes.
HB 140 modifies Louisiana's juvenile delinquency court timelines to ensure timely proceedings. It sets strict deadlines: if a juvenile is held in custody for a violent crime, the court must hold the hearing within 60 days; for non-violent crimes, it’s 30 days; and if not in custody, the hearing must occur within 90 days. The bill adds provisions interrupting these timelines (e.g., if a juvenile flees or is deemed mentally unfit) and suspending them during pretrial motions, requiring courts to restart the clock once interruptions end. If deadlines pass without justification, the case must be dismissed upon a juvenile’s written motion. This directly affects juveniles in delinquency cases, courts, prosecutors, and defense attorneys by streamlining procedural timelines.
SB 125 increases compensation for people wrongfully convicted in Louisiana. It raises the annual payment rate from $25,000 to $40,000 per year incarcerated, with a new maximum total of $600,000 starting August 1, 2026 (up from $400,000 previously). It also allows those convicted before July 2022 to apply for supplemental payments (up to $40,000 annually) by August 1, 2027, and offers a $250,000 lump sum option for new claims filed after July 2022. The bill directly affects Louisiana residents who were wrongfully imprisoned and seek financial redress under state law.
HB 394 proposes changes to Louisiana's parole process for inmates requiring rehabilitative programs before release. It creates "conditional parole" allowing prisoners to be released pending completion of specific reentry programs - such as regional reentry initiatives or workforce development programs at Louisiana State Penitentiary or the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women - within a 24-month window. If approved, prisoners must complete the program and then appear before the parole board for a final release decision. The bill directly affects inmates in Louisiana state prisons who need such programs to ensure public safety and successful reintegration. The bill is currently pending in the Legislature's Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice (prefiled February 2026).
HB 289 sets a minimum three-day waiting period between a felony conviction and sentencing in Louisiana courts. It requires courts to delay sentencing for at least 24 hours after denying a motion for a new trial or arrest of judgment. Defendants may waive this waiting period by pleading guilty or expressly agreeing to immediate sentencing. The bill directly affects felony defendants in Louisiana criminal cases by standardizing timing between conviction and sentencing. It does not change sentencing guidelines or penalties, only the procedural timeline.
HB 833 creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force in Louisiana to study and recommend improvements to services for sexual assault survivors. The task force, composed of members from the attorney general's office, sheriffs' association, state legislators, and district attorneys, will evaluate needs like counseling, school/work accommodations, and mandatory training for schools/hospitals/law enforcement. It must submit a report with specific recommendations to the governor and legislature by February 1, 2027, after which the task force will terminate. This bill does not change existing laws but sets up a process to inform future legislation.
HB 656 establishes a pilot program to provide structured programming to specific inmates in Louisiana. It directly affects juvenile offenders and inmates held in parish jails or prisons under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). The program must include rehabilitation services (education/vocational training), mental health support, and suicide prevention initiatives. Programming will be delivered in-person or via video for accessibility, with DPS&C required to create implementing rules. This bill focuses on expanding access to support services within correctional facilities.
HB 622 modifies Louisiana law to strengthen confidentiality around criminal history records used in employment background checks. It requires employers to obtain their own criminal history checks (via state and federal systems) and prohibits sharing these records with other employers or individuals without the applicant’s written consent or a court order. Employers must destroy these records one year after an employee’s termination, except when an applicant gives written permission for a health provider to share the check. The bill also ensures compliance with federal regulations like the FBI’s criminal justice information policies, without creating new penalties or changing criminal law.
This bill extends surviving spouse benefits to reserve and auxiliary law enforcement officers in Louisiana who die while on duty. It modifies existing law to include these officers under the same eligibility rules as commissioned officers, specifically when they die while: (1) traveling to or from a public safety emergency, or (2) commuting between their residence and work area in a law enforcement vehicle provided by their agency. The policy change directly affects the spouses of reserve and auxiliary officers who qualify under these two scenarios. It expands access to financial security payments previously limited to commissioned officers.
HB 54 creates alternatives to revoking parole for violations by allowing parolees to be placed in specific treatment programs instead of immediate jail time. It directly affects parolees who violate conditions but do not pose a high risk, offering them options like community rehabilitation centers, substance abuse treatment, mental health programs, or certified treatment programs. The bill limits these program placements to a maximum of one year (without good time credit) and ensures they don't extend the parole term beyond its original end date. If a program requests removal due to violations, parole is revoked with credit for time served in the program. This replaces the previous six-month limit with a one-year maximum under the new provision.
