Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 552: DWI: Provides relative to driving while intoxicated (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 552 amends Louisiana's DWI laws to explicitly include "impaired" driving alongside "intoxicated" driving, expanding the scope of the offense to cover impairment from alcohol or drugs. It clarifies that city and municipal courts can handle first and second DWI offenses (with penalties matching state law), but third or subsequent offenses must be tried in district court with a jury. The bill also requires courts to assess additional costs when alcohol was a factor in any offense, and makes intoxilyzer test results automatically admissible as evidence in DWI cases. These changes directly affect drivers facing DWI charges, local courts handling such cases, and prosecutors presenting evidence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding 'impaired' driving to DWI offenses, broadening prosecution scope beyond intoxication alone.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 429: CRIME/THEFT: Adds theft or unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure as a predicate crime for terrorism (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 429 adds theft or unauthorized entry of oil and gas facilities - including drilling, production, transportation, and storage equipment - as a specific act that qualifies as terrorism under Louisiana law. It directly affects individuals who steal or trespass at these facilities by making such acts punishable as terrorism, not just theft. The bill defines "critical infrastructure" to explicitly include oil and gas operations and sets a minimum 20-year prison sentence for terrorism convictions involving these facilities. This amendment changes the legal classification of such crimes, increasing penalties for offenses previously treated as theft.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of theft at oil/gas facilities as terrorism with 20+ year mandatory sentences, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProtects oil and gas infrastructure (a core energy production sector) by classifying theft as terrorism, strengthening security for critical energy facilities.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly targets theft of oil/gas transportation infrastructure as terrorism, strengthening protection of transportation assets through criminal penalties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 160: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Increases the penalties for certain domestic violence offenses that involve strangulation (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG EX)

HB 160 increases penalties for domestic violence offenses involving strangulation in Louisiana. It specifically targets offenders convicted under two existing statutes: battery of a dating partner (R.S. 14:34.9) and domestic abuse battery (R.S. 14:35.3). The bill adds a mandatory prison term of 3 to 10 years at hard labor in addition to any other penalties when strangulation is involved in these offenses. This change directly affects individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes where strangulation occurred, without creating new offenses or altering the definition of domestic violence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms (3-10 years) for domestic violence strangulation, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of harsher sentencing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 137: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Changes sentencing guidelines for posting or calling in threats to schools (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 137 increases penalties for threatening schools by adding a new offense: terrorizing or menacing school property, events, or firearm-free zones. It mandates 5-15 years in prison (no parole) for adults and fines up to $15,000 for such threats. Schools must distribute age-appropriate information about these crimes to students in grades 6+ and their parents annually. Parents or guardians of minors committing these acts face civil fines ($5,000-$10,000), and juvenile courts must consider restitution for response costs.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms (5-15 years, no parole) and fines for school threats, expanding criminalization of speech and harshening sentencing guidelines.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 158: PROBATION: Provides relative to technical violations of probation (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 158 modifies Louisiana's probation rules to address "technical violations" (like missing check-ins or failing drug tests) for certain defendants. It allows judges to impose up to 180 days in jail without reducing the overall probation sentence for individuals on probation for non-violent offenses (excluding crimes of violence or sex offenses). This applies only to violations not involving new criminal conduct, not to serious breaches. The bill does not change sentencing for new crimes but adds a specific penalty for administrative probation breaches. The measure is currently pending in committee review.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAllows 180-day jail for technical probation violations without reducing probation, increasing punitive measures for minor breaches - opposes reform efforts to reduce unnecessary incarceration.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 81: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act)

SB 81 requires written consent from the district attorney for defendants to waive a jury trial in noncapital felony cases. It changes Louisiana law to mandate that courts deny such waiver requests without the prosecutor's written approval, effective within 45 days before trial. The bill's implementation depends on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment (Article 1, Section 17(A)). This directly affects defendants in noncapital felony cases and prosecutors who must now provide written consent for jury waivers. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage (prefiled February 20, 2026) and not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant rights by requiring prosecutor consent for jury trial waiver, denying waiver without it per bill language.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 169: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides relative to extradition as a condition of probation or parole (EN INCREASE SG RV See Note)

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds extradition waiver and cost payment as probation/parole condition, restricting offender movement and imposing financial burden, opposing reform efforts92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 156: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Increases the maximum period of imprisonment for negligent homicide. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases maximum prison terms for negligent homicide, including longer sentences for child-related deaths and alcohol-related vehicular deaths, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 201: JUVENILE JUSTICE: Limits juvenile offender parole eligibility in resentencing court. (8/1/26)

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeLimits juvenile parole eligibility, requiring denial for 'worst offenders' and rejecting youth as mitigating factor, restricting rehabilitation options.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 258: JUVENILES: Provides relative to juvenile traffic violations. (2/3 - CA5s19) (8/1/26)

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeShifts traffic offenses for 17-20yo from juvenile to adult court, expanding criminalization of minor offenses per bill's explicit jurisdiction change.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice