Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 102: CRIME: Creates the crime of second degree cruelty to the elderly and persons with infirmities (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 102 creates a new criminal offense for "second degree cruelty to elderly and persons with infirmities," targeting intentional or negligent mistreatment causing serious injury to vulnerable individuals. It directly affects caregivers - including family members, neighbors, nursing homes, and care facilities - and applies to elderly people (60+), those with disabilities, or individuals in residential care settings. Key provisions define the crime, set penalties of up to 40 years in prison (with a mandatory minimum of 5 years if death occurs), and include an affirmative defense for spiritual healing methods. The bill also designates this offense as a "crime of violence" under Louisiana law, impacting sentencing in related cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new crime with up to 40-year penalties, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators (increases criminalization, expands sentencing) without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 808: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to the intentional exposure to HIV (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 808 (Louisiana) amends criminal law to define and penalize intentional HIV exposure without consent. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit HIV through sexual contact, sharing needles without consent, or other contact posing a "substantial likelihood of transmission" (defined as contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid with significant medical risk). The bill specifies higher penalties for exposing first responders (fines up to $6,000, 11 years imprisonment) and includes affirmative defenses if the victim knew of the HIV status and consented, or if medical advice confirmed non-infectious status with disclosure. It also explicitly classifies this offense as a "sex offense" under Louisiana law for sentencing purposes. The bill does not criminalize low-risk conduct, as clarified in Section E.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for intentional HIV exposure, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

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

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Sentencing

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 333: CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to the housing of inmates committed to the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 333 limits where Louisiana can house inmates by requiring the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to keep them within 30 miles of either the parish where their crime occurred or their residence. This directly affects inmates committed to state correctional facilities and the department, which must now adjust housing assignments to comply. The bill amends existing law to add this geographic restriction as a new requirement, overriding previous practices that allowed broader transfers. It does not change sentencing or release policies but mandates specific location constraints for inmate placement. (Note: The bill is currently in early legislative stages as of February 2026.)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts inmate housing locations within 30 miles, overriding prior transfer practices, limiting department flexibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 191: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides relative to credit for prior custody (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 191 prevents overlapping jail credit for defendants serving consecutive sentences on multiple charges. It requires that time spent in actual custody counts toward only one sentence, not multiple consecutive sentences. The bill invalidates any previous jail credit awarded in violation of this rule, declaring it "null, void, and of no effect." This change directly affects individuals convicted of multiple offenses who may have previously received double-counted credit for the same time served.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticePrevents double-counting jail credit for consecutive sentences, increasing effective sentence lengths and reducing defendant rights by invalidating prior overlapping credits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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

Sub-Topics Sentencing