HB 98 strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking by creating criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of their confidential information. The bill prohibits individuals from intentionally releasing, disclosing, transferring, or disseminating victim-identifying details - such as abuse status, family members, or agency involvement - and imposes fines up to $2,500 or up to one year in prison for violations. It also shields community shelters from liability if staff or others unlawfully disclose such information. These provisions apply to service providers, law enforcement, and agencies handling victim cases, ensuring sensitive data remains confidential. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to prevent re-victimization through information leaks.
HB 159 creates a pilot program in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, allowing eligible defendants to serve pretrial time at home under electronic monitoring instead of being held in jail. To qualify, defendants cannot face violent crime or sex offense charges (as defined by law) and must pass a risk assessment by the sheriff’s office, in coordination with the district attorney and court. Participants must follow conditions like curfews, possible mental health check-ins, and pay a sliding-scale fee for supervision (with lower costs for those who cannot afford full fees). The sheriff must develop program rules, evaluate its effectiveness, and report findings to legislative committees and Caddo Parish officials, with the program ending if a new or expanded jail opens in the parish.
HB 525 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) to publish specific correctional data online in downloadable formats (Excel and CSV) by October 2026. It mandates monthly publication of offender census data from parish and state facilities, demographic dashboards tracking prison populations, admission/release trends, and death data, along with supporting codebooks explaining data definitions and methodologies. The bill directly affects DPS&C (which must implement these changes) and the public (which gains access to anonymized, machine-readable data). Key provisions include requiring comparable data formats across facilities, maintaining an online dataset index, and submitting compliance reports to legislative committees by 2027. The law explicitly protects personally identifiable information through redaction while maximizing public access to aggregate data.
HB 378 makes it a crime to intentionally block first responders or law enforcement officers using a motor vehicle during their duties. Drivers who hinder first responders (e.g., during emergencies) face fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, while those obstructing officers during pursuits or arrests risk fines up to $1,000 or up to two years in jail. The law explicitly excludes legitimate safety barricades used in construction, maintenance, or by government authorities performing official duties. It directly affects drivers who use vehicles to block emergency or police operations, with penalties varying based on the officer's role and circumstances.
HB 167 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections to provide specific documentation to inmates before release from prison, primarily affecting those convicted of felony offenses. The bill mandates the department to issue a special identification card (valid for four years) to inmates without state ID, along with employment-related documents like vocational records, birth certificates, social security cards, and a resume detailing skills. It also creates a "Certificate of Employability" for inmates who completed approved rehabilitation programs, earned educational credentials, had no major disciplinary issues in the past year, and passed a skills assessment. This certificate, valid unless revoked for a new felony conviction, helps former inmates prove job readiness to employers. The law aims to improve post-release employment outcomes by streamlining access to essential identification and work documentation.
HB 828 creates the Louisiana Correctional Medical Review Board, an independent body within the legislative auditor's office, to review every death occurring in state correctional facilities. The board, composed of nine members including medical professionals, family members of deceased inmates, and experts, must begin reviews within 72 hours of notification (required within 2 hours of death by facility staff) and issue public reports within 60 days. Key provisions include subpoena power for records and witnesses, authority to order independent autopsies at state expense, and requirements for facilities to report deaths promptly (with civil penalties for delays). This directly affects all Louisiana correctional facilities, their staff, and the immediate families of deceased inmates, who receive reports within 5 days and can submit evidence.
HB 402 modifies Louisiana's Habitual Offender Law to change sentencing for individuals convicted of three felonies classified as "crimes of violence" under state law, but without actual physical violence occurring during the offenses. It sets a new sentencing range: a fixed prison term of at least half the longest possible sentence for the third offense, but no more than twice the sentence for a first-time felony conviction. This applies to people already serving sentences for such offenses prior to June 15, 2001, meaning their sentences could be adjusted under this law. The bill specifically targets third felony convictions where the crimes meet the legal definition of "crime of violence" without involving actual physical force against people or property.
HB 792 requires Louisiana state correctional facilities to implement standardized screening for HIV and hepatitis C virus at inmate intake or within 72 hours of incarceration. It mandates that inmates may decline screening without penalty, and all results remain confidential for medical purposes only. Parish jails may participate in the program but must receive legislative funding for reimbursement of screening costs, with the state covering treatment expenses through existing state or federal programs. The bill also establishes annual reporting requirements for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to track screening rates, positive cases, treatment access, and fiscal impacts.
HB 168 establishes a structured transitional reentry program in Louisiana for female parolees, administered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. It directly affects women who have served at least five years in prison, have no sex offense convictions, are within six months of release, have no recent disciplinary issues, and voluntarily agree to participate. The program aims to support their safe community reintegration through tailored preparation, requiring parole eligibility and adherence to department-established screening. This policy creates a formal pathway for eligible female parolees to access reentry services before release.
HB 361 allows individuals with suspended voter registration due to felony convictions to regain voting rights once they are no longer under an imprisonment order or have not been incarcerated for five years. It requires applicants to submit documentation from correctional officials proving their release status or 5-year non-incarceration period, excluding those convicted of election fraud. The bill streamlines the process by enabling applications via mail, fax, or electronic submission and clarifies the secretary of state's role in developing the application form. This directly affects formerly incarcerated Louisianans who have completed their sentences or parole terms related to non-election offenses.
