HB 296 repeals Louisiana’s Reentry Advisory Council and the Offender Rehabilitation Workforce Development Act (specifically R.S. 15:1199.1-1199.16 and R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(a)). This bill removes legal requirements for the advisory council, data collection on inmate workforce programs, and references to the Reentry Advisory Council in statutes governing work release programs (e.g., R.S. 15:827, 1113) and the Louisiana Work Opportunity Tax Credit (R.S. 47:287.750). It directly affects correctional workforce development programs, state agencies managing inmate work programs, and businesses participating in work release initiatives. The repeal eliminates the council’s role and related administrative criteria, though work release programs themselves remain referenced under other statutes.
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.
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.
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 186 creates a new criminal offense for stealing funds from Louisiana's LA GATOR Scholarship Program, directly affecting administrators or officials who handle these scholarship funds. It sets tiered penalties based on the amount stolen: up to 20 years in prison for $25,000+ theft, up to 10 years for $5,000-$25,000, and lesser terms for smaller amounts. The bill also requires offenders to pay full restitution to victims of the theft. This law specifically targets misuse of scholarship funds, not general theft.
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.
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.
SB 35 creates a new crime for disrupting religious worship by prohibiting petitioning, picketing, protesting, or assembling within 50 feet of a place of worship in ways that disrupt, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with someone exercising religious freedom. It directly affects individuals engaging in such activities near churches, synagogues, mosques, or other regularly used religious sites. Violations carry a $500 fine and up to 15 days in jail per day of the offense, with each day considered a separate violation. The bill explicitly aims to protect religious freedom as guaranteed by the U.S. and Louisiana constitutions.
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.
