Criminal Justice (Courts)

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 151: CRIMINAL/RECORDS: Provides relative to expungement of arrest information (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 151 (Louisiana) establishes specific document requirements for individuals seeking to expunge arrest records. It mandates that applicants submit court records (like minute entries or disposition reports), criminal background checks, and certification letters from district attorneys verifying no current convictions, pending charges, or participation in diversion programs. The bill directly affects people with arrest records who qualify for expungement under Louisiana law, streamlining the application process by standardizing required paperwork. This procedural bill does not change eligibility for expungement but clarifies the documentation needed when filing a motion. (Bill text: Code of Criminal Procedure Article 978.1, as enacted by Louisiana Legislature.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 151 streamlines expungement requirements, reducing barriers for individuals with arrest records - aligns with criminal justice reform goals to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Louisiana · House May 14, 2026

HB 336: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to post-conviction relief

HB 336 establishes new rules for inmates seeking post-conviction relief after federal habeas corpus proceedings are stayed to allow exhaustion of state remedies. It requires petitioners to submit unexhausted claims to Louisiana state district courts within 30 days, proving they had good cause for not raising the claim earlier, that the claim isn't frivolous, and they avoided delaying tactics. Applications failing to meet these requirements face automatic dismissal. The bill mandates expedited review by state courts and prioritized handling by the Louisiana Supreme Court for these claims.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts post-conviction relief by mandating strict requirements (good cause, non-frivolous claims) and automatic dismissal for non-compliance, limiting defendant rights in criminal justice process.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 231: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Adds intentional evasion of service of process for certain court orders as conduct that constitutes a violation of a protective order

HB 231 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally avoiding service of specific court orders, directly affecting individuals who evade legal notices related to protective orders, custody cases, or other civil/criminal proceedings. The bill makes it a violation to deliberately skip being served with orders issued under laws covering domestic violence (R.S. 9:361 et seq.), child custody (R.S. 28:53.2), or certain civil/criminal court processes (e.g., Code of Civil Procedure Articles 3601 or 3607.1). Key provisions define which orders trigger this crime and establish criminal penalties for intentional evasion, rather than focusing on the underlying order's content. This policy change adds a criminal consequence for avoiding court-ordered notices, targeting a specific behavior without altering the substantive requirements of the covered orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for evading court orders, expanding criminalization without reform measures or defendant protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 538: COURTS/JUVENILE: Provides relative to the judicial expense fund for the Juvenile Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge

HB 538 creates a dedicated judicial expense fund for East Baton Rouge Parish's Juvenile Court by increasing civil filing fees (up to $75) and adding $10 in criminal nonsupport cases. The fund can cover court staff salaries, equipment, operational costs, and library expenses, but explicitly prohibits using it to pay judges' salaries. All fund disbursements require oversight by the court's chief judge and judges sitting en banc, with annual audits filed publicly. This bill directly affects the financial administration of juvenile court proceedings in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated judicial fund via fee increases ($75 civil, $10 criminal) to cover court operations, staff, and equipment, explicitly funding essential public service without defunding or restricting budgets.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates dedicated fund for juvenile court operational costs (staff, equipment, operations), directly funding a core component of the criminal justice system's court function.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 106: PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides that certain photographs, audio or video recordings, digital images regarding a crime scene or used in a criminal prosecution are not public records available for release or to be copied except by clerk of court or a court order. (8/1/26)

SB 106 makes certain crime scene photographs, videos (including body camera footage), audio recordings, and digital images confidential under Louisiana law. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, coroners, and other public bodies that collect or maintain such evidence used in criminal cases. The bill prohibits these materials from being released as public records, except when a court specifically orders disclosure. This change applies to all media depicting crime scenes, evidence, or victims' bodies that may be used in criminal proceedings, regardless of who created or holds the material. The law ensures these sensitive materials remain confidential without a judicial order.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts public access to crime scene evidence, weakening law enforcement oversight and transparency in criminal cases.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts public access to digital crime scene evidence, enhancing data privacy protections for sensitive digital records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Tags Government Transparency

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 133: CRIME/BATTERY: Provides relative to certain battery offenses against school employees (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

This Louisiana bill creates a specific offense for battery against school teachers, defined as battery committed when the perpetrator knows the victim is a teacher or targets them due to their job. It sets harsher penalties for non-student offenders (up to 5 years in jail or $5,000 fine) versus students (up to 1.5 years jail with 72 hours mandatory for minor cases, or up to 1 year for injuries requiring medical care). Juvenile offenders under 17 are handled under the Children's Code, requiring court-approved counseling (costs borne by the family) and secure detention for teens 14+ who commit this crime. The law applies to all school teachers during work duties and modifies juvenile court procedures for such offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates specific offense with harsher penalties for battery against teachers, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences beyond standard battery charges.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects teachers from assault with enhanced penalties, directly supporting educator safety in schools per bill's explicit focus on teacher-targeted battery offenses.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases penalties for battery against teachers (workplace safety), protecting workers from assault in professional environment per job targeting.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice School Safety Teachers

in committee · Louisiana · House May 19, 2026

HB 564: CRIME: Provides relative to parties to a crime (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 564 adds "accessory before the fact" as a distinct legal category in Louisiana law, defining it as someone who helps plan or encourage a crime but isn't physically present during its commission. Penalties for this role are tiered based on the underlying offense - for example, up to 15 years for life felony crimes, or half the principal's maximum penalty for most others. The bill also creates a new resentencing process: individuals convicted as principals but later proven to be accessories before the fact can request sentence reduction after serving at least one-third of their term, with the court requiring evidence to adjust penalties under the new definitions. This directly affects people currently serving sentences for crimes where their role was misclassified as principal rather than accessory before the fact.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds accessory category with tiered penalties and resentencing for wrongful principal convictions, promoting sentencing accuracy and potential sentence reduction per reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 769: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to the removal authority process with respect to domestic offenders

HB 769 requires courts to hold a domestic abuse offender without bail for 48-72 hours (a "cooling off" period) after arrest for specific offenses like domestic abuse battery, violation of protective orders, or stalking involving family, household, or dating partners. This applies to defendants charged with offenses listed in the bill, directly affecting those arrested for these crimes and the courts handling their cases. The bill mandates a court hearing about bail conditions within five days (excluding weekends/holidays) if bail isn't set immediately during this holding period. It does not change the definition of offenses but modifies the immediate detention and hearing process for these cases. The law aims to provide safety time for victims before bail decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates 48-72hr detention without bail for domestic abuse offenders to prevent immediate re-offending, enhancing victim safety and court oversight in criminal justice process.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 159: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Creates a pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program in Caddo Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates pretrial home monitoring alternative for non-violent offenders, reducing unnecessary jail time and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

passed · Louisiana · House May 7, 2026

HB 276: BAIL: Authorizes a court to conduct a contradictory bail hearing prior to setting bail for a person in custody who is charged with certain sexually based offenses against a child under the age of eighteen

HB 276 establishes a statewide minimum bail amount of $50,000 for individuals arrested in Louisiana for specific sexual offenses against minors under 18 years old. It directly affects defendants charged with offenses like rape (first, second, or third degree), sexual battery, child sexual abuse materials, or molestation of a juvenile. The bill mandates that district courts set this minimum bail amount for listed offenses, though courts may set higher amounts based on factors in Article 316. This policy change standardizes initial bail requirements for these serious crimes, aiming to ensure defendants remain in custody pending trial.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates $50k minimum bail for child sexual offenses, restricting defendant release options and increasing pretrial detention without reform focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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