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HB 158 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

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.
Issues: ✗ 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
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB158 Original → HB158 Act 622 · 2 edits
MINOR
This bill increases the maximum jail time a person can be ordered to serve for a technical violation of probation from 90 days to 180 days. It also adds a specific provision allowing courts to order defendants to serve this sentence in a custodial substance abuse treatment program. These changes expand the potential penalties for failing to follow probation rules and introduce a new option for addressing substance abuse issues through incarceration.
Scope change
The bill applies to all defendants placed on probation for offenses that are not crimes of violence or sex offenses, maintaining the existing eligibility criteria while increasing the penalty limits.
REQUIREMENT

Increased the maximum sentence for a technical probation violation from 90 days to 180 days.

Added a provision allowing courts to order defendants to serve the sentence in a custodial substance abuse treatment program.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House Apr 8, 2026

How they voted

35–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
May 26, 2026
D Democratic12
9 Yea 3
75% Yea
R Republican28
26 Yea 2
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 20, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 3. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (9-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dodie Horton
Dodie Horton
RRepublican
LA
9