HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Provides relative to bail conditions for defendants alleged to have committed certain human trafficking offenses (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
HB 161 modifies bail conditions for defendants accused of human trafficking (under R.S. 14:46.2) or trafficking children for sexual purposes (R.S. 14:46.3). It requires courts to impose strict conditions if the defendant poses a threat to the victim, including banning all contact with the victim, their residence, workplace, school, and any communication (including electronic). The bill also prohibits defendants from working in specific roles like transportation drivers, home service workers, childcare facilities, or door-to-door sales. These measures aim to protect victims and prevent potential reoffending during pretrial release.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 13, 2026
Signed May 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB161 Original
→
HB161 Act
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill reorganizes the legal section for bail conditions, moving human trafficking from a general domestic offense category to a specific, high-priority category alongside crimes of violence. This change ensures that defendants accused of human trafficking face stricter employment restrictions, such as bans on driving for ride-sharing apps, operating taxis, or working in child care, to prevent them from accessing victims or escaping law enforcement. The update also clarifies the text to remove redundant phrases and aligns the statute with the current structure of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was expanded by creating a distinct subsection for human trafficking, separating it from general domestic violence and stalking offenses to ensure specific, targeted bail conditions are applied.
REQUIREMENT
Human trafficking was moved from a general list of offenses to a specific subsection (J)(1) that mandates stricter bail conditions, including prohibitions on specific types of employment like ride-sharing and child care.
TECHNICAL
The bill number and section references were updated to reflect the new Article 320(J) structure, replacing the old Article 320(G) designation.
Redundant and repetitive phrases, such as 'or who is alleged to have committed the offense of,' were removed to clarify the legal text.
Floor votes · Senate May 11, 2026 · House Apr 9, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 11, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
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 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (10-0).
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
Shane Mack
RRepublican
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