CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides for responsive verdicts for specific crimes. (8/1/26)

SB 166 amends Louisiana's criminal procedure code to adjust jury verdict options for specific homicide charges. It removes "guilty of negligent homicide" as a possible verdict for first-degree murder (Article 814(A)(1)) and second-degree murder (Article 814(A)(3)), while adding it as a verdict option for manslaughter (Article 814(A)(5)). The bill also repeals the existing provision for negligent homicide verdicts (Article 814(A)(7)). This directly affects Louisiana criminal trials where juries must choose from specified verdicts when charged with murder or manslaughter offenses. The changes clarify which lesser offenses can be considered as responsive verdicts during jury deliberations.