SB 197 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

COURTS: Reduces number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. (2/3-CA5s9) (gov sig) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 197 reduces the number of judges on Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal from 12 to 8. It changes the election structure, specifying that five judges will be elected (from districts and at-large) instead of the current eight. The bill ensures current judges serving terms ending after 2026 may complete their full terms without new elections for specific seats. This is a procedural change to court staffing, not a direct policy affecting citizens or new laws. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed Jun 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB197 Original → SB197 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill reduces the number of judges on Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal from twelve to ten. It specifically decreases the number of judges elected from the first district from eight to five and reduces the number of judges elected at-large from two to one. The law includes a transition clause ensuring current judges can finish their terms without immediate re-election.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal by reducing its judicial bench size and altering the geographic distribution of elected judges.

REQUIREMENT

The total number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal is reduced from twelve to ten.

The number of judges elected from the first district is reduced from eight to five.

The number of judges elected from the circuit at-large is reduced from two to one.

TIMELINE

No further elections will be held for the eliminated seats or the seat held by Chief Judge Roland Belsome, preserving current judges until their terms expire.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2026 · House May 27, 2026

How they voted

26–10

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Apr 7, 2026

D Democratic12

1 Yea 9 Nay 2

75% Nay

R Republican28

25 Yea 1 Nay 2

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 70, nays 30. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 6, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (11-4-1). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 26 yeas and 9 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors