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SB 258 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

JUVENILES: Provides relative to juvenile traffic violations. (2/3 - CA5s19) (8/1/26)

SB 258 changes Louisiana law to require that 17-year-olds and older be prosecuted in district court for traffic offenses, rather than juvenile court. It amends the Children's Code by redefining "delinquent act" to include traffic violations for individuals under 17, meaning traffic offenses committed by 17- to 20-year-olds will now be treated as criminal matters in adult court. The bill directly affects teens aged 17-20 who commit traffic violations, shifting their cases from juvenile proceedings to standard criminal prosecution. This change removes the previous exclusion of traffic violations from juvenile court jurisdiction for this age group. The bill is currently prefiled and awaiting committee referral.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeShifts traffic offenses for 17-20yo from juvenile to adult court, expanding criminalization of minor offenses per bill's explicit jurisdiction change.95% confidence
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
May 2026
Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB258 Original → SB258 Act 479 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as Act 479, removing the requirement to amend existing definitions of 'delinquent acts' and instead enacting a new, standalone article specifically for juvenile traffic violations. This change clarifies that children under 17 who commit traffic offenses are treated differently from other delinquent acts, likely ensuring they are prosecuted in district court rather than juvenile court.
Scope change
The bill's scope narrowed from a general amendment to the Children's Code regarding delinquent acts to a specific, standalone article exclusively addressing juvenile traffic violations.
DEFINITION

Removed the amendment to the existing definition of 'delinquent act' which previously excluded traffic violations from the standard juvenile justice process.

Added a new definition for 'child' in the context of traffic violations, specifically covering persons under 21 who commit traffic offenses before turning 17.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new legal framework (Art. 951.1) to handle juvenile traffic violations separately from other delinquent acts.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from an original draft bill to an enrolled act, indicating it has been approved by the Governor and is now law.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 7, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

30–5
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 40
Apr 7, 2026
D Democratic12
5 Yea 4 Nay 3
41% Yea
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
18
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (7-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 30 yeas and 4 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Eddie Lambert
Eddie Lambert
RRepublican
LA
18