HB 883 defines illegal online gambling as any internet-based game where players risk money for potential winnings, including sites using dual-currency systems. It targets operators, payment processors, and platform providers (like websites hosting gambling content), requiring them to block transactions with sites listed by the attorney general. Violations can result in fines up to $210,000 for operators or $20,000 for facilitators, plus up to five years in prison, with doubled penalties if minors are involved. The bill also mandates forfeiture of profits from illegal gambling activities.
HB 275 (Louisiana) creates a "Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment Law" that increases penalties for domestic abuse battery when a child under 13 is present. The bill mandates a minimum 3-year prison sentence (up to 6 years) for offenders convicted of domestic abuse battery if a minor child 13 or younger was present at the scene. This directly affects individuals convicted of domestic abuse battery in Louisiana where children were present during the incident. The law adds this mandatory sentencing requirement to existing penalties under Louisiana law, without changing the core definition of the crime.
HB 808 (Louisiana) amends criminal law to define and penalize intentional HIV exposure without consent. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit HIV through sexual contact, sharing needles without consent, or other contact posing a "substantial likelihood of transmission" (defined as contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid with significant medical risk). The bill specifies higher penalties for exposing first responders (fines up to $6,000, 11 years imprisonment) and includes affirmative defenses if the victim knew of the HIV status and consented, or if medical advice confirmed non-infectious status with disclosure. It also explicitly classifies this offense as a "sex offense" under Louisiana law for sentencing purposes. The bill does not criminalize low-risk conduct, as clarified in Section E.
HB 336 establishes new rules for inmates seeking post-conviction relief after federal habeas corpus proceedings are stayed to allow exhaustion of state remedies. It requires petitioners to submit unexhausted claims to Louisiana state district courts within 30 days, proving they had good cause for not raising the claim earlier, that the claim isn't frivolous, and they avoided delaying tactics. Applications failing to meet these requirements face automatic dismissal. The bill mandates expedited review by state courts and prioritized handling by the Louisiana Supreme Court for these claims.
HB 152 adds 13 specific synthetic opioids, including various fentanyl analogs like N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene and Beta-Methylacetyl fentanyl, to Louisiana's Schedule I controlled substances list. This means these substances are now classified as illegal without a prescription, making possession or distribution a criminal offense under state law. The bill directly affects individuals who use or distribute these drugs, as they will face the same legal penalties as other Schedule I substances. The change updates Louisiana's controlled substances law to address emerging synthetic drugs identified through chemical names.
HB 131 modifies Louisiana's post-conviction relief process by adding two new restrictions on appeals. It denies relief if a petitioner knew about a claim but failed to raise it during trial (Article 930.4(B)) or raised it in trial but didn’t pursue it on appeal (Article 930.4(C)). The bill also changes custody rules: if relief is granted, the person cannot be released on bail until Louisiana’s Supreme Court finishes reviewing the case (Article 930.5(C)). This directly affects individuals convicted of crimes seeking to overturn their convictions through post-conviction appeals. The law aims to reduce repetitive or incomplete appeals while clarifying custody procedures during appeals.
HB 53 adds seven specific gambling-related crimes to Louisiana’s list of offenses that can serve as the basis for racketeering charges. It includes violations like operating illegal gambling games (R.S. 14:90), gambling in public (R.S. 14:90.2), computer gambling (R.S. 14:90.3), and bribery of sports participants (R.S. 14:118.1). Prosecutors can now use these gambling crimes as "predicate offenses" to build racketeering cases under Louisiana’s racketeering statute. The bill does not change the gambling laws themselves but expands how gambling violations can be prosecuted under broader organized crime statutes.
HB 276 establishes a statewide minimum bail amount of $50,000 for individuals arrested in Louisiana for specific sexual offenses against minors under 18 years old. It directly affects defendants charged with offenses like rape (first, second, or third degree), sexual battery, child sexual abuse materials, or molestation of a juvenile. The bill mandates that district courts set this minimum bail amount for listed offenses, though courts may set higher amounts based on factors in Article 316. This policy change standardizes initial bail requirements for these serious crimes, aiming to ensure defendants remain in custody pending trial.
This bill prohibits law enforcement officers working at public colleges and universities in Louisiana from receiving state supplemental pay. The change removes these higher education institutions from a list of agencies eligible for an additional $600 monthly payment that currently applies to police officers in New Orleans and Lake Charles. By amending the relevant state statute, the legislation ensures that only officers working for specific city police agencies and state departments can receive this extra compensation. The measure does not affect the base salaries of these officers or their employment conditions, only their eligibility for this specific state-funded supplement.
