HB 399 would allow Louisiana prisons to temporarily release inmates with terminal illnesses (where death is expected within 120 days) or severe mobility restrictions requiring acute medical care, such as prolonged coma or mechanical ventilation. It specifically excludes inmates sentenced to death. The bill clarifies the timeframe for release decisions and amends existing law to standardize this process. Currently pending in committee, it has not yet become law.
HB 538 creates a dedicated judicial expense fund for East Baton Rouge Parish's Juvenile Court by increasing civil filing fees (up to $75) and adding $10 in criminal nonsupport cases. The fund can cover court staff salaries, equipment, operational costs, and library expenses, but explicitly prohibits using it to pay judges' salaries. All fund disbursements require oversight by the court's chief judge and judges sitting en banc, with annual audits filed publicly. This bill directly affects the financial administration of juvenile court proceedings in East Baton Rouge Parish.
HB 983 allocates approximately $229.6 million in state funds to cover the operational expenses of Louisiana's judicial system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, and related judicial bodies by providing financial support for salaries, administrative costs, retirement benefits, and specialized programs. Key provisions include funding for judge and staff compensation, the Judicial Administrator's Office, the Judiciary Commission, the Law Library, the Judicial College, and various support services such as the Louisiana Protective Order Registry and the Families in Need of Services Program. The legislation also covers information technology expenses and contributions to judicial retirement and pension systems.
This bill amends Louisiana law to clarify how marshals can appoint deputy marshals and outlines the rules for their compensation and oversight. It allows marshals to issue commissions to deputy marshals who will have the same powers as the marshal, but this appointment requires approval from the local governing authority where the marshal has jurisdiction. The bill also establishes that the local governing authority must insure approved deputy marshals and determine their salary, which cannot exceed the marshal's salary. Additionally, it specifies that the marshal remains responsible for the actions of their deputies and allows marshals to use certain office funds to pay deputy salaries or hire additional deputies.
HB 159 creates a pilot program in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, allowing eligible defendants to serve pretrial time at home under electronic monitoring instead of being held in jail. To qualify, defendants cannot face violent crime or sex offense charges (as defined by law) and must pass a risk assessment by the sheriff’s office, in coordination with the district attorney and court. Participants must follow conditions like curfews, possible mental health check-ins, and pay a sliding-scale fee for supervision (with lower costs for those who cannot afford full fees). The sheriff must develop program rules, evaluate its effectiveness, and report findings to legislative committees and Caddo Parish officials, with the program ending if a new or expanded jail opens in the parish.
This bill requires all K-12 school employees in Louisiana to immediately report any threats of violence or terrorism to local law enforcement and, if applicable, to the school administrator. It also mandates that law enforcement agencies forward these threat reports to the state's Louisiana Fusion Center within seven days, while protecting the privacy of students and individuals who made the reports. Additionally, the bill establishes a program where the Fusion Center will conduct free physical security assessments of public schools every three years starting in 2027, with optional assessments available for charter and nonpublic schools. The assessments will identify safety vulnerabilities and provide nonbinding recommendations for improvements, but schools are not required to implement these suggestions and will be protected from liability regardless of their decisions.
HB 167 requires Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections to provide specific documentation to inmates before release from prison, primarily affecting those convicted of felony offenses. The bill mandates the department to issue a special identification card (valid for four years) to inmates without state ID, along with employment-related documents like vocational records, birth certificates, social security cards, and a resume detailing skills. It also creates a "Certificate of Employability" for inmates who completed approved rehabilitation programs, earned educational credentials, had no major disciplinary issues in the past year, and passed a skills assessment. This certificate, valid unless revoked for a new felony conviction, helps former inmates prove job readiness to employers. The law aims to improve post-release employment outcomes by streamlining access to essential identification and work documentation.
HB 579 in Louisiana establishes specific rights for sexual assault survivors by amending the state's Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights. It requires that unreported sexual assault evidence collection kits be preserved without cost for at least 20 years (or longer per state policy), ensures survivors are notified of all their rights under the law, and confirms survivors retain any additional rights granted by other Louisiana laws. The bill directly affects individuals who have experienced sexual assault in Louisiana, focusing on preserving evidence and ensuring awareness of legal protections. These provisions aim to strengthen support systems for survivors through concrete policy changes in evidence handling and rights communication.
HB 590 creates two new programs to improve communication during traffic stops for drivers with specific conditions. The Green Envelope Program provides specially designed green envelopes (for drivers with mental health conditions or their guardians) and the Blue Envelope Program provides blue envelopes (for drivers with autism spectrum disorder or their guardians). Each envelope includes exterior communication guidelines for law enforcement and can hold essential documents like licenses, registrations, and medical information, with no medical documentation required to request either envelope. The programs aim to help officers interact more effectively during stops, directly affecting drivers with these conditions and their families.
HB 769 requires courts to hold a domestic abuse offender without bail for 48-72 hours (a "cooling off" period) after arrest for specific offenses like domestic abuse battery, violation of protective orders, or stalking involving family, household, or dating partners. This applies to defendants charged with offenses listed in the bill, directly affecting those arrested for these crimes and the courts handling their cases. The bill mandates a court hearing about bail conditions within five days (excluding weekends/holidays) if bail isn't set immediately during this holding period. It does not change the definition of offenses but modifies the immediate detention and hearing process for these cases. The law aims to provide safety time for victims before bail decisions.
