Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 108: CRIMINAL/JURY TRIALS: Provides relative to juror qualifications

HB 108 prohibits individuals convicted of violent crimes (as defined in Louisiana law) or sex offenses (as defined in Louisiana law) from serving on criminal juries. The bill amends the state's Code of Criminal Procedure to add this requirement as a specific disqualification for jury service. This change directly affects people with prior convictions for these offenses, barring them from jury duty in criminal cases. The law would apply to all criminal jury panels across Louisiana, modifying the existing qualifications outlined in Article 401(A)(6). The bill focuses solely on defining who cannot serve, not on other aspects of jury selection or criminal procedure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts jury eligibility for those with violent/sex offense convictions, limiting participation in criminal courts and opposing inclusion-focused reform95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 251: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides with respect to criminal resentencing

HB 251 requires Louisiana trial courts to hold a "contradictory hearing" and allow victims (or their families if the victim is deceased or disabled) to make a statement before granting any motion to vacate a final conviction or resentence an imprisoned person to a lesser sentence. The bill mandates that courts provide written notice of such motions to victims and their families, ensuring they can participate in the process. Any motion granted without this hearing or notice is automatically void, and pending appeals may be remanded for the court to consider the victim's input. This bill directly affects victims of crimes and their families in criminal resentencing cases, adding a procedural step to protect their right to be heard.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires victim participation in resentencing motions, aligning with victim protection in criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 245: PAROLE: Provides relative to medical parole (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 245 amends Louisiana law to establish specific procedures for medical parole and medical treatment furloughs. It requires the parole committee to notify the district attorney and attorney general at least 90 days before a parole hearing and 30 days before a medical parole hearing, allowing them to review offender records and present testimony. The bill also mandates that victims or their next of kin receive written notice at least 90 days before parole hearings and 30 days before medical parole hearings, explaining their rights. Additionally, it adds provisions for medical parole eligibility for permanently disabled or terminally ill offenders, while updating parole ineligibility rules for offenses committed after August 1, 2024. These changes primarily affect incarcerated individuals seeking medical parole, prosecutors, and crime victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes medical parole procedures, aligning with criminal justice reform by addressing inmate healthcare needs and reducing unnecessary incarceration through structured release processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 81: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act)

SB 81 requires written consent from the district attorney for defendants to waive a jury trial in noncapital felony cases. It changes Louisiana law to mandate that courts deny such waiver requests without the prosecutor's written approval, effective within 45 days before trial. The bill's implementation depends on voter approval of a related constitutional amendment (Article 1, Section 17(A)). This directly affects defendants in noncapital felony cases and prosecutors who must now provide written consent for jury waivers. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage (prefiled February 20, 2026) and not yet enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant rights by requiring prosecutor consent for jury trial waiver, denying waiver without it per bill language.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 169: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides relative to extradition as a condition of probation or parole (EN INCREASE SG RV See Note)

HB 169 adds a new condition for both probation and parole in Louisiana: individuals must waive extradition to Louisiana from any U.S. or international jurisdiction and agree not to contest being returned. This applies to anyone on probation or parole who leaves Louisiana, requiring them to pay the full cost of extradition (based on their ability to pay) if returned from outside the state. The bill amends Louisiana law to include this requirement as a standard condition during probation or parole placement. It directly affects individuals under probation or parole supervision who travel outside Louisiana, imposing a financial obligation for their return. The law aims to streamline the return process for offenders who leave the state.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds extradition waiver and cost payment as probation/parole condition, restricting offender movement and imposing financial burden, opposing reform efforts92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 156: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Increases the maximum period of imprisonment for negligent homicide. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 156 increases the maximum prison sentence for negligent homicide from 10 to 15 years in certain cases. It specifically raises the maximum to 15 years for killing a child under 10, and to 40 years for offenders over 17 who cause the death of someone under 17 through intentional or negligent mistreatment. The bill also requires courts to explain in writing why they don't sentence offenders to prison when alcohol contributed to a vehicle-related death. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of negligent homicide, particularly in cases involving minors or alcohol-related incidents.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases maximum prison terms for negligent homicide, including longer sentences for child-related deaths and alcohol-related vehicular deaths, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 201: JUVENILE JUSTICE: Limits juvenile offender parole eligibility in resentencing court. (8/1/26)

SB 201 requires Louisiana courts to hold specific hearings when resentencing juvenile offenders to determine whether parole eligibility should be included in their sentence. The bill mandates that courts explicitly state their reasoning for denying parole eligibility, reserving such sentences for the "worst offenders and worst cases." It also specifies that appellate courts must prioritize the original sentencing court's findings, particularly when youth was rejected as a mitigating factor. This procedural change affects juvenile offenders facing resentencing, focusing on the process for determining parole eligibility rather than altering sentencing ranges.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeLimits juvenile parole eligibility, requiring denial for 'worst offenders' and rejecting youth as mitigating factor, restricting rehabilitation options.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 258: 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.

Topics ✗ 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 | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 339: GAMING: Provides relative to criminal background checks in the gaming industry. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)

SB 339 requires background checks for individuals applying to work in Louisiana's horse racing and charitable gaming industries. It mandates that applicants submit fingerprints to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification for state and national criminal history checks, including records that were expunged or dismissed. The bill specifies that license applicants (for the Racing Commission or Office of Charitable Gaming) must cover the costs of these checks, and the Louisiana Department of Justice will review the results during licensing. These checks apply to all applicants seeking licenses for gaming operations, ensuring criminal history is reviewed as part of the licensing process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires strict background checks including expunged records for gaming industry employment, strengthening criminal justice oversight in workforce screening.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 345: JUVENILE JUSTICE: Requires the office of juvenile justice to submit an annual report to the legislature. (8/1/26)

SB 345 requires Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Senate Judiciary B Committee and the legislative research library. The report must detail prevention programs, diversion program development, access to education/health resources for juveniles in custody, and specific statistics on juvenile custody numbers, complaints, investigations, and lawsuits. This bill increases transparency in the juvenile justice system by mandating regular, standardized reporting on key operational metrics. It directly affects the Office of Juvenile Justice, which must now collect and submit this data annually.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual transparency reports on juvenile justice programs and statistics, enhancing oversight and accountability in the system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice