Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 131: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to post-conviction relief

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts post-conviction appeals by denying relief for procedural failures, limiting defendant rights and opposing reform efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 120: DISTRICTS/CRIME PREVENT: Creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Security District in Orleans Parish

HB 120 creates the Real Timbers Crime Prevention and Improvement District in a specific area of New Orleans bounded by Iowa Street, Amazon Street, Delaware Street, Memorial Park Drive, Kansas Street, and Hudson Street. It establishes a local governing board (seven members, including homeowners association leaders and resident appointees) to manage district funds collected through an annual property fee (up to $315 per parcel) approved by voters. The district’s funds must be used exclusively for security patrols, improved lighting, signage, beautification, and other quality-of-life initiatives within its boundaries, supplementing but not replacing city police services. Property owners in the district are directly affected, as they will pay the fee and vote on its continuation. The fee requires voter approval and expires after five years unless renewed by a majority vote.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates local crime prevention district with dedicated funding for community safety, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of proactive crime reduction through community-based initiatives.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 305: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to child sexual abuse materials (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 305 requires law enforcement agencies to share seized child sexual abuse materials with Louisiana's Attorney General's Internet Crimes division. This division must then forward the materials and related case information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Child Victim Identification Program. The bill mandates that law enforcement submit specific victim details (including biographical information) to the Attorney General's Exploited Children's Identification database when victims are identified and reside in Louisiana. These requirements apply to all cases involving identified victims of child sexual abuse materials, with no legal consequences for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement sharing child exploitation evidence with specialized units to enhance victim protection and investigative efficiency in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 53: GAMBLING: Adds certain gambling crimes as predicate offenses for racketeering (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding gambling offenses to racketeering predicate list, enabling harsher charges under criminal justice framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 111: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Provides relative to diminution of sentence for the earning of an associate's degree (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 111 would allow incarcerated individuals in Louisiana to earn an additional 90 days of credit toward their parole supervision date if they obtain an associate's degree from a regionally accredited, department-approved educational institution while serving their sentence. This policy directly affects people in Louisiana state prisons who complete such a degree program. The key provision adds this specific credit to existing good time calculations under Louisiana law, reducing the time they must serve under parole supervision. The bill does not alter prison sentences but shortens the parole period for eligible individuals who earn the degree.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows sentence reduction for prison education, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - directly advancing criminal justice reform through rehabilitation incentives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 147: CRIME/RACKETEERING: Provides for the definition of the crime of racketeering (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 147 amends Louisiana law to explicitly include mail theft (R.S. 14:67.6) and theft of mail receptacle keys/locks (R.S. 14:67.7) as specific crimes that qualify as "racketeering activity." This definition change directly affects Louisiana law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts handling criminal cases involving these mail-related offenses. The bill adds these two offenses to the existing list of crimes that can be prosecuted under racketeering statutes, without creating new penalties or requirements. The bill is procedural, solely updating the legal definition within Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands racketeering definition to include mail theft, strengthening prosecution tools for law enforcement under criminal justice statutes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 57: EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

HB 57 amends Louisiana law governing temporary restraining orders (TROs) in abuse cases. It requires courts to give the respondent (the person accused of abuse) an opportunity to rebut and respond to any criminal history evidence considered when granting a TRO without notice. The bill also specifies that courts must provide the respondent with 24-hour notice of the TRO and the subsequent hearing, and mandates that the petitioner prove abuse allegations by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing. This applies to all TRO proceedings where criminal history is used as evidence, directly affecting petitioners, respondents, and courts handling these cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to provide respondents rebuttal opportunity, 24-hour notice, and proof standard in TRO proceedings, protecting defendant rights in abuse cases.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 56: DWI: Provides relative to the imposition of fines for driving while impaired (EN DECREASE SD RV See Note)

HB 56 repeals specific sections of Louisiana law that imposed additional fines for driving while impaired (DWI). It directly affects drivers convicted of DWI in Louisiana by removing four designated fine amounts from the legal code. The bill's key mechanism is the complete removal of these provisions (R.S. 14:98.1(A)(4), 98.2(A)(5), 98.3(A)(4), and 98.4(A)(3)) without replacing them with new fines or penalties. This change would eliminate those specific additional fines for DWI convictions, though it does not alter the base penalties or other aspects of DWI law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves additional DWI fines, reducing penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of less punitive sentencing.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice