Criminal Justice

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 257: LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

HB 257 would allow the police chief of Central City to appoint, promote, discipline, and dismiss police personnel without needing approval from the mayor or city governing authority. This directly affects Central City's police department operations and personnel decisions. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 33:423) to grant the police chief sole authority over these personnel actions, streamlining internal management for the city's law enforcement. The bill is currently pending review in the Louisiana legislature.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes mayoral oversight for police personnel decisions, weakening external accountability mechanisms in law enforcement operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

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

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 773: PROCUREMENT: Establishes priorities and requirements for purchases by the state and participating local governments from certain providers including prison enterprises and nonprofits assisting persons with disabilities. (EG NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 773 requires Louisiana state agencies and local governments to prioritize purchasing goods and services from prison enterprises (like prison-manufactured products) and nonprofits assisting people with disabilities, when prices are competitive with standard procurement. It sets specific pricing rules: prison-made items must cost no more than the lowest cooperative purchasing price, while disability nonprofit services must match quality and pricing of alternatives. The bill exempts these purchases from standard competitive bidding requirements and establishes a council within the Department of Health to coordinate these programs. This directly affects state/local buyers, prison industries, and disability-focused nonprofits by creating new procurement pathways.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates state procurement from prison enterprises, supporting inmate rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through work opportunities in corrections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Tags People with Disabilities

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 322: PARDON/PAROLE: Prohibits the assessment of any fees or costs against certain individuals who request a copy of testimony presented in executive session before the Board of Pardons and committee on parole

HB 322 prohibits Louisiana state agencies from charging fees or costs to victims, spouses of victims, next of kin of deceased victims, or legal guardians who request copies of testimony from private hearings of the Board of Pardons and parole committee. The bill specifically amends state law to remove financial barriers for these individuals seeking testimony records related to parole or pardon proceedings. It does not affect other requesters or prevent law enforcement from sharing information as required by law. The policy change directly impacts those with direct connections to cases reviewed by these boards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves financial barriers for victims/families accessing parole testimony records, enhancing transparency in criminal justice proceedings90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 351: CORRECTIONS: Provides relative to the reentry preparation program (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 351 repeals two specific provisions related to Louisiana's reentry preparation program for formerly incarcerated individuals. It removes a requirement (R.S. 15:827.1(E)) about reentry programs and eliminates an entrepreneurial educational curriculum component within that program. This bill directly affects inmates participating in Louisiana's reentry programs by removing these specific policy requirements from state law. The change is procedural, with no new requirements or funding added.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves entrepreneurial curriculum from reentry program, reducing rehabilitation components per bill summary95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRemoves entrepreneurial educational curriculum component from reentry program, directly eliminating an educational requirement for formerly incarcerated individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Curriculum

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 399: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to temporary release of inmates for limited purposes (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows temporary release for terminally ill inmates, reducing unnecessary incarceration and aligning with criminal justice reform principles85% confidence

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 153: COURTS/CRIMINAL: Provides with respect to the collection of criminal court fines and fees

HB 153 prohibits Louisiana courts from sending criminal court fines or fees to the Department of Revenue's debt recovery office for collection and bans reporting these debts to credit bureaus or consumer reporting agencies. It directly affects individuals who owe fines or fees from criminal cases, including violations of state law or parish ordinances. The bill requires courts to handle these debts internally rather than using state debt collection systems or impacting credit reports. This change aims to prevent credit score damage and collection efforts tied to unpaid criminal court debts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal court fines/fees from being sent to debt collection or reported to credit bureaus, reducing financial barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform to avoid recidivism and protect civil rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 809: HOUSING: Provides for the transfer of surplus immovable state property in certain circumstances for the development of low-income housing

HB 809 allows Louisiana to transfer surplus state-owned land or buildings to affordable housing developers for low-income housing projects. It requires the Louisiana Housing Corporation to maintain a public inventory of such property and evaluate proposals from housing entities using a scoring system prioritizing deeply affordable units (rent ≤30% of income), permanent supportive housing, and nonprofit ownership. The bill mandates annual reporting to the legislature on transferred properties, proposed units, and completed developments. This directly affects affordable housing organizations and low-income residents (defined as those earning ≤80% of state median income) by creating a formal process to repurpose unused state assets for housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrioritizes permanent supportive housing (a key criminal justice reform strategy to reduce recidivism) for low-income populations, aligning with indicators like rehabilitation and recidivism reduction.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables state property transfer for low-income housing, prioritizes deeply affordable units (rent ≤30% income), and mandates reporting - directly advances affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness Housing Finance

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 14, 2026

HB 92: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to time limitations and other matters concerning certain sex offenses (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 92 updates Louisiana's rape laws by adding a new circumstance for first-degree rape: when the victim cannot resist due to the offender's force overpowering their ability to resist. It revises indictment forms to specifically include "forcible or second degree rape" as a charge and modifies jury verdict options for first-degree rape cases, removing "oral sexual battery" as a separate offense. The bill repeals the existing crime of oral sexual battery (R.S. 14:43.3) and makes technical adjustments to related legal provisions. These changes directly affect how prosecutors charge rape cases and how juries determine verdicts in court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates rape law to include force preventing resistance, revises charging forms for clarity, and removes redundant offense. Strengthens legal definition for prosecuting sexual violence, protecting victims and enhancing enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 579: CRIMINAL/VICTIMS: Provides relative to the rights of survivors of sexual assault

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates evidence preservation for 20+ years and ensures survivor rights notification, directly advancing victim protections within criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime