Criminal Justice

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 480: COURTS/CRIMINAL: Provides for participation in reentry courts

HB 480 amends Louisiana law to clarify eligibility for reentry courts and workforce development sentencing programs. It removes a prior restriction on defendants with sex offense convictions (defined under R.S. 15:541) and specifies that participation is barred only for crimes of violence (with 15 listed exceptions, including aggravated assault, robbery, and battery of police officers). The bill also repeals outdated provisions and requires district attorneys to consent to participation for eligible violent crime cases. This directly affects criminal defendants facing charges who may qualify for reentry court programs instead of standard sentencing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves barrier for sex offense cases in reentry courts, expanding rehabilitation access to reduce recidivism while maintaining violent crime exceptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 532: CRIMINAL/JURY TRIALS: (Constitutional Amendment) Requires unanimous jury verdicts for noncapital felonies committed prior to January 1, 2019

HB 532 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts (12 jurors all agreeing) for noncapital felony cases committed before January 1, 2019, replacing the current standard that allowed 10 of 12 jurors to agree. This change would only apply to offenses committed prior to 2019, not future cases, and requires voter approval in the November 2026 election. The amendment must be approved by Louisiana voters to take effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires unanimous verdicts for past cases, strengthening defendant rights and reducing wrongful convictions per criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 317: STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Prohibits the assignment of prekindergarten or kindergarten students to an alternative school unless suspended or expelled for certain infractions

HB 317 prohibits Louisiana schools from assigning prekindergarten or kindergarten students to alternative schools for any disciplinary reason except when a student is suspended or expelled for serious misconduct involving drugs, weapons, assault, or battery. This directly affects young children in early education, preventing their placement in alternative schools for minor behavioral issues like disruptions or minor conflicts. The bill changes existing discipline practices by restricting alternative school assignments for these grades to only the most severe infractions defined in state law. It aims to limit early exclusion of very young students from mainstream learning environments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents minor behavioral issues in young children from triggering alternative school placements, reducing early criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to avoid school-to-prison pipeline.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents early childhood students from being moved to alternative schools for minor infractions, protecting their access to regular education settings and promoting positive school environments.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 298: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to conduct that constitutes third degree rape

HB 298 expands Louisiana's definition of third-degree rape to include non-consensual sexual acts committed when a victim is confined in a correctional facility (such as a jail, prison, or detention center). This specifically affects victims held in such facilities by making their exploitation a distinct criminal offense under third-degree rape. The bill adds a new provision (Section A(5)) to the law, clarifying that confinement in a correctional facility is one circumstance where rape is deemed non-consensual. It also defines "correctional facility" broadly and states that "simple rape" and "third-degree rape" are now synonymous under this law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands legal protection for vulnerable victims in correctional facilities, aligning with civil rights safeguards in criminal justice reform by clarifying rape offenses in specific confinement scenarios.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 270: VOTERS/VOTING: Provides for absentee voting by mail by qualified incarcerated voters (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 270 allows qualified incarcerated individuals in Louisiana to vote by mail absentee ballot. It amends voting law to specifically permit people held in any Louisiana correctional facility (or outside their parish) to request mail-in ballots after registering, removing a prior barrier. This directly affects incarcerated voters who meet eligibility requirements (like not being convicted of a felony disenfranchisement offense) but were previously unable to vote by mail under existing rules. The key provision adds an exception to registration rules, enabling them to formally request absentee ballots via mail under new Section R.S. 18:115(F)(2)(f). The bill does not change voting eligibility but provides a voting method for those already qualified.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities, advancing criminal justice reform by expanding civil rights access and removing barriers to participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Tags Elections

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 92: CRIMINAL RECORDS: Requires district attorneys to submit sexual assault collection kits to the statewide tracking system. (8/1/26)

SB 92 requires Louisiana district attorney offices to submit information about sexual assault collection kits to a statewide tracking system by July 1, 2024. This mandate applies to all relevant entities, including law enforcement and healthcare providers handling these kits, to ensure consistent tracking of evidence. The law also requires the state police to report on implementation progress, including phased rollout plans, to legislative committees and the governor by January 1, 2024. The system aims to improve transparency and coordination in handling sexual assault cases, with the bill taking effect August 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires tracking of sexual assault evidence to improve prosecution efficiency and victim justice, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 34: PUBLIC SFTY/CORRECT DEPT: Provides relative to alerts for missing persons. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 34, "Bryan's Call," establishes clear rules for missing child alerts in Louisiana. It requires AMBER Alerts for children 17 or younger in immediate danger of serious harm or death, and Level II alerts for other missing children cases that don’t meet AMBER criteria. Local police must assess alert types, but state police make the final decision and provide required training for law enforcement on using these systems. The law also grants legal immunity to broadcasters, cable operators, and law enforcement for actions related to Level II alerts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes standardized missing child alert protocols for law enforcement, improving response coordination and accountability within public safety systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights

signed · Louisiana · House May 27, 2026

HB 67: PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides for protected information of certain individuals

HB 67 amends Louisiana law to require removal of personal information for individuals recognized as "protected" (such as victims of certain crimes or abuse) from public records maintained by the secretary of state and district clerks. It directly affects these protected individuals by ensuring their personal details - like addresses or contact information - are not left publicly accessible online or in physical court files. The bill mandates that offices must proactively remove such information from publicly posted records, rather than allowing individuals to opt out of removal. This creates a concrete policy change to enhance privacy for vulnerable groups in government databases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects victim privacy by removing sensitive personal info from public records, aligning with civil rights and victim safety in criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates removal of protected individuals' personal data from public digital records, directly enhancing data privacy protections in technology systems.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Data Privacy