Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 151: CRIMINAL/RECORDS: Provides relative to expungement of arrest information (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 151 (Louisiana) establishes specific document requirements for individuals seeking to expunge arrest records. It mandates that applicants submit court records (like minute entries or disposition reports), criminal background checks, and certification letters from district attorneys verifying no current convictions, pending charges, or participation in diversion programs. The bill directly affects people with arrest records who qualify for expungement under Louisiana law, streamlining the application process by standardizing required paperwork. This procedural bill does not change eligibility for expungement but clarifies the documentation needed when filing a motion. (Bill text: Code of Criminal Procedure Article 978.1, as enacted by Louisiana Legislature.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 151 streamlines expungement requirements, reducing barriers for individuals with arrest records - aligns with criminal justice reform goals to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Louisiana · House May 7, 2026

HB 123: CRIMINAL/JUSTICE: Provides relative to electronic monitoring (OR +$10,356,586 GF EX See Note)

HB 123 regulates electronic monitoring for pretrial and post-conviction supervision in Louisiana. It requires service providers to register with the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, submit monthly and annual reports to courts and prosecutors, and report violations within 30 minutes. The bill also mandates security protocols for protecting monitored individuals' personal data and imposes fines or registration bans for noncompliance. It directly affects electronic monitoring service providers, courts, law enforcement, and prosecutors, while safeguarding data privacy for individuals under monitoring. The bill repeals outdated provisions (R.S. 15:571.36(C)(5) and 835) to update oversight of this system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRegulates electronic monitoring with oversight, data security, and timely violation reporting, enhancing accountability in supervision systems.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates security protocols for personal data in electronic monitoring, directly protecting privacy and enhancing cybersecurity standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Probation & Parole Data Privacy

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died · Louisiana · House Mar 16, 2026

HCR 1: CONGRESS: Memorializes the La. congressional delegation to investigate the individuals implicated in the Epstein files and ensure they are prosecuted and held responsible through every available legal process

HCR 1 is a concurrent resolution asking Louisiana's U.S. congressional delegation to investigate and pursue prosecution of individuals named in the Epstein files, including those allegedly involved in child sex trafficking, blackmail, and bribery. It references the Epstein Files Transparency Act (2025), which mandated public disclosure of unclassified DOJ documents revealing high-profile connections to Epstein's network. The resolution requests that Louisiana's representatives ensure all implicated individuals face full legal accountability through available processes. This is a non-binding request to federal lawmakers, not a new law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequests prosecution of Epstein network for child sex trafficking, aligning with criminal justice's core function of holding offenders accountable.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 161: HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Provides relative to bail conditions for defendants alleged to have committed certain human trafficking offenses (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 161 modifies bail conditions for defendants accused of human trafficking (under R.S. 14:46.2) or trafficking children for sexual purposes (R.S. 14:46.3). It requires courts to impose strict conditions if the defendant poses a threat to the victim, including banning all contact with the victim, their residence, workplace, school, and any communication (including electronic). The bill also prohibits defendants from working in specific roles like transportation drivers, home service workers, childcare facilities, or door-to-door sales. These measures aim to protect victims and prevent potential reoffending during pretrial release.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes strict bail conditions to protect trafficking victims, banning contact and restricting defendant roles, advancing victim safety in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

passed · Louisiana · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 91: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Provides relative to sentencing of defendants who are survivors of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. (8/1/26) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 91 allows defendants convicted of felony offenses before August 1, 2026, who are survivors of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault to request resentencing after that date. To qualify, they must provide documentation proving their survivor status, prior conviction, and evidence linking their abuse experience to the crime. If approved, courts must reduce sentences to specific limits (e.g., life without parole reduced to 30 years, or 15+ year sentences reduced to 7.5 years), considering the abuse as a mitigating factor. The bill excludes certain offenses like sex offender registrations or violent crimes requiring specific additional proof. This applies only to those already serving sentences on or after August 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows resentencing for abuse survivors, reducing harsh sentences to align with trauma-informed justice, directly advancing criminal justice reform by addressing systemic inequities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing Victims' Rights

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 538: COURTS/JUVENILE: Provides relative to the judicial expense fund for the Juvenile Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated judicial fund via fee increases ($75 civil, $10 criminal) to cover court operations, staff, and equipment, explicitly funding essential public service without defunding or restricting budgets.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates dedicated fund for juvenile court operational costs (staff, equipment, operations), directly funding a core component of the criminal justice system's court function.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 523: PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to parole eligibility for certain individuals (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 523, the "Hope For Redemption Act," creates new parole eligibility for individuals convicted of second-degree murder (R.S. 14:30.1) if they were aged 17-24 at the time of the offense. To qualify, they must have no prior felony convictions, have served at least 30 years of their life sentence, and not fall under specific exclusions (e.g., first-degree murder, sex offenses, or crimes against children under 13). The bill directly affects eligible life-sentenced individuals who committed second-degree murder as young adults, altering parole consideration criteria under Louisiana law. It does not change sentencing but establishes new pathways for parole review after lengthy incarceration. The law would apply only to those meeting all specified conditions, excluding certain high-risk offenses from eligibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates parole eligibility for young second-degree murder offenders after 30 years, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of rehabilitation and reducing life sentences for non-violent cases.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 69: DWI: Provides relative to ignition interlock device offenses

HB 69 clarifies restrictions for individuals required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) as part of DWI-related probation or legal conditions. The bill specifically prohibits these individuals from operating, leasing, or borrowing any vehicle without a functioning IID installed (per R.S. 14:334(A)(1)), and bans them from asking others to blow into the device or start the vehicle to bypass the requirement (per R.S. 14:334(A)(2)). It directly affects DWI offenders subject to IID mandates under Louisiana law. The bill amends existing provisions in R.S. 14:334(A) and references relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This is a procedural clarification of current enforcement standards, not a new policy change.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces strict IID compliance to reduce DWI recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of preventing repeat offenses through accountability measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 162: DISTRICTS/CRIME PREVENT: Provides relative to the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention and Improvement District

HB 162 establishes a fee structure for the Jefferson Place/Bocage Crime Prevention and Improvement District in Louisiana. It sets a maximum annual parcel fee of $541,000 per improved property, starting at $501,000 for the first year, with future adjustments requiring voter approval through a special election. Property owners within the district are directly affected, as the fee - collected to fund crime prevention efforts - cannot be imposed without majority voter consent for both its initial adoption and any subsequent increases. The bill modifies existing law to formalize these fee limits and voter approval requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds crime prevention efforts through district fees, directly supporting local safety initiatives per bill's purpose.85% confidence

in committee · Louisiana · House May 19, 2026

HB 564: CRIME: Provides relative to parties to a crime (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 564 adds "accessory before the fact" as a distinct legal category in Louisiana law, defining it as someone who helps plan or encourage a crime but isn't physically present during its commission. Penalties for this role are tiered based on the underlying offense - for example, up to 15 years for life felony crimes, or half the principal's maximum penalty for most others. The bill also creates a new resentencing process: individuals convicted as principals but later proven to be accessories before the fact can request sentence reduction after serving at least one-third of their term, with the court requiring evidence to adjust penalties under the new definitions. This directly affects people currently serving sentences for crimes where their role was misclassified as principal rather than accessory before the fact.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds accessory category with tiered penalties and resentencing for wrongful principal convictions, promoting sentencing accuracy and potential sentence reduction per reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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