Criminal Justice

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 435: CRIMINAL/RECORDS: Provides relative to expungements

HB 435 creates an expedited process for clearing certain arrest records in Louisiana at no cost to the individual. It applies directly to people arrested as 17-year-olds for offenses under Louisiana law, or those whose cases were dismissed, dismissed after a pretrial diversion, or ended in acquittal. The bill modifies court procedures to automatically qualify these individuals for expungement without requiring additional court hearings. This policy change simplifies access to record clearance for eligible residents who have no conviction record.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expungement for dismissed/arrested youth cases, reducing barriers to opportunity and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 87: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Provides for consistent definition of "commercial sexual activity". (8/1/26)

SB 87 clarifies and standardizes the definition of "commercial sexual activity" across Louisiana's human trafficking and child trafficking laws. It defines this term as any sexual act performed when something of value (like money or goods) is exchanged, including the creation or sharing of child sexual abuse materials. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling trafficking cases by creating a consistent legal standard for charging offenses under both R.S. 14:46.2 and 14:46.3. The bill ensures the same definition applies to both adult human trafficking and child trafficking for sexual purposes, removing potential ambiguity in prosecution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies trafficking law definitions to standardize prosecutions, strengthening enforcement against commercial sexual activity under human trafficking statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 282: EMPLOYMENT: Provides relative to employment discrimination based on criminal history records

HB 282 requires Louisiana employers to assess whether an applicant's criminal history has a direct, adverse relationship to specific job duties before denying employment. It mandates consideration of factors like rehabilitation efforts (e.g., education, vocational training), juvenile offenses, and job-relatedness of the offense. The Louisiana Commission on Human Rights enforces the law, investigating complaints and ordering remedies like corrective hiring actions or up to $1,000 per violation, but prohibits private lawsuits. This bill directly affects job applicants with criminal records and employers across Louisiana seeking to hire them.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces employment barriers for individuals with criminal records by requiring job-related assessments and considering rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestricts employment discrimination based on criminal history, protecting workers' rights to fair hiring practices through employer assessment requirements and enforcement mechanisms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Juvenile Justice Employment Discrimination

Track

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

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 511: HIGHWAYS/OFFICE: Authorizes the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice to establish a grant program for pursuit intervention technologies (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 511 creates a grant program within Louisiana's Commission on Law Enforcement to fund pursuit intervention technologies for state, parish, and municipal police departments. The bill authorizes funding for specific safety tools like GPS tracking projectiles, vehicle-stopping nets, and remote tire deflation devices to safely end high-speed chases. Agencies must integrate these technologies into their use-of-force policies to qualify for grants, with priority given to those emphasizing reduced manual deployment risks. Funds may come from state, federal, or other sources aligned with Louisiana's Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The program aims to improve officer and public safety during vehicle pursuits by supporting technology adoption.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds pursuit intervention tech (GPS, nets, tire deflation) to safely end chases, requiring integration into use-of-force policies. Promotes officer/public safety and accountability in law enforcement operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 808: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to the intentional exposure to HIV (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 808 (Louisiana) amends criminal law to define and penalize intentional HIV exposure without consent. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit HIV through sexual contact, sharing needles without consent, or other contact posing a "substantial likelihood of transmission" (defined as contact with blood, semen, or vaginal fluid with significant medical risk). The bill specifies higher penalties for exposing first responders (fines up to $6,000, 11 years imprisonment) and includes affirmative defenses if the victim knew of the HIV status and consented, or if medical advice confirmed non-infectious status with disclosure. It also explicitly classifies this offense as a "sex offense" under Louisiana law for sentencing purposes. The bill does not criminalize low-risk conduct, as clarified in Section E.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal penalties for intentional HIV exposure, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

passed · Louisiana · House May 27, 2026

HB 378: CRIME: Provides relative to using a vehicle to obstruct first responders (EG SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 378 makes it a crime to intentionally block first responders or law enforcement officers using a motor vehicle during their duties. Drivers who hinder first responders (e.g., during emergencies) face fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, while those obstructing officers during pursuits or arrests risk fines up to $1,000 or up to two years in jail. The law explicitly excludes legitimate safety barricades used in construction, maintenance, or by government authorities performing official duties. It directly affects drivers who use vehicles to block emergency or police operations, with penalties varying based on the officer's role and circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill penalizes obstruction of first responders, strengthening law enforcement effectiveness and public safety during emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 186: CRIME/THEFT: Creates the crime of theft of funds from the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 186 creates a new criminal offense for stealing funds from Louisiana's LA GATOR Scholarship Program, directly affecting administrators or officials who handle these scholarship funds. It sets tiered penalties based on the amount stolen: up to 20 years in prison for $25,000+ theft, up to 10 years for $5,000-$25,000, and lesser terms for smaller amounts. The bill also requires offenders to pay full restitution to victims of the theft. This law specifically targets misuse of scholarship funds, not general theft.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense with tiered prison terms for scholarship fund theft, expanding criminalization in sentencing without reform context.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects scholarship funds from theft, ensuring integrity of educational funding mechanisms and safeguarding student access to financial aid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 160: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Increases the penalties for certain domestic violence offenses that involve strangulation (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG EX)

HB 160 increases penalties for domestic violence offenses involving strangulation in Louisiana. It specifically targets offenders convicted under two existing statutes: battery of a dating partner (R.S. 14:34.9) and domestic abuse battery (R.S. 14:35.3). The bill adds a mandatory prison term of 3 to 10 years at hard labor in addition to any other penalties when strangulation is involved in these offenses. This change directly affects individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes where strangulation occurred, without creating new offenses or altering the definition of domestic violence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms (3-10 years) for domestic violence strangulation, aligning with 'oppose' indicator of harsher sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence