Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights)

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.

SB 185 makes it illegal for agreements to prevent child sexual abuse victims from discussing or disclosing their abuse. The bill declares that any nondisclosure agreement involving such victims is unenforceable in court and against public policy. This directly affects victims in Louisiana by removing legal barriers to speaking about their experiences. The law ensures victims cannot be silenced through binding contracts, focusing solely on this specific policy change.

HB 843 creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment and Privacy Protection Act in Louisiana, directly affecting victims of sexual offenses (defined under state law). It allows these victims to request the removal of their personal information - including home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and employment details - from public records and websites. Public bodies and third parties must remove this information within 72 hours of a valid written request, with failure to comply risking misdemeanor penalties (up to 18 months in jail or $5,000 fine). The law does not apply to records maintained by the secretary of state’s office, and it includes specific definitions for terms like "protected individual" and "personal information."