Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 58: BAIL: Restricts post-conviction bail for certain offenders (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG EX)

HB 58 restricts bail for certain convicted individuals in Louisiana. It prohibits bail after conviction for capital offenses (like murder) and for specific violent sex crimes against minors (defined as offenses requiring registration under state law). The bill creates a strong legal presumption against releasing these offenders, meaning courts cannot grant bail unless they prove the person poses no danger to others or risk of fleeing. This directly affects people convicted of these serious crimes who would otherwise seek bail before sentencing or final judgment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts bail for serious offenders, reducing defendant rights and increasing incarceration, opposing reform-focused criminal justice approaches.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 59: INDIGENT DEFENSE: Provides relative to the funding of the office of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 59 requires East Baton Rouge Parish and its cities to fund specific expenses for the 19th Judicial District Court's public defender office, which serves people who cannot afford legal representation. The bill mandates that local governments cover salaries for staff (including public defenders, clerks, and investigators) and operational costs like supplies, travel, and equipment. Funding responsibility is shared proportionally between the parish and individual cities, as determined by their governing authorities. This complements existing state funding and directly affects the office's ability to provide indigent defense services in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates local governments to fund public defender salaries and operations, increasing public service budget allocation for indigent defense.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates funding for indigent defense, ensuring legal representation for low-income defendants, directly advancing fair court access and criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 9: SHERIFFS PEN/RELIEF FUND: Provides for membership of certain employees. (6/30/26) (OR SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE FC)

SB 9 expands eligibility for Louisiana's Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund to include deputies (including those in Orleans Parish) and court criers (for the Civil District Court and Supreme Court) who are at least 18 years old and earn a minimum monthly salary. It amends existing law to automatically enroll qualifying employees in the fund, provided their salary meets the threshold (specific amounts are referenced but not detailed in the text). The bill takes effect on June 30, 2026, or later if vetoed and overridden. This is a procedural change to fund membership rules, not a new benefit.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands pension fund eligibility for deputies/court criers, strengthening law enforcement personnel support within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands pension fund eligibility to deputies/court criers, adding retirement benefits for qualifying workers under Labor & Employment protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 57: EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

HB 57 amends Louisiana law governing temporary restraining orders (TROs) in abuse cases. It requires courts to give the respondent (the person accused of abuse) an opportunity to rebut and respond to any criminal history evidence considered when granting a TRO without notice. The bill also specifies that courts must provide the respondent with 24-hour notice of the TRO and the subsequent hearing, and mandates that the petitioner prove abuse allegations by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing. This applies to all TRO proceedings where criminal history is used as evidence, directly affecting petitioners, respondents, and courts handling these cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to provide respondents rebuttal opportunity, 24-hour notice, and proof standard in TRO proceedings, protecting defendant rights in abuse cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 55: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to disclosure of juror information (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 55 prohibits the public disclosure of jurors' personal information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, images, or likenesses, to protect juror privacy and safety. It allows courts to disclose such information only if a person demonstrates "good cause" and the court approves, while permitting courts to limit disclosures to safeguard juror identity. Violating this prohibition carries penalties of up to $1,000 fines, six months in jail, or both. The bill specifically exempts these privacy protections from Louisiana's public records laws, ensuring juror details remain confidential unless court-approved.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 55 protects juror privacy and safety through disclosure restrictions, strengthening court procedures within criminal justice by safeguarding a critical system component.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects juror data privacy by restricting unauthorized disclosure of personal information, aligning with data privacy protections in technology policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Data Privacy

signed · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HB 51: BAIL: (Constitutional Amendment) Restricts post-conviction bail for certain offenders (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 51 proposes a constitutional amendment to Louisiana's Constitution that would prohibit bail after a conviction for certain offenses. Specifically, it would ban bail for defendants convicted of an "aggravated offense" (as defined in state law) committed against a minor victim. This change would apply only after a conviction and before sentencing or final judgment, affecting individuals found guilty of these specific crimes against children. The amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 election to take effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBans bail after conviction for crimes against minors, reducing defendant rights and increasing punitive measures per indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 53: GAMBLING: Adds certain gambling crimes as predicate offenses for racketeering (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 53 adds seven specific gambling-related crimes to Louisiana’s list of offenses that can serve as the basis for racketeering charges. It includes violations like operating illegal gambling games (R.S. 14:90), gambling in public (R.S. 14:90.2), computer gambling (R.S. 14:90.3), and bribery of sports participants (R.S. 14:118.1). Prosecutors can now use these gambling crimes as "predicate offenses" to build racketeering cases under Louisiana’s racketeering statute. The bill does not change the gambling laws themselves but expands how gambling violations can be prosecuted under broader organized crime statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding gambling offenses to racketeering predicate list, enabling harsher charges under criminal justice framework.90% confidence

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 60: CRIME: Provides relative to conduct that constitutes disturbing the peace (OR SEE FISC NOTE EX)

HB 60 amends Louisiana's disturbing the peace statute to specifically address disruptions at religious gatherings. It prohibits intentionally entering a church or place of worship during a service with the intent to create a disturbance, including violent behavior, excessively loud noise, or physical obstruction that materially disrupts the service (e.g., stopping the service, causing delays, or dispersing attendees). The bill defines "substantial disturbance" as materially disrupting participants' ability to engage in the service. Penalties include up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both for the basic offense, with enhanced penalties for using weapons or acting in concert. The law explicitly excludes constitutionally protected peaceful activities that do not substantially disrupt worship.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes intentional disruption of religious services, protecting civil rights (peaceful assembly) and aligning with support indicators.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 38: CRIME/SEX OFFENSES: Provides relative to the definition of child sexual abuse materials

HB 38 amends Louisiana law to clarify what constitutes "child sexual abuse materials," directly affecting creators, distributors, and law enforcement handling such content involving minors. The bill specifically adds "deepfake" to the definition, meaning AI-generated or manipulated videos/images depicting minors in sexual contexts are now included. It excludes political commentary, satire, parody, or news content that clearly discloses it is not real. The law defines "deepfake" as digitally altered media that falsely appears authentic to a reasonable observer, but excludes material with clear context or disclosure. This change updates criminal definitions without altering penalties for existing violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies definition of child sexual abuse materials to include deepfakes, aiding law enforcement in prosecuting such crimes, strengthening legal framework for criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tags Artificial Intelligence

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 52: CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 52 changes Louisiana's rules for misdemeanor trials by requiring jury trials for most offenses with penalties exceeding $1,000 in fines or six months in jail. Prosecutors may designate certain misdemeanors as "non-jury" trials (heard by a judge alone), but only if the original law doesn't specify hard labor, and these cases are capped at $1,000 fines or six months in parish jail. The bill applies retroactively to June 8, 2025, and takes effect upon gubernatorial approval. It directly affects defendants charged with misdemeanors where prosecutors choose the non-jury option.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands defendant rights by mandating jury trials for higher-penalty misdemeanors, restricting prosecutorial discretion to bypass juries for most cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Judges