Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 158: PROBATION: Provides relative to technical violations of probation (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 158 modifies Louisiana's probation rules to address "technical violations" (like missing check-ins or failing drug tests) for certain defendants. It allows judges to impose up to 180 days in jail without reducing the overall probation sentence for individuals on probation for non-violent offenses (excluding crimes of violence or sex offenses). This applies only to violations not involving new criminal conduct, not to serious breaches. The bill does not change sentencing for new crimes but adds a specific penalty for administrative probation breaches. The measure is currently pending in committee review.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAllows 180-day jail for technical probation violations without reducing probation, increasing punitive measures for minor breaches - opposes reform efforts to reduce unnecessary incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 137: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Changes sentencing guidelines for posting or calling in threats to schools (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 137 increases penalties for threatening schools by adding a new offense: terrorizing or menacing school property, events, or firearm-free zones. It mandates 5-15 years in prison (no parole) for adults and fines up to $15,000 for such threats. Schools must distribute age-appropriate information about these crimes to students in grades 6+ and their parents annually. Parents or guardians of minors committing these acts face civil fines ($5,000-$10,000), and juvenile courts must consider restitution for response costs.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms (5-15 years, no parole) and fines for school threats, expanding criminalization of speech and harshening sentencing guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Sentencing

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 144: CRIME: Creates the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 144 creates a new criminal offense in Louisiana for obstructing legislative proceedings, directly affecting individuals who interfere with lawmakers' work. The bill defines obstruction as actions like blocking committee meetings or threatening legislators to prevent their attendance or influence their decisions in legislative sessions. Penalties include up to six months in prison for basic obstruction, or one to three years if medical care is required due to the act. It broadly defines "legislative proceeding" to cover committee meetings, joint sessions, and other official legislative activities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for obstructing legislative proceedings, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 119: CRIME: Provides relative to unlawful conduct involving images of another person created by artificial intelligence (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 119 makes it a crime to unlawfully share, sell, or possess AI-generated images of another person that show nudity or intimate body parts without authorization, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate. It directly affects anyone creating or distributing such AI images without permission, especially targeting cases involving minors (under 17), which carry harsher penalties. The law imposes penalties of up to one year in prison for general violations and up to five years (with at least one year mandatory) if the victim is a minor. It also adds new provisions to existing laws about "sexting" involving AI-generated intimate images. The bill creates specific criminal penalties for these actions without addressing broader policy impacts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for AI image sharing with penalties, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or protecting rights.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyStrengthens data privacy by criminalizing unauthorized sharing of AI-generated intimate images, protecting digital rights and preventing harm, especially to minors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Artificial Intelligence

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 306: RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS/LIBERTIES: Creates the crime of obstruction of the freedom of worship in a church or other place of worship. (gov sig)

SB 306 creates a new criminal offense in Louisiana for obstructing freedom of worship at churches or other places of worship. It prohibits specific actions including using force to intimidate attendees, damaging church property, blocking lawful access to the building, or engaging in disruptive activities during scheduled worship services. Violations carry fines up to $25,000 and imprisonment up to 18 months for repeat offenses, with enhanced penalties if bodily injury occurs. The law directly affects individuals who interfere with religious gatherings on private religious property, aiming to protect the orderly conduct of worship as defined by the bill.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new criminal offense for obstructing worship, expanding criminalization per indicators.90% confidence

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 152: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES: Adds certain substances to the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 152 adds 13 specific synthetic opioids, including various fentanyl analogs like N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene and Beta-Methylacetyl fentanyl, to Louisiana's Schedule I controlled substances list. This means these substances are now classified as illegal without a prescription, making possession or distribution a criminal offense under state law. The bill directly affects individuals who use or distribute these drugs, as they will face the same legal penalties as other Schedule I substances. The change updates Louisiana's controlled substances law to address emerging synthetic drugs identified through chemical names.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds synthetic opioids to Schedule I, expanding criminalization of possession/distribution without reform measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 68: CRIME: Provides relative to conduct that constitutes disturbing the peace (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 68 adds a specific offense to Louisiana's disturbing the peace law, prohibiting the interruption of worship services or religious ceremonies at churches or other places of worship. The bill defines this conduct as disturbing the peace, with penalties including fines up to $500, imprisonment up to six months, or both, and requires at least 15 days of the sentence to be served without probation. This law directly affects individuals who disrupt religious gatherings, making such interruptions a criminal offense. The bill does not change existing penalties for other disturbing the peace violations but specifically targets disruptions at religious sites.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds new criminal offense for disrupting religious services with mandatory penalties, expanding criminalization and increasing sentences beyond standard disturbing the peace.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 46: CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Creates the crime of unlawful operation of a group home. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 46 creates a new criminal offense for operating an unlicensed group home in Louisiana. It directly affects individuals or entities managing homes that house two or more non-related people needing daily living assistance, without proper state or local licensing. The bill defines key terms (like "operator" and "unlicensed group home") and sets tiered penalties: fines up to $1,000 or 6 months in jail for basic violations; up to $10,000 or 10 years in prison (with 1 year mandatory) for conditions causing harm; and 5-40 years in prison (with 3 years mandatory) if conditions contribute to a resident's death. These penalties are triggered by specific evidence of control, such as power of attorney over residents' assets or handling their government benefits.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense with mandatory prison time, expanding criminalization of unlicensed group home operations without reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 347: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Provides for the crime of "unlawful deepfake" to be added to the definition of power-based violence under the Campus Accountability and Safety Act. (gov sig)

SB 347 adds "unlawful deepfake" to the definition of "power-based violence" under Louisiana's Campus Accountability and Safety Act. The bill defines a "deepfake" as manipulated audio or video falsely appearing authentic to a reasonable observer, excluding political commentary, news, satire, or clearly disclosed content. This change directly affects college and university campuses in Louisiana, expanding how institutions address certain forms of harassment. The policy amendment specifically targets deepfakes used to control or intimidate others, aligning with existing campus safety definitions without creating new criminal penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds 'unlawful deepfake' as a new crime under campus safety, expanding criminalization per indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCriminalizes unlawful deepfakes used in harassment, protecting against tech-enabled privacy violations and enhancing campus safety through targeted regulation of malicious deepfake content.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 333: CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to the housing of inmates committed to the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 333 limits where Louisiana can house inmates by requiring the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to keep them within 30 miles of either the parish where their crime occurred or their residence. This directly affects inmates committed to state correctional facilities and the department, which must now adjust housing assignments to comply. The bill amends existing law to add this geographic restriction as a new requirement, overriding previous practices that allowed broader transfers. It does not change sentencing or release policies but mandates specific location constraints for inmate placement. (Note: The bill is currently in early legislative stages as of February 2026.)

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts inmate housing locations within 30 miles, overriding prior transfer practices, limiting department flexibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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