Criminal Justice

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 635: CRIME: Provides relative to criminal activity committed by an agent of a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign terrorist organization (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 635 creates new Louisiana laws to protect residents from foreign agents who attempt to control their behavior using foreign laws or threats. It defines "agents of foreign adversaries" (like government-linked entities) and "transnational repression" (such as coercion or retaliation for exercising free speech, religion, or assembly rights). The bill makes it a crime for these agents to coerce people into actions violating constitutional rights or retaliate for such actions, imposing enhanced penalties on top of the underlying offense. It also declares that courts cannot enforce foreign law decisions that deny constitutional rights protected under U.S. or Louisiana law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal penalties to protect constitutional rights against foreign coercion, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 458: CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to inmates who participate in work release programs (EG SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 458 modifies Louisiana's work release program rules for inmates, directly affecting incarcerated individuals participating in approved work programs. It requires that inmates pay no more than 33% of their gross wages toward room, board, and basic expenses, with all remaining earnings disbursed in a specific order: first for the inmate's basic needs, then travel and employment costs, dependents' support, court-ordered debts, and finally the leftover balance to the inmate. The bill also clarifies eligibility, allowing certain inmates convicted of serious offenses (like rape, armed robbery, or drug trafficking) to participate only in the final months of their sentences after meeting minimum service requirements. All wages must be paid at standard rates for similar work, and funds are managed by the sheriff with strict disbursement rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures inmates retain 67% of wages for basic needs/dependents, promoting financial stability and reducing recidivism through rehabilitation-focused work programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Law Enforcement

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 833: PRIVACY: Creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force

HB 833 creates the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force in Louisiana to study and recommend improvements to services for sexual assault survivors. The task force, composed of members from the attorney general's office, sheriffs' association, state legislators, and district attorneys, will evaluate needs like counseling, school/work accommodations, and mandatory training for schools/hospitals/law enforcement. It must submit a report with specific recommendations to the governor and legislature by February 1, 2027, after which the task force will terminate. This bill does not change existing laws but sets up a process to inform future legislation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates task force to improve sexual assault survivor services, including mandatory law enforcement training, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates task force to study and recommend improved mental health counseling services for survivors, directly supporting mental health care access and provider protocols.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights Violent Crime

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 306: DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases

HB 306 requires domestic violence perpetrators in Louisiana to pay all court costs, attorney fees, enforcement fees, evaluation fees, expert witness fees, and medical/psychological care costs for victims (adults or children) related to the abuse. This applies during the initial phase of domestic abuse cases, before the first hearing. After the initial hearing, standard civil rules apply, and each party covers their own attorney fees. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims (by reducing their financial burden) and perpetrators (by shifting cost responsibility to them).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires domestic violence perpetrators to cover victim costs, enhancing accountability and reducing financial burden on victims in criminal justice proceedings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates perpetrators cover medical/psychological care costs for victims, ensuring access to healthcare services without financial barriers for domestic abuse survivors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 343: PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to parole eligibility (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 343 creates parole eligibility in Louisiana for individuals who were 18-20 years old at the time of committing their offense and are serving 30+ year sentences. To qualify, they must have served 25 years, have no major disciplinary issues in the prior 36 months, complete 100 hours of prerelease programming, substance abuse treatment (if applicable), and one of several educational or job skills programs, while also receiving a low-risk assessment and completing a reentry program. The bill specifically applies to first-time offenders with no prior sex offenses or life imprisonment convictions. It establishes concrete, measurable requirements for parole consideration rather than altering sentencing laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates parole eligibility for young offenders after 25 years with rehab requirements, promoting rehabilitation and reducing long-term incarceration - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 552: DWI: Provides relative to driving while intoxicated (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 552 amends Louisiana's DWI laws to explicitly include "impaired" driving alongside "intoxicated" driving, expanding the scope of the offense to cover impairment from alcohol or drugs. It clarifies that city and municipal courts can handle first and second DWI offenses (with penalties matching state law), but third or subsequent offenses must be tried in district court with a jury. The bill also requires courts to assess additional costs when alcohol was a factor in any offense, and makes intoxilyzer test results automatically admissible as evidence in DWI cases. These changes directly affect drivers facing DWI charges, local courts handling such cases, and prosecutors presenting evidence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding 'impaired' driving to DWI offenses, broadening prosecution scope beyond intoxication alone.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 320: LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides relative to DNA detection of sexual and violent offenses. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE See Note)

SB 320 requires Louisiana law enforcement agencies to track and resolve DNA matches from unsolved sexual assault and violent crime cases within 90 days of notification. It creates a central statewide system managed by the state police to monitor "outstanding" DNA matches (cases where agencies haven't acted on the lead within 90 days) and mandates all relevant agencies - including police departments, district attorneys, and crime labs - to report data to this system by January 2027. The law also requires annual public reports detailing statewide and regional statistics on outstanding matches and resolutions. This directly affects law enforcement agencies handling criminal investigations involving DNA evidence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates timely resolution of DNA leads in sexual assault/violent crime cases, creating a statewide tracking system to advance case resolution and improve criminal justice outcomes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 274: HIGHER EDUCATION: Provides relative to initial eligibility requirements for the M.J. Foster Promise Program (OR INCREASE SD EX See Note)

HB 274 amends Louisiana's M.J. Foster Promise Program eligibility rules to allow students with certain criminal convictions to qualify for financial aid. It removes disqualification for 12 specific non-violent offenses (like second-degree battery, simple robbery, and aggravated arson) that were previously listed as disqualifying crimes. Previously, any conviction for a "crime of violence" barred applicants, but this bill creates exceptions for these 12 offenses under R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(f). The change directly affects students enrolled in two-year public colleges or qualifying programs who were previously ineligible due to these specific convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves disqualification for 12 non-violent offenses from financial aid eligibility, promoting rehabilitation access and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers to higher education financial aid by allowing students with certain non-violent convictions to qualify, expanding educational access under the M.J. Foster Promise Program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Louisiana · House May 19, 2026

HB 517: JUVENILE PROCEDURE: Provides for the right to a jury trial for certain juvenile offenders

HB 517 would change Louisiana juvenile court procedures by granting juveniles the right to a jury trial if charged with specific serious offenses. It directly affects minors facing felony-level delinquency charges classified as either "crimes of violence" (per R.S. 14:2(B)) or "sex offenses" (per R.S. 15:541) in juvenile court. The bill modifies existing law to extend this constitutional right - previously unavailable in juvenile proceedings - to these particular cases, while maintaining jury trials as optional for other juvenile matters. The legislation aims to align juvenile court processes with constitutional protections for defendants facing the most severe charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends constitutional jury trial rights to juveniles facing serious offenses, strengthening defendant protections in juvenile justice proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 84: CRIME/FELONIES: Designates felony hit-and-run driving as a crime of violence (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 84 reclassifies certain felony hit-and-run driving offenses as "crimes of violence" under Louisiana law. Specifically, it designates hit-and-run driving causing injury or death (as defined in R.S. 14:100(C)(2) or (3)) as a crime of violence, directly affecting drivers convicted of these specific hit-and-run cases. The bill requires courts to formally label these offenses as "crimes of violence" in sentencing records (per Code of Criminal Procedure Article 890.3(C)(28)) and prevents them from qualifying for minimum sentence waivers (per Article 890.1(D)(35)). This change ensures these cases receive mandatory sentencing considerations as violent crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies hit-and-run causing injury/death as 'crime of violence,' increasing mandatory sentencing and penalties per Louisiana law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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