This bill amends Louisiana laws to increase penalties for hit-and-run driving when the accident results in death or serious injury. It specifically targets drivers who flee the scene after causing harm, with stricter sentences applied if the victim is a pedestrian or bicyclist. Under the new provisions, offenders face longer prison terms that must be served without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, particularly if the driver has a prior record of drunk driving or vehicular homicide. The legislation also establishes that drivers who previously committed certain traffic offenses will receive even harsher mandatory minimum sentences for repeat hit-and-run incidents.
This bill prohibits law enforcement officers working at public colleges and universities in Louisiana from receiving state supplemental pay. The change removes these higher education institutions from a list of agencies eligible for an additional $600 monthly payment that currently applies to police officers in New Orleans and Lake Charles. By amending the relevant state statute, the legislation ensures that only officers working for specific city police agencies and state departments can receive this extra compensation. The measure does not affect the base salaries of these officers or their employment conditions, only their eligibility for this specific state-funded supplement.
This bill creates a new crime in Louisiana for the unauthorized possession of copper or brass materials commonly used by utilities, telecommunications companies, and other infrastructure providers. It defines specific types of copper and brass items that are protected and lists authorized possessors, including owners, public utilities, scrap recyclers, and businesses selling these materials. The law establishes penalties of up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine for basic violations, with harsher penalties of five to 99 years in prison for cases involving critical infrastructure, prior convictions related to theft or mischief, or possession of a firearm during the offense.
This bill increases penalties for committing arson against religious buildings in Louisiana. It directly affects individuals charged with setting fire to places of worship and law enforcement officials who prosecute such cases. The law establishes minimum prison sentences of two years without parole for simple arson, with a maximum of 30 years, and sets higher penalties of 12 to 30 years without parole if the fire causes injury or death. These provisions apply to anyone convicted of the crime under the amended state statutes.
This bill requires sex offenders in Louisiana to carry identification documents that clearly mark them as such, including QR codes and orange "sex offender" text on both driver's licenses and special identification cards. The law mandates that these individuals renew their identification annually at a motor vehicle office, where they must verify their registration information including address and employer details before receiving a new card or license. Anyone who intentionally fails to comply with these requirements faces fines of up to $500 or up to six months in jail, and the provisions apply to all registered sex offenders regardless of when their conviction occurred.
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.
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.
HB 439 would restrict parole eligibility for individuals convicted of certain crimes in Louisiana who are sentenced on or after August 1, 2024. It states that such individuals generally cannot be considered for parole unless they meet specific criteria outlined in existing law (R.S. 15:574.4(B)(2), (D) through (K)). The bill directly affects people sentenced for qualifying offenses after the effective date, limiting their path to early release. It does not change current parole rules for offenses committed before August 2024. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet been enacted.
HB 265 expands Louisiana's video voyeurism law to explicitly criminalize recording the body of a deceased person using any camera, video device, or drone. The bill adds this conduct to the existing definition of video voyeurism under state law, making it a punishable offense. It covers all image-recording technology, including drones equipped with cameras, when used to observe or capture a dead person's body without consent. This directly affects individuals who might use such devices to record deceased persons, creating a new criminal penalty for this specific behavior. The law focuses on preventing exploitation of vulnerable situations involving the dead.
HB 257 would allow the police chief of Central City to appoint, promote, discipline, and dismiss police personnel without needing approval from the mayor or city governing authority. This directly affects Central City's police department operations and personnel decisions. The bill amends existing law (R.S. 33:423) to grant the police chief sole authority over these personnel actions, streamlining internal management for the city's law enforcement. The bill is currently pending review in the Louisiana legislature.
