Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

SB 197 — COURTS: Reduces number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. (2/3-CA5s9) (gov sig) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Last action — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 746.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 26, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on June 01, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    2 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill reduces the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

This legislation decreases the number of judges serving on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. It aims to streamline the court's operations.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 55 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 197, a reference to "ACT No. 746" has been removed. This change simplifies the language in the bill and helps avoid confusion by eliminating outdated or unnecessary references. It is a minor adjustment, but it allows the bill to be clearer and more straightforward.

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Previous
Latest
SLS 26RS-512 REENGROSSED Regular Session SENATE BILL NO.
Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.
197 BY SENATOR MORRIS COURTS.
197 BY SENATOR MORRIS AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.13:312.1(D),relativetojudgesonthecourtofappeal;toprovide for the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal;
Reduces number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.
to reduce the number of judges serving on the fourth circuit;
(2/3-CA5s9) (gov sig) AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.13:312.1(D),relativetojudgesonthecourtofappeal;toprovide for the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal;
to reduce the number of judges servingon the fourth circuit;
* * * Page 1 of 3 Coding:
* * * Section 2.
Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SLS 26RS-512 REENGROSSED SB NO.
197 Section 2.
Section 3.
Page 1 of 2 Coding:
This Act shall become effective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
If vetoed bythe governorand subsequentlyapproved bythe legislature, this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
[R.S.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 197 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Morris Present law provides for 12 judges at the Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit in New Orleans.
Provides election of eight judges from the first district of the fourth circuit;
one judge elected from the third district;
and two judges elected from the circuit at large.
Proposed law reduces from 12 to 10 the total number of judges in the fourth circuit as follows:
(1) Reduces from eight to seven, the judges elected from the first district.
(2) Reduces from two to one, the judges elected from the circuit at large.
Proposedlawis not to depriveanyjudgein officeofthe abilityto servetheentireremainder of his or her term.
To effectuatethe provisions of this Act, no furtherelections shall be held for Division G, of the first district of the fourth circuit or for the at large seat currentlyheld byChiefJudgeRoland Belsomewith atermexpiringonDecember31,2031,whetheratthe end of the current term or due to a vacancycaused by the death, resignation, retirement, or incapacity of the judge.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S.
13:312.1(D)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill 1.
Makes technical changes.
Page 2 of 3 Coding:
SLS 26RS-512 REENGROSSED SB NO.
SB NO.
197 2.
197 ENROLLED Section 3.
Changestheamountofjudgeshipsbeingreducedbythebillfromareduction of four to a reduction of two.
This Act shall become effective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
3.
If vetoed bythe governorand subsequentlyapprovedbythe legislature, this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.
Changes the amount of judges elected from the first district from five to seven.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
4.
Page 2 of 2 Coding:
ChangestheDivisionsthatwouldnolongerholdelectionsfromDivisionsF, G, or H to Division G.
5.
Provides for effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
Page 3 of 3 Coding:
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 746.

  2. Effective date 6/1/2026.

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

  4. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

  5. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  6. Called from the calendar.

  7. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 70, nays 30. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

  8. Received from the House without amendments.

  9. Called from the calendar.

  10. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  11. Notice given.

  12. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/27/2026.

  13. Called from the calendar.

  14. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  15. Notice given.

  16. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/20/2026.

  17. Called from the calendar.

  18. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  19. Notice given.

  20. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/18/2026.

  21. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  22. Notice given.

  23. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

  24. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/12/2026.

  25. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

  26. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

  27. Reported favorably (11-4-1). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  28. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  29. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

  30. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 26 yeas and 9 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  31. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

  32. Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

  33. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

  34. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 101 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

AMENDMENT # 5465 BY GREEN, MOTION TO ADOPT (#1576)

Failed 30 Yea · 68 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 24303
Unaffiliated 2500
Republican 46004
Total 306807
% of votes cast 29%65%0%7%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Nay
Amedee — Nay
Galle — Nay
Stagni — Nay
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Yea
St. Blanc — Nay
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Yea
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Yea
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Yea
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Yea
Candace N. Newell Democrat Yea
Chasity Martinez Democrat Nay
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Yea
Edmond Jordan Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Nay
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Yea
Joy Walters Democrat Not Voting
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Yea
Ken Brass Democrat Yea
Mandie Landry Democrat Yea
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Yea
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Not Voting
Robby Carter Democrat Nay
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Not Voting
Steven Jackson Democrat Yea
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Yea
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Yea
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Yea
Annie Spell Republican Nay
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Nay
Brett F. Geymann Republican Nay
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Nay
Bryan Fontenot Republican Nay
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Nay
Chance Keith Henry Republican Nay
Christopher Turner Republican Nay
Danny McCormick Republican Nay
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Nay
Debbie Villio Republican Nay
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Nay
Dodie Horton Republican Nay
Emily Chenevert Republican Nay
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Nay
Francis C. Thompson Republican Nay
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Nay
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Not Voting
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Nay
Jack McFarland Republican Nay
Jacob Braud Republican Not Voting
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Nay
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Nay
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Nay
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Nay
Jerome Zeringue Republican Nay
Jessica Domangue Republican Nay
John E. Wyble Republican Nay
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Nay
Josh Carlson Republican Nay
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Nay
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Nay
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Nay
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Nay
Kim Carver Republican Nay
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Nay
Larry A. Bagley Republican Not Voting
Lauren Ventrella Republican Nay
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Nay
Mark Wright Republican Nay
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Nay
Michael Charles Echols Republican Nay
Michael Melerine Republican Nay
Mike Johnson Republican Nay
Neil Riser Republican Nay
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Nay
Paul Sawyer Republican Nay
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Nay
Polly Thomas Republican Nay
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Nay
Raymond J. Crews Republican Nay
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Nay
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Nay
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Nay
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Nay
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Nay
Shane Mack Republican Nay
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Nay
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Nay
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Not Voting
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Nay
Tony Bacala Republican Nay
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Nay
Wayne McMahen Republican Nay

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#1579)

Passed 70 Yea · 30 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4300
Republican 62303
Democrat 42402
Total 703005
% of votes cast 67%29%0%5%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Nay
Johnson, T. — Nay
Landry, T. — Nay
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Nay
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Nay
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Nay
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Nay
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Nay
Candace N. Newell Democrat Nay
Chasity Martinez Democrat Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Nay
Delisha Boyd Democrat Nay
Ed Murray Democrat Nay
Edmond Jordan Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Nay
Joy Walters Democrat Nay
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Nay
Ken Brass Democrat Nay
Mandie Landry Democrat Nay
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Nay
Pat Moore Democrat Nay
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Nay
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Nay
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Nay
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Not Voting
Steven Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Nay
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Nay
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Nay
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Nay
Annie Spell Republican Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Yea
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Not Voting
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Yea
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Nay
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Nay
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Yea
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Not Voting
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Nay
Les Farnum Republican Yea
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Yea
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Yea
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Yea
Polly Thomas Republican Yea
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Yea
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Not Voting
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#261)

Passed 26 Yea · 9 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 25002
Democrat 0902
Total 26904
% of votes cast 67%23%0%10%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Nay
Gary Carter Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Nay
Jay Luneau Democrat Nay
Jimmy Harris Democrat Nay
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Nay
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Not Voting
Royce Duplessis Democrat Nay
Sam Jenkins Democrat Nay
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Nay
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Yea
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Yea
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Yea
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Yea
Franklin J. Foil Republican Yea
Glen Womack Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Yea
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Yea
Kirk Talbot Republican Yea
Mark Abraham Republican Yea
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Yea
Patrick Connick Republican Not Voting
Patrick McMath Republican Not Voting
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Robert Allain Republican Yea
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Yea
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety elections
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 197?
SB 197 is sponsored by John C. "Jay" Morris (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 197?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 26, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 197?
Track SB 197 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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