Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 15 D · 6 R cosponsors

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)

Last action — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 611.

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 30, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on June 02, 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

Likely to advance 82% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 21 sponsors

    1 primary, 20 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (15 D · 6 R) — cross-party backing.

  • 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

This bill allocates funding for the district public defender's office in the 19th Judicial District Court.

The bill ensures financial resources are provided to the district public defender's office in the 19th Judicial District Court. This aims to support legal representation for those who cannot afford it.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

22 added · 48 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of HB 59, a reference to "ACT No. 611" has been removed. This change might suggest that the specifics of this act are no longer relevant or needed for the bill's purposes. Removing such references can help streamline the legislation and ensure that it focuses on current and applicable laws. Overall, it helps clarify the bill’s intent and makes it easier to understand.

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Latest
HLS 26RS-299 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
59 BY REPRESENTATIVES MARCELLE, BAYHAM, BILLINGS, EGAN, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, KNOX, LAFLEUR, LYONS, MURRAY, TAYLOR, WALTERS, WRIGHT, AND YOUNG INDIGENT DEFENSE:
59 BY REPRESENTATIVES MARCELLE, BAYHAM, BILLINGS, EGAN, FREEMAN, FREIBERG, KNOX, LAFLEUR, LYONS, MURRAY, TAYLOR, WALTERS, WRIGHT,ANDYOUNGANDSENATORS BARROW,CARTER, DUPLESSIS, JACKSON-ANDREWS, JENKINS, LUNEAU, AND MIZELL AN ACT To enact R.S.
Provides relative to the funding of the office of the district public defender in the 19 Judicial District Court AN ACT To enact R.S.
15:161.1, relative to the funding of the district public defender in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court;
15:161.1, relative to the funding of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court;
to provide for fundingof the officepersonnel;
to provide forfundingof the officepersonnel;
to provide for allocation of responsibilityfor funding the office personnel and expenses of the office;
to provide for allocation of responsibility for funding the office personnel and expenses of the office;
19th Judicial District Court;
Nineteenth Judicial District Court;
In addition to any funding provided by the office of the state public defender,theofficeofthedistrictpublicdefenderforthe19thJudicialDistrictCourt, EastBatonRougeParishshall beentitledto anexpenseallowanceforthesalariesof the public defenders, stenographers, clerks, and secretaries, and salaries for special officers,investigators,andotheremployees,andanexpenseallowanceforstationery forms, telephone, transportation, travel, postage, hotel, and other expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties.
In addition to any funding provided by the office of the state public defender,theofficeofthedistrictpublicdefenderfortheNineteenthJudicialDistrict Court, East Baton Rouge Parish shall be entitled to an expense allowance for the salaries of the public defenders, stenographers, clerks, and secretaries, and salaries for special officers, investigators, and other employees, and an expense allowance for stationery forms, telephone, transportation, travel, postage, hotel, and other expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties.
HLS 26RS-299 REENGROSSED HB NO.
HB NO.
59 B.(1) The governing authority of the parish of East Baton Rouge is hereby authorized to paya sum of not less than onemillion dollarsfromits generalfundfor any of the items of expense, as provided by this Section, incurred by the district public defender when acting in his official capacity.
59 ENROLLED B.(1) The governing authority of the parish of East Baton Rouge is hereby authorizedto paya sum of not less than one million dollars fromits generalfundfor any of the items of expense, as provided by this Section, incurred by the district public defender when acting in his official capacity.
DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, 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)] HB 59 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Marcelle Abstract:
Provides for the funding of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court.
Proposed law provides that, in addition to any funding provided by the office of the state public defender, the district public defender's office for the 19th JDC is entitled to an expense allowance for the salaries of certainstaff and employees and an expense allowance for certain expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties.
Proposed law authorizes East Baton Rouge Parish to paya sum of not less than $1,000,000 fromits generalfundfor anyof the items ofexpenseincurredbythedistrict publicdefender when acting in his official capacity.
Proposed law relative to the authorized payments from East Baton Rouge Parish's general fund for district public defender expenses terminates on July 1, 2028.
(Adds R.S.
15:161.1) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1.
Authorize East Baton Rouge Parish to pay a sum of not less than $1,000,000 from its general fund for any expenses incurred by the district public defender when acting in his official capacity.
2.
Remove proposed law that requires the expenses of the district public defender to be borne proportionately by the parish and each city, as determined by the respective governing authorities.
3.
Provide that the authorized payments from East Baton Rouge Parish's general fund for district public defender expenses terminates on July 1, 2028.
4.
Make technical changes.
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Amendments

1 amendment

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

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 611.

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  7. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

  8. Called from the Calendar.

  9. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  11. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  12. Reported favorably.

  13. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

  14. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  15. Called from the calendar.

  16. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  17. Notice given.

  18. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/07/2026.

  19. Called from the calendar.

  20. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  21. Called from the calendar.

  22. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  23. Notice given.

  24. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.

  25. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  26. Notice given.

  27. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/27/2026.

  28. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/22/2026.

  29. Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  30. Reported favorably (11-0).

  31. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  32. Prefiled.

  33. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  34. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 1/30/2026.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 20 co-sponsors · 126 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (20)

Not signed on (126)

126 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 126 →

"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

FINAL PASSAGE (#1466)

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 26001
Democrat 9002
Total 36003
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Yea
Gary Carter Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Yea
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Not Voting
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Yea
Royce Duplessis Democrat Yea
Sam Jenkins Democrat Yea
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Yea
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Patrick McMath Republican Yea
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 →

CO-AUTHORS (#1467)

Failed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 32 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 6005
Republican 10026
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 70032
% of votes cast 18%0%0%82%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Not Voting
Edward J. Price Democrat Not Voting
Gary Carter Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Not Voting
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Not Voting
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Yea
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Yea
Royce Duplessis Democrat Yea
Sam Jenkins Democrat Yea
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Not Voting
Adam Bass Republican Not Voting
Alan Seabaugh Republican Not Voting
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Not Voting
Bob Hensgens Republican Not Voting
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Not Voting
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Not Voting
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Not Voting
Franklin J. Foil Republican Not Voting
Glen Womack Republican Not Voting
Gregory A. Miller Republican Not Voting
Heather Cloud Republican Not Voting
Jeremy Stine Republican Not Voting
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Not Voting
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Not Voting
Kirk Talbot Republican Not Voting
Mark Abraham Republican Not Voting
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Not Voting
Mike Reese Republican Not Voting
Patrick Connick Republican Not Voting
Patrick McMath Republican Not Voting
Rick Edmonds Republican Not Voting
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Not Voting
Robert Allain Republican Not Voting
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Not Voting
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Not Voting
Valarie Hodges Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#985)

Passed 95 Yea · 0 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6001
Republican 61007
Democrat 28002
Total 950010
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Yea
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Not Voting
St. Blanc — Yea
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 Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Yea
Edmond Jordan Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Yea
Joy Walters Democrat Yea
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Not Voting
Ken Brass Democrat Yea
Mandie Landry Democrat Yea
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Yea
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Yea
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
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 Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Yea
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Not Voting
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Yea
Les Farnum Republican Not Voting
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 59?
HB 59 is sponsored by Beth Mizell (Republican), Jay Luneau (Democrat), Sam Jenkins (Democrat), Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews (Democrat), Royce Duplessis (Democrat), Gary Carter (Democrat), Regina Barrow (Democrat), Rashid Armand Young (Democrat), Mark Wright (Republican), Joy Walters (Democrat), Sylvia Elaine Taylor (Democrat), Ed Murray (Democrat), Rodney Lyons (Democrat), Vanessa Caston LaFleur (Democrat), Alonzo L. Knox (Democrat), Barbara Reich Freiberg (Republican), Aimee Adatto Freeman (Democrat), Sr., Peter F. Egan (Republican), Beth Anne Billings (Republican), Jr., Michael Robert Bayham (Republican), and C. Denise Marcelle (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 59?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 30, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 59?
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