Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 1 D cosponsors

HB 276 — BAIL: Authorizes a court to conduct a contradictory bail hearing prior to setting bail for a person in custody who is charged with certain sexually based offenses against a child under the age of eighteen

Last action — Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 23, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed House

    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 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill sets a minimum bail amount of $1 million for certain sexual offenses against children.

This bill establishes a minimum bail amount of $1 million for individuals arrested for specific sexual offenses against victims under 18. Courts must also consider existing factors before setting bail amounts.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

85 added · 49 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of the bill shifts focus from establishing a statewide minimum bail amount for individuals arrested for certain sexual offenses against children, to allowing courts to hold a contradictory bail hearing before setting bail for these offenses. This change means that judges will have more discretion to evaluate cases individually, particularly for serious crimes like rape against minors, rather than applying a blanket bail amount. This matters because it could lead to more appropriate bail decisions based on the specifics of each case, potentially improving safety for victims and the community.

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HLS 26RS-266 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
HLS 26RS-266 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
Provides relative to the imposition of a statewide bail schedule for individuals arrested for certain sexual offenses involving children AN ACT To enact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 315(D), relative to bail;
Authorizes a court to conduct a contradictorybail hearing prior to setting bail for a personincustodywhoischargedwithcertainsexuallybasedoffensesagainstachild under the age of eighteen AN ACT To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 313(A)(2), relative to bail;
to provide for the minimum fixing of the amount of bail in relation to the type of offense committed;
to provide relative to contradictory bail hearings;
to provide for duties of the court;
to provide for certain offenses that authorize the setting of a contradictory bail hearing;
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 315(D) is herebyenacted to read as follows:
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 313(A)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
315.
313.
Schedules of bail * * * D.(1) Each district court with criminal jurisdiction in this state shall set an initial bail amount of not less than one million dollars for an individual arrested for any of the following offenses when committed against a victim under the age of eighteen years:
Gwen's Law;
(a) First degree rape (R.S.
bail hearings;
14:42).
detention without bail A.
(b) Second degree rape (R.S.
* * * (2)(a) A contradictory bail hearing, as provided for in this Paragraph, may be held prior to setting bail for a person in custody who is charged with any of the following offenses:
14:42.1).
(i) First degreerape(R.S.
(c) Third degree rape (R.S.
14:42), when committed against a child under the age of eighteen.
14:43).
(ii) Seconddegreerape(R.S.14:42.1),whencommittedagainstachildunder the age of eighteen.
(d) Sexual battery (R.S.
Page 1 of 4 CODING:
14:43.1).
(e) Oral sexual battery (R.S.
14:43.3).
Page 1 of 3 CODING:
HLS 26RS-266 ENGROSSED HB NO.
HLS 26RS-266 REENGROSSED HB NO.
276 (f) Child sexual abuse materials (R.S.
276 (iii) Third degree rape (R.S.
14:81.1).
14:43), when committed against a child under the age of eighteen.
(g) Molestation of a juvenileorapersonwith aphysical or mental disability (R.S.
(iv) Sexualbattery(R.S.14:43.1),whencommittedagainstachildunderthe age of eighteen.
14:81.2).
(v) Oralsexualbattery(R.S.14:43.3),whencommittedagainstachildunder the age of eighteen.
(h) Aggravated crime against nature (R.S.
(vi) Humantrafficking(R.S.14:46.2),whencommittedagainstachildunder the age of eighteen.
14:89.1).
(vii) Child sexual abuse materials (R.S.
(i) Human trafficking (R.S.
14:81.1), when committed against a child under the age of eighteen.
14:46.2).
(viii) Molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or mental disability(R.S.
(2) ThecourtshallconsiderthefactorsprovidedinArticle316beforefixing any initial bail amount pursuant to this Paragraph.
14:81.2), when committed against a child under the age of eighteen.
DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
(ix) Aggravatedcrimeagainstnature(R.S.14:89.1),whencommittedagainst a child under the age of eighteen.
(x) domestic Domestic abuse battery, (R.S.
14:35.3).
(xi) violation Violation of protective orders, (R.S.
14:79).
(xii) stalking Stalking, (R.S.
14:40.2).
(xiii) oranyAnyfelonyoffenseinvolving the use or threateneduseofforce or a deadly weapon upon any of the following:
(aa) theThedefendant's familymember,as defined in R.S.
46:2132 or upon the.
(bb) The defendant's household member as defined in R.S.
14:35.3, orupon the.
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(cc) The defendant's dating partner, as defined in R.S.
46:2151.
(b) If the court orders a contradictory hearing, the hearing shall be held within five days from the date of determination of probable cause, exclusive of weekendsandlegalholidays.
Atthecontradictoryhearing,thecourtshalldetermine the conditions of bail or whether the defendant should be held without bail pending Page 2 of 4 CODING:
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-266 REENGROSSED HB NO.
276 trial.
If the court decides not to hold a contradictory hearing, it shall notify the prosecuting attorney prior to setting bail.
* * * DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 276 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Carpenter Abstract:
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 276 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Carpenter Abstract:
Provides relative to the imposition of a statewide bail schedule for individuals arrested for certain sexual offenses involving children.
Authorizesacourtto conductacontradictorybailhearingpriortosettingbailfor a person in custody who is charged with certain sexually-based offenses against a child under the age of 18.
Present law provides for schedules of bail.
Presentlawauthorizesacourttoconductacontradictorybailhearingpriortosettingbailfor a person in custody who is charged with certain offenses.
Further authorizes certain courts to fix bail amounts in certain cases.
Proposed law retains present law and authorizes a court to conduct a contradictory bail hearingpriorto settingbailforapersonin custodywhoischargedwithanyofthefollowing offenses when committed against a child under the age of 18 years:
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law requires each district court with criminal jurisdiction in the state of La.
to set an initial bail amount of not less than $1,000,000 for an individual arrested for any of the following offenses when committed against a victim under the age of 18 years:
(6) Child sexual abuse materials (R.S.
(6) Human trafficking (R.S.
14:46.2) (7) Child sexual abuse materials (R.S.
(7) Molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or mental disability (R.S.
(8) Molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or mental disability (R.S.
(8) Aggravated crime against nature (R.S.
(9) Aggravated crime against nature (R.S.
(9) Human trafficking (R.S.
Proposed law restructures present law.
14:46.2) Proposedlawrequiresthecourttoconsiderthefactorsprovidedin presentlaw(C.Cr.P.
(Amends C.Cr.P.
316) before fixing any initial bail amount pursuant to proposed law.
313(A)(2)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to the original bill:
(Adds C.Cr.P.
Art.
315(D)) Page 2 of 3 CODING:
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-266 ENGROSSED HB NO.
276 Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to the original bill:
Addhumantraffickingasanoffenseforwhichaminimum initialamountofbail is required.
Addhumantraffickingasanoffenseforwhichaminimum initial amountofbail is required.
Page 3 of 3 CODING:
Page 3 of 4 CODING:
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-266 REENGROSSED HB NO.
276 The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1.
Remove proposed law that requireseachdistrict courtwith criminal jurisdiction in the state of La.
to set an initial bail amount of not less than $1,000,000 for an individualarrestedforcertainsexually-basedoffensescommittedagainstachild under the age of 18 years.
2.
Authorize a court to set a contradictory bail hearing prior to setting bail for a personincustodywhoischargedwithcertainsexually-basedoffensescommitted against a child under the age of 18 years.
3.
Restructure provisions of present law (C.Cr.P.
Art.
313(A)(2)).
4.
Make technical changes.
Page 4 of 4 CODING:
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

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

  3. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 1. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

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

  5. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/05/2026.

  6. Reported with amendments (11-0).

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

  8. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  9. Prefiled.

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 1 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

FINAL PASSAGE (#872)

Passed 95 Yea · 1 Nay · 9 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5002
Republican 64103
Democrat 26004
Total 95109
% of votes cast 90%1%0%9%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Yea
Steven Jackson Democrat Yea
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Not Voting
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 Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
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 Nay
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Yea
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 276?
HB 276 is sponsored by Barbara Carpenter (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 276?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 23, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 276?
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